Falcons spreading their wings under McShane
FAIRLESS HILLS, PA. >> It’s a whole new look for the long-time powerhouse Pennsbury High School football program.
Gone are a host of players who were part of a four-year run that included 41 wins, three league championships and a prestigious District 1 Class AAAA title.
Gone is retired 14-year coach Galen Snyder, who had a winning percentage of over .700 with a 116-48 record and guided the team to two district championships.
Gone is Pennsbury’s traditional Ground and Pound smash mouth offense that had churned out massive amounts of rushing yardage for the better part of 60 years.
Here is new coach Dan McShane, a plethora of young players looking to make their mark and a spread offense that promises to put the ball in the air with a regularity Pennsbury fans have rarely seen.
“We’ve only got two or three returning starters,” said McShane, who ran the Falcon defense for the previous five years after distinguishing himself by guiding Bensalem to a seven-win season as a head coach. “We are young, but the good thing is we are also talented. We have a lot of competition going on for every spot. We have a strong sophomore class.”
Pennsbury suffered a blow before McShane even got started when projected starting quarterback Zach Demarchis broke his arm playing baseball. He will not be ready at the start of the season, but McShane likes the athleticism of junior quarterback Nasan Robbins.
Among the newcomers on a completely rebuilt defense is Tyrone Hodges, a free safety McShane says is one of the most promising players he has seen in his years with the Falcons.
As always, Pennsbury will not be lacking for either size or depth.