Roy-Hart/Barker gridders have new coach

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 16 August 2017 at 7:34 pm

Photo by Mike Wertman – New Roy-Hart/Barker varsity football coach Don Baker meets here with some of the team’s returnees. In front are Charlie Brigham, Ian Whitford, Baker, Ben Schwab and Walker Samanka. In back are Charlie Bruning, Malik Smith, Aaron Curry and Luke Sieler.

With new coach Don Baker at the helm and Roy-Hart now serving as the lead school, Roy-Hart/Barker is prepping for its seventh season as a merged varsity football team.

Junior quarterback Charlie Brigham will guide the offense which includes experience in senior running backs Malik Smith and Aaron Curry, junior running backs Gavyn Samanka and Walker Samanka, junior wide receiver Charlie Bruning, senior wide receiver Luke Sieler along with senior linemen Ben Schwab, Matt Steves, Sal Gioeli, Chase Keirn, Dan Eakes, Zach Dool and junior lineman Ian Whitford.

Fullback Patrick Dwyer and tight end Nick Branch are also vying for playing time.

“We want to establish the run and play solid defense. Those are big keys for us,” said Baker who has led the JV squad the past few years. “The ‘B’ Division is a tough one. There are no easy games on the schedule.”

Key graduation losses include Eddie Wasnock (QB/WR), Eric Fitch (RB), Noah Rocklein (kicker), Brandon Lee Woods (TE) and Nick Kubas (OL).

Roy-Hart/Barker is in the enrollment based B3 Division this season along with Medina/Lyndonville, Newfane, Tonawanda, Lackawanna and Alden. The team will tune up for the division schedule by hosting Akron in an interdivisional non league opener on September 1.

Roy-Hart/Barker went 0-5 in the division and 2-6 overall last fall.

Schedule
Sept. 1 – Akron, 7 p.m.
Sept. 7 – at Alden, 6 p.m.
Sept. 15 – Tonawanda, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 – at Albion, 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 – at Medina/Lyndonville, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 – Newfane, 1:30 p.m. at Barker
Oct. 13 – Lackawanna, 7 p.m.