Coach Bedesem preparing Council Rock South football to soar
HOLLAND >> A couple of down years not withstanding, the Council Rock South High School football team over the last decade has proven itself to be a consistent winner.
In other words, give coach Vince Bedesem something to work with and the victories are sure to follow.
This was particularly evident in a tremendous three-year stretch that culminated five years ago in a 12-2 record and a berth in the District 1 Class AAAA championship game.
Council Rock South enters this season knowing it has to replace some outstanding graduated players. Among the departed who will be missed are running back Brendan Patterson and Kyle Hickey, a wide receiver and the anchor of the defensive backfield.
The good news is Rock South does have a returning nucleus it can count on with four returning starters on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Throw in some promising new players and a third straight winning season is very much a possibility.
The fact the Suburban One National League is now more or less back to the old Lower Bucks County format will not make much of a difference.
The reason for that is Bedesem has always supported the local rivalries and kept Neshaminy and Pennsbury on the schedule even when they were not part of the same division.
Youth Be Served
With so many key starters graduated, a lot of newcomers will be counted on in order to continue the team’s winning ways. On this front Bedesem seems encouraged.
“We are a little young and it’s a bit of a youth movement,” he said. “But I like what I’m seeing from a lot of our younger players. We have a lot of talented young players on the rise.”
Among them are junior Christian Jabbar and sophomore Bradley Kraut, who were competing with senior Ryan Kolimaga for the starting position at quarterback.
The Big Picture
Another plus for a team that’s sure to improve as the newcomers gain their varsity footing is the fact the addition of two more classifications in Pennsylvania football will make it easier to get a playoff berth.
Rock South is part of the new Class AAAAAA division. In District 1 there are still 16 berths for the highest class, but now there are barely over 30 teams competing for those spots — as opposed to the 43 in the old District 1 Quad A classification.
In other words, five wins could very well you get in the postseason. Heck, a team with four wins might even be able to sneak in.
Offensive Player To Watch
Elias Mayo >> With the big guns on last year’s offense graduated, expected to fill the void is junior Elias Mayo at halfback. Rock South fans didn’t get to see him much last year because he was injured, but they will like his combination of speed and strength. “He’s probably the strongest guy on our team,” said Bedesem. “He is also a very hard worker. He’s worked really hard to be ready. He can take it inside, but also has the speed to get to the corner.”
Defensive Player To Watch
Ryan Magrann >> After receiving some playing time as a sophomore, Ryan Magrann really blossomed into his own last year as in inside linebacker in Rock South’s 4-4 defense. “He’s very physical and has a nose for the football,” said Bedesem. “He’s also a team leader and sets a good example.” Look for Magrann (6-1, 210) to also contribute on offense as a fullback who can block and pick up the tough inside yardage.
Contact Rick Fortenbaugh at rfortenbaugh@trentonian.com OR @RickFort7 on Twitter
