Indians re-tooling with new coach, QB
NEWTOWN,PA.>> While Council Rock North returns to the gridiron without the services of 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year in quarterback Brandon McIlwain, the Indians have the luxury of returning all five of their offensive lineman.
Tackles Pat Bartlett (6-5, 315) and Dom Hipple (5-11, 235), guards Mark Anastasi (6-3, 260) and Ethan Himes (6-1, 235) along with center Shane Oros (6-2, 250) come back to the Rock for another go at a Suburban One League title. The Indians captured their first SOL title since 2006 with a late-season win over sister school CR South.
A lot has happened since then, however, with the departure of head coach Adam Collachi and McIlwain, who threw for 1,720 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 1,545 yards and 31 scores on the ground before leaving for the University of South Carolina.
A battle is currently heating up for the quarterback position with seniors Kevin Brandbergh (5-10, 170), Evan Devine (5-10, 165) and Kevin Gibson (6-0, 170) vying to line up under center.
The new man at the helm is former Upper Moreland assistant Matt McHugh. The 2015 offensive coordinator for the Golden Bears comes to the Rock with an offensive mindset, having directed an offense that last year at UM averaged over 28 points-per-game.
With departures at running back including Brian Choi and Sean Yoder, that spot is wide open. There, seniors T.J. Ayer (5-9, 185), Andrew Kelly (5-8, 165) and Dom Desimone (58, 200) will battle for the ballcarrying responsibilities along with juniors Matt Shenot (58, 180) and Michael Welde (57, 155).
With Devon Bibbens and Tyler Nowmos gone from the receiving corps, the battle for split end is between three seniors — Connor Collins (6-0, 185), Phil Huddy (6-3, 180) and Sean Murphy (5-11, 195).
Defensively, the Indians have seen the departure of SOL first teamers Thomas Hewitt, a defensive end who will play at Holy Cross, and James Closser, an inside linebacker headed to Johns Hopkins.
The truth is the Rock has very few players returning on ‘D.’ The exception is senior Mason Luff, a 5-11, 200-pound linebacker who earned AllSOL Continental Conference Honorable Mention as a starting inside backer in 2015.
Last year, North played well in wins over SOL Continental rivals Truman, CB West, CB East and Quakertown but not so good in losses to Perk Valley, Pennsbury, Norristown and Upper Darby, which scored six times in the second half to send the Indians to an early exit in the District 1-AAAA tournament.
This year, there’s a new attitude among the Rock defenders.
“I think we are going to come out with a different mindset this season,” said Luff. “There were times when we gave up a lot of points last season and guys want to put an end to it.
“They’re pretty adamant about it this year.”