Bonner-Prendergast stock still rising after eight-win season

Coach: Greg “Bubba”  Bernhardt (Fourth season)

2014 Record: 8-2 (3-2 Catholic League AAA)

2014 In Two Sentences: What’s ironic is the Friars had  their best team in years — better than the teams that made it to three straight Catholic League finals from 2011-13. Alas, despite an 8-2 mark and a school record-breaking quarterback (Collin DiGalbo), the Friars fell to Archbishop Ryan in the Catholic semifinals,

Key Departures: Collin DiGalbo (QB), Christian DiGalbo (OL-DL), Aaron McCastle (ATH), Tyler Higgins (TE-DE), Tom Becker (LB-FB), Joe Oquendo (WR-DB).

Looking Ahead: Is it a rebuilding year for the Friars? Maybe not, but they do have several voids to fill.

It all starts on the offensive line with Lou Lombardo, a third-generation All-Delco, and fellow senior Tom Klingerman.

DiGalbo was such a huge part of the offense the last two years, it’ll take more than one player to make up for his lost production. A quarterback competition involving senior Shaun Douglas and varsity newcomers Evan Rayburn and Johnny Finelli, both juniors, was happening in camp.

The Friars are probably the best Catholic League team in Delco this year. Whether they can get to that level that they can never beat remains to be seen.

Players to Watch: The diminutive Joe Hartley-Vittoria (Jr. RB-DB) packs a big punch in his 5-7, 180-pound frame.  He was a nice complimentary player in the offense last year, and should see his workload increase along with Tom Millison (Jr. RB-LB).

Douglas, a senior, transferred from Interboro midseason and managed to get on the field right away at Bonner, so you know he’s good. He flourished primarily on defense at linebacker/defensive back once he strapped on the Bonner green.

The senior Lombardo (6-3, 295) is one of the top players at his position in the Catholic League and Delaware County. Klingerman (6-3, 285) and fellow senior Gay-Lorte Breeze (6-1, 270) give Bonner a lot of girth on the lines.

Ryan George (Sr. LB-TE) will help man the linebacker unit, which took a hit when senior Tom Becker transferred to Springfield. Sophomores Jordan Mosley (WR-LB) and Kerrin Jackson (WR-CB) are expected to play important roles as first-year starters.

Coach’s Corner: “I like our chances to go out there and compete with everyone on our schedule again,” Bernhardt said. ‘We should be solid up front on the lines and we have some talented skill kids, but we will have to replace our QB. We have three solid candidates who are battling it out, so we’ll see how it plays out.”

Season Opener: at Upper Darby, Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.