[tps_title]Germantown Academy Patriots [/tps_title]
Gene Walsh Digital First Media
Germantown Academys Mike Reilly August 14, 2017.
Deep Patriots look to make run in Inter-AC
Germantown Academy coach Matt Dence has heard the same question over and over again.
He still hasn’t figured out how to answer it.
“Every time I’m asked to pick out a player or two to watch, I feel like I can answer it four different ways,” Dence said. “I have seven all-league returners. So all I can really say is, you can watch out for a bunch of them.” 
It’s a good problem to have for Dence and his staff, now coming off a successful 2016 in which the Patriots went 8-2 overall, including a 4-1 record in the Inter-Academic League. The team returns a number of playmakers that will help transition first-year quarterback Colton Niedzielski into a full-time role behind center.
O-Line now a strength
All teams need to protect first-year quarterbacks, but for opposing defenses to get anywhere close to Niedzielski, they’ll first have to penetrate the GA line — a task many teams should struggle to do this season. The line returns four of five starters on an offensive front that includes two 300-pounders and three others at 260-plus.
“My first four years, the line was a concern,” Dence said. “Now, I think that’s our strength, both on offense and defense.
“I’m excited that we have four juniors and a senior on the offensive line this year,” he added. “That just makes me super excited. All those guys played varsity football last year, and I think it will allow us to be more simple. We can get the quarterback clean windows, and I think we can really spend time on the four or five things we do in the run game and get good at it. Rather than trying to do a lot of misdirection and be tricky, we can say, ‘hey, we’re going to run the ball here. Now try to stop us.’”
Dence also sees the offensive line hitting full potential based on his confidence in his coaching staff, including offensive line coach Greg Isdaner, a former standout at West Virginia.
“I have the best offensive line coach in the area,” Dence said.
GA on defensive
The defensive front follows the same trend as the starters on offense. All four starters return for the Patriots’ defensive line, including star junior Elijah Wroten, who already has offers from Temple, Boston College and Connecticut.
It’s one thing to have talent, but perhaps most exciting to Dence is the work his team has done off the field to maximize that talent.
“We’re strong,” he said. “I’m really proud of our player development. We have a couple of strength coaches that grind with these kids, and they came back this year in awesome shape. Our strength levels are very, very impressive for a high school team.”
One of the most exciting playmakers returning on the offensive side is Mike Reilly, an all-league receiver who also stands out as the team’s starting free safety. In addition, Reilly is the kick/punt returner and holder.
“He does basically everything but call plays,” Dence said. “He’s just a solid kid.”
Reilly is one of the many multi-sport athletes on the GA roster, also playing a high level on the baseball team. Dence said he promotes multiple sports to his athletes, looking for them to gain athletic experience in a multitude of ways.
“I don’t think any kid should do just one thing,” he said. “I even try to show that by coaching middle school volleyball and baseball. We have kids who play lacrosse and baseball, and kids who also play musical instruments, sing and are in drama, all at high levels. These kids are some of our best leaders. We really like to see that.”
By Michael Gladysz; For Digital First Media
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