Football: Barlow line will get a test

Written by Rocco Valluzzo
Thursday, 17 September 2009 10:13

How the 2009 season pans out for the Joel Barlow High varsity football team will depend in part on one aspect of its game in particular.

If the Falcons’ front line does its job effectively it will enable the team to perform up to expectations in other areas. Combined these could add up to success on the field.

The line itself will need some work, however. With the departure of several starters last season it has some holes to fill.

“We really got hurt up front,” said head coach Rob Tynan, now in his 18th season with the team. “The group that’s coming back is working real hard.”

The Falcons as a whole have been busy since practice started several weeks ago. Besides scrimmaging several schools, they attended camps at Staples and here at Barlow.

With 63 players in the program, Barlow will have more than enough to field varsity and freshman-sophomore teams. Some talent could be found among those numbers as well.

Some of it returns from last season’s team, which finished with a 2-5 record in the South-West Conference Patriot Division. It also finished at 5-6 overall.

Barlow also lost a number of key players, including former captains Ben Amy and Dan DeSalva. An All-SWC selection, Amy rushed for 979 yards as a fullback and was second in scoring with 12 touchdown. As a defensive back he led in tackles with 26.

DeSalva, an All-SWC second team selection, rushed for 368 yards with five touchdowns.

All-SWC tight end and linebacker Cory Stevens led the team in receiving with 236 yards and was third in tackles with 17. Dan Dineen, an All-SWC second team selection and a receiver and defensive back, has also graduated.

The Falcons lost a lot on their line in particular, including All-SWC selections Dylan Wilson and James Hacker as well as second team selections Liam Degener and Chris Baksay. Receivers Mike Kot, Spencer Knight and Peter Politi also graduated and junior Tom Auer was lost during the pre-season to a knee injury.

While the Falcons need to fill the holes in certain areas they already have experience in others, like in the quarterback slot with senior captain Tyler Colby. An All-SWC selection, he led the team in rushing with 1,152 yards and in scoring with 14 touchdowns.

Classmate and captain Will McNamara (All-SWC honorable mention) brings some experience to Barlow line as a guard, as does senior Spencer Nickel.

“It’s a mix of different kids,” said Tynan.

Carrying the ball again is senior runningback Pat Eaker. Third on the team in rushing last year with 674 yards and in touchdowns with eight, he was named an All-SWC selection as well.

Also at runningback is senior George Hebner. Wes Hogarth is a receiver and Matt Lockwood and Tiago Moore are defensive backs.

From the junior class is Doug Indelicato at defensive end. Snapping the ball is Mitch DeSimone at center.

In the fullback spot are Adam Torres and sophomore Sam Neidenbach.

Tackle Jackson Sennett is another sophomore who will see varsity action, as will Peter Meehan, a receiver.

A good start to the season could put the Falcons on the right track, They open the season today (Thursday) at home against New Fairfield.