[tps_title]Cardinal O’Hara Lions [/tps_title]
Tom Wertz, Cardinal O’Hara, Player to Watch on ‘O’
Borrelli an overachiever in the Hogan mold
MARPLE >> Kenny Borrelli is the type of athlete that Cardinal O’Hara coach BJ Hogan covets.
Smart. Physical. Quick.
Oh, and perhaps a tad undersized for his positions on the offensive and defensive lines. Borrelli may not look the part, per se, especially after Hogan coached a pair of monsters in All-Delco Des Holmes (Penn State) and Stephon Brown (California University of Pennsylvania) the last few seasons. Borrelli is an overachiever, much like Hogan once was as a three-sport All-Delco at O’Hara. 
“I’ll take guys like (Borrelli), kids that look like him,” said Hogan, never the biggest or meanest-looking dude during his high school days. “I’ll take a whole team of those kids.”
Borrelli, a junior, impressed in limited action for the Lions last fall. He wasn’t a starter all the time. But he opened eyes, and is set to make headway in 2017.
“It’s tiring, but I’ve just got to push through it and keep working hard,” Borrelli said. “I got to step up for my team and do what I got to do to help the team win. I’m happy I can be here at O’Hara and just looking to help the team in any way.”
Borrelli transferred from Upper Darby after his sophomore year.
“He’s probably going to play more than he ever has in his life,” Hogan said. “We like him a lot.”
Borrelli and the Lions know that last year’s incredible run — 10-1 record, Catholic League Blue Division champions — will be hard to duplicate. They are no longer a team coming off two disastrous seasons. Hogan has rebuilt a winning culture within the program.
“Coach said that Cardinal O’Hara is now everybody’s biggest team on the schedule,” he said. “We have a lot of young guys who are working their butts off to get better and to step up.”
While the Lions have a slew of returning starters, from dynamic senior wide receiver/defensive back Justin Santilla, to linebackers Tyric Gould and Jamir Redd, some positions are harder to fill. In early August there was an intense competition for the starting quarterback job between senior Bobby Siderio and junior Luke Sprague. The winner of the competition will fill the hole left by All-Catholic League signal caller Tommy O’Hara, who threw for 847 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 416 yards and 13 scores.
“We lost a couple of seniors last year, but we have some young guys coming in who are getting better. I think that’s a good sign,” senior lineman Tom Wertz said. “I think we can be better than last year. We have the potential.”
ON THE RUN
The Lions will continue to operate a spread offense, which an emphasis on quick routes. But don’t sleep on the ground attack. One of the team’s feature talents is running back Nick Kutufaris, who impressed out of the backfield last fall in a somewhat limited role.
“I love that kid,” Hogan said. “He’ll be our main running back, and he’s probably one of the fastest kids around. But we do have some guys who can carry the ball and we’ll look to mix things up with them as best as we can.”
TIME TO SHINE
Siderio began his high school career at Marple Newtown, where he split time with Delaware-bound Anthony Paoletti his sophomore year. Last season, Siderio was used sparingly in short-yardage run situations, but mainly backed up O’Hara, who was a two-year starter. Siderio has never had the chance to fully show what he can do, but this could be the year when he finally breaks out.
By Matt Smith; mattsmith@21st-centurymedia.com
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