Rebuilding the line is key for Purple Eagles

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 August 2019 at 9:56 am

Photo by Mike Wertman – Anchoring the Albion lineup will be this veteran group. In front are Deyonci Farley, Thomas Furmanski and Cody Wilson. In back are Brillance Johnson, Kevin Hillman, Michael DiCureia and Tyray White.

A year ago a senior laden Albion football squad captured the Class B Division 2 championship with a 5-0 record and finished with an overall record of 9-1.

Now having lost 18 players, including 9 first or second team B2 Division All-Stars to graduation,  the Purple Eagles face a bit of a rebuilding task especially on the line.

“We have a good skill group back. Our main focus is revamping the line,” said Coach Adam Krenning.

Albion returns good experience at the skill positions including Thomas Furmanski at quarterback, Deyonci Farley, Michael DiCureia and Brillance Johnson at running back and Kevin Hillman and Tyray White at wide receiver, all seniors.

However, senior Cody Wilson is the only returning starter on the line.

Johnson, who scored 7 touchdowns last fall, earned first team B2 Division All-Star honors while Wilson was a second team honoree as Farley earned Honorable Mention.

The Purple Eagles other returnees include seniors Chase Carleton (RB/LB), Mekhi Rivera (Ol/DL), Cameron Colbert (OL/DL), Donovan Ross (OL/DL)  and junior Anthony Feeeman (WR/DB).

“Our kids are competing well and they are all fighting for positions,” said Krenning. “The key on offense will be rebuilding the line. Defensively our linebackers are pretty strong. I think we will be competitive.”

The Purple Eagles graduation losses included three year starting quarterback Bryce Pritchard, running backs Ugene Harrison and Isaiah Callicutt, receivers Matt Kovaleski and Nate Moore, place kicker Alex Rustay and linemen Donamic Farley, Brennan Hughes, Kirk Ellison, Ben Restivo and Jonathan DePuy.

Pritchard, Kovaleski, Moore, Harrison, Rustay and Restivo all earned first team B2 All-Star honors while Farley, Hughes and DePuy were all second team honorees.

Now in the B3 Division of Section VI’s revamped now 20 team, four division Class B  lineup, Albion will open the season at home on September 7 with an interdivisional contest against Newfane.

The Purple Eagles B3 opponents include Springville, Olean, Depew and Lackawanna.

Albion will tune up for the season by participating in a seven team scrimmage at Medina on Saturday.

Schedule
September: 6 – Newfane, 7 p.m.; 13 – Springville, 7 p.m.; 20 – at Depew, 7 p.m.; 28 – at Lackawanna, 1 p.m.
October: 4 – Olean, 7 p.m.; 12 – at Amherst, 2 p.m.; 18 – Medina, 7 p.m.