PENDLETON —
With formidable offensive and defensive lines, the 2012 Starpoint football Spartans aren't afraid to throw their weight around.
In fact, veteran head coach Al Cavagnaro didn't blink twice when his Class A school scrimmaged against Class AA (larger) schools Kenmore West and Clarence recently.
“I thought our line played very well in that scrimmage,” Cavagnaro said. “We like to scrimmage the bigger teams. It helps to better prepare us.”
The garnet and gray Spartans will open their Section VI football A season at home at 2 p.m. Saturday against Williamsville North. Saturday's contest, dubbed the “Battle of the Spartans,” is the first-ever grid meeting between the two schools.
Starpoint is coming off a 5-4 season in 2011 in which they lost each of their four contests by touchdown or less. “We need to do a lot of the little things better,” Cavagnaro said. “When you lose by a touchdown or less, it isn't the big things that you didn't do, it's the little things that add up.”
Among Cavagnaro's losses to graduation include three-and-a-half-year Corey Regnet, who not only excelled on both sides of the ball, but could also kick it a country mile, as well as quarterback Brandon Wehrmeyer.
However, another loss was unexpected as one of the team's key defensive starters, senior linebacker R.J. Herrnandez suffered a season-ending head injury a few weeks back. Junior stalwart Matt Wetzel will move into the middle linebacker position to replace Hernandez.
But the positives definitely out-weigh the negatives in Spartansville, as Cavagnaro has several key starters back this year, including all-star offensive tackles Steve Wilde and Zach Penham. At guards are the Cox brothers, senior twins Jake and Zach. Anchoring the line at center is formidable 6-5, 240-pound junior Bryan Cheskiewicz.
A prestigious “Trench Trophy” Candidate in 2011, Wilde measures 6-1, 225 pounds. He said among the Spartans' many contests he looks forward to this year is the annual non-league rivalry game against neighboring Lockport in Week No. 2, at Starpoint.
“There's a good, different energy on the team this year,” Wilde said. “I think we're more positive. The Lockport game is definitely bigger than most games.”
The Starpoint hogs will help pave the way for tenacious junior tailback co-captain Evan Majewski, who rushed for 1,200-plus yards a year ago as a sophomore. Other returning all-league players include senior cornerback and co-captain Joe Nye and defensive tackles Rion Elson and Kevin Armstrong. Senior defensive starters back this year also include senior defensive back Bart Mazarra.
At quarterback for the Spartans will be senior co-captain Andrew Rankie, who takes over for Wehrmeyer.
“Rankie makes plays,” Cavagnaro said. “He isn't going to throw the ball 60 yards like Wehrmeyer. He isn't fancy, but he's definitely a leader and we'll follow him.”
Rankie said the Spartans work well together for a reason. “We're all pretty close. A lot of us have been playing together for a while. I think we're going to do well.”
In addition to those veteran players, the Spartans also feature some young, up-and-coming talent in sophomores Austin Bratek, a running back; and lineman Rich Duermeyer.
Cavagnaro is assisted by Bill Aquino, Nate Beutel, Jim Duncan, Mike Dunlop, Shawn Latini, Mike Lopardi, Chris Prezioso and Tim Racey. Racey is the veteran, respected offensive coordinator, Latini is defensive coordinator and Beutel works with the linemen.
STARPOINT SPARTANS
2012 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sat WILL NORTH 2 p.m.
9/8 LOCKPORT 2 p.m.
9/15 @ Grand Island 2 p.m.
9/22 @ Niagara-Wheatfield 2 p.m.
9/29 N. TONAWANDA 2 p.m.
10/6 @ Kenmore East 2 p.m.
10/13 SWEET HOME 2 p.m.
SPARTANS ROSTER
NO. NAME GRADE
77 Kevin Armstrong 12
53 Brad Ast 12
59 Gage Bliven 12
22 Austin Bratek 10
13 Mike Chase 10
72 Bryan Cheskiewicz 11
68 Jake Cox 12
75 Zach Cox 12
61 Richard Duermeyer 10
84 Isaish Eisenhauer 11
52 Reese Elson 11
76 Rion Elson 10
64 Aaron Farley 11
84 Josh Herman 12
33 R.J. Hernandez 12
20 Evan Majewski 11
29 Bart Mazarra 12
10 Bobby McKeown 12
19 Tom Moran 12
32 Julian Mott 11
25 Joe Nye 12
62 Zach Penman 12
5 Matt Pennachio 11
80 Andy Piewniak 11
12 Andrew Rankie 12
28 John Rudes 12
14 Sam Terrazzino 11
66 Dillon Thomas 11
44 Justyn Thompson 12
87 Connor Wells 12
48 Matt Wetzel 11
56 Matt Wiacek 12
64 Steve Wilde 12
71 Garen Wills 11
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