Albion gridders have good nucleus

Photo by Mike Wertman – Leading Albion into the upcoming season is this group of returnees. In front are Tony Rotoli, Blake Aina, Brandon McGuire, Lamar Chambers and Tom Mattison, In back are Kory Reynolds, Tanner Ferris, Meach Gardner and Jared Hollinger.

A core group of nine returnees anchors the lineup for the Albion varsity football squad which is prepping for the September 2 season opener at Lew-Port.

That veteran group includes tight end/defensive end Kory Reynolds; wide receiver/defensive back Lamar Chambers; running back/linebackers Tom Mattison, Meach Gardner, Blake Aina and Brandon McGuire and linemen Jared Hollinger and Tony Rotoli. All are seniors except Gardner who is a junior.

Reynolds and Mattison both earned first team B-East Division All-Star honors last season while Hollinger was a second team selection and Rotoli and Gardner honorable mention picks.

The Purple Eagles also return varsity experience in seniors Brayden Howell (TE/DE) and Jacob Buzard (OL/DE) and junior Caleb Pettit (OL/DL).

Sophomore Bryce Pritchard takes over the key quarterbacking position backed up by another sophomore Matt Kovaleski.

The Purple Eagles are also looking to juniors Jaquess Harrison (WR/DB) and Justin Stritzinger (OL/DL) along with sophomores Ugene Harrison (WR/DB), Kirk Ellison (OL/DL), Ben Restivo (OL) and Nate Moore (WR/DB).

“We have a very good group of older kids back along with a really good group of younger kids,” said Coach Gary Parisi. “It’s a real good mix. Practices have been really good and up beat.”

The Purple Eagles key losses to graduation include quarterback Kyle Smith, running back Tyler Rotoli, wide receivers Trey Hart and Manwell Taylor and linemen Mike Laine and Nate Trembley.

Albion, which went 2-3 in the division and 3-5 overall last fall will tune up for the season by hosting LeRoy, Batavia and York in a scrimmage this coming Saturday.

Schedule
Sept. 2 – at Lew-Port, 7 p.m.
Sept. 9 – Alden, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16 – Barker/Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.
Sept. 23 – Depew, 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 – at Lackawanna, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Akron, 7 p.m.
Oct. 14 – at Medina, 7:30 p.m.