New coach, new QB has Council Rock North football re-tooling for 2016

NEWTOWN – While Council Rock North returns to the gridiron without the services of 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year in quarterback Brandon McIlwain, the Indians have the luxury of returning all five of their offensive lineman from last year.

Tackles Pat Partlett ((6-5, 315) and Dom Hipple (5-11, 235), guards Mark Anastasi (6-3, 260) and Ethan Himes (6-1, 235) along with center Shane Oros (6-2, 250) come back to the Rock for another go at a Suburban One League (SOL) title. The Indians captured their first SOL title since 2006 with a late-season win over sister school CR South.

A lot has happened since then, however, with the departure of head coach Adam Collachi and McIlwain, who threw for 1,720 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding 1,545 yards and 31 scores on the ground before leaving for the University of South Carolina.

A battle is currently heating up for the quarterback position with seniors Kevin Brandbergh (5-10, 170), Evan Devine (5-10, 165) and Kevin Gibson (6-0, 170) vying to line up under center.

The new man at the helm is former Upper Moreland assistant Matt McHugh. The 2015 offensive coordinator for the Golden Bears comes to the Rock with an offensive mindset, having directed an offense that last year at UM averaged over 28 points-per-game.

With departures at running back including Brian Choi and Sean Yoder, that spot is wide open. There, seniors T.J. Ayer (5-9, 185), Andrew Kelly (5-8, 165) and Dom Desimone (5-8, 200) will battle for the ball-carrying responsibilities along with juniors Matt Shenot (5-8, 180) and Michael Welde (5-7, 155).

With Devon Bibbens and Tyler Nowmos gone from the receiving corps, the battle for split end is between three seniors – Connor Collins (6-0, 185), Phil Huddy (6-3, 180) and Sean Murphy (5-11, 195).

Defensively, the Indians have seen the departure of SOL first teamers Thomas Hewitt, a defensive end who will play at Holy Cross, and James Closser, an inside linebacker headed to Johns Hopkins.

The truth is the Rock has very few players returning on ‘D.’ The exception is senior Mason Luff, a 5-11, 200-pound linebacker who earned All-SOL Continental Conference Honorable Mention as a starting inside backer in 2015.

Last year, North played well in wins over SOL Continental rivals Truman, CB West, CB East and Quakertown but not so good in losses to Perk Valley, Pennsbury, Norristown and Upper Darby, which scored six times in the second half to send the Indians to an early exit in the District 1-AAAA tournament.

This year, there’s a new attitude among the Rock defenders, says Luff.

“I think we are going to come out with a different mindset this season,” said Luff. “There were times when we gave up a lot of points last season and guys want to put an end to it.

“They’re pretty adamant about it this year.”

Luff takes over as the defensive quarterback, a position filled last year by Closser. Along with Closser, linebackers Seth Leuz and Colin Drotar have also graduated.

Shoring up the linebacking corps in 2016 will be Christian Hanna (6-0, 180), a senior who plays outside along with inside men Jason Walter (6-1, 215) and T.J. Ayer. Walter and Ayer are juniors.

Devine (5-10, 165), along with juniors Nick Muro (5-8, 160), Andrew Cabo (5-9, 165) and sophomore Michael Oudenne (5-8, 160) will battle for positions in the defensive backfield, which is missing Nowmos, Bibbens, McIlwain and Jackson Parker.

The D-line is where things really get interesting. The Indians don’t have any returning starters there so the spots are wide open, says McHugh. Currently, the only players penciled in on the D-line are seniors Joe Mulholland and Jack Blackwood, at end and tackle, respectively.

With Nowmos doing the placekicking, Bibbens returning most of the kicks and McIlwain handling the punting duties last year, North is looking for players to step into those special teams roles as well.

THE TREND

With the departure of McIlwain, it will be interesting to see what direction the Indian offense takes. During his career, the four-year starter accounted for over 10,000 yards on offense and 124 touchdowns at the Rock. Last year at Upper Moreland with McHugh running the offense, the Golden Bears pretty much rode the back of All-Southeastern Pennsylvania RB Rodney Morgan in their drive to the District 1-Class AAA title game. The new coach would love to find a CR North ballcarrier like the 5-9, 195-pound Upper Moreland tailback who rushed for a school record 2,543 yards and 23 touchdowns last year.

CONSENSUS

Back in the SOL National Conference with Pennsbury, Neshaminy and Abington, the Indians must find a way to compete with those perennial District 1 powers. An experienced O-line that includes five returning on varsity could blow some big holes through any opposing D-line in the SOL. But the defense must close the gaps the likes of Perk Valley (56 pts.), Pennsbury (41), Norristown (44) and Upper Darby (59) ran through in 2015. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of experienced players returning on defense.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH

PAT BARTLETT

A senior weighing in at 6-5, 315 pounds a year after being selected Second Team All-SOL Continental at left tackle, Bartlett is getting a lot of interest from several Division-I programs including Maryland, Delaware, New Hampshire, Navy and Florida Atlantic, which has tendered an offer. Along with right tackle Dom Hipple, guards Mark Anastasi and Ethan Himes and center Shane Oros, Bartlett will attempt to solidify an offensive unit that has plenty of new faces at the skill positions.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH

MASON LUFF

After earning All-SOL Continental Conference Honorable Mention in 2015, the 5-11, 205-pound senior inside linebacker is back to lead the Indian defense into 2015. With Luff calling the defensive signals, it will be interesting to see how the CR North defense performs in the current campaign. Last year, the Indian defense struggled mightily in losses to Perk Valley, Pennsbury, Norristown and Upper Darby.

Contact Steve Sherman at ssherman@buckslocalnews.com, @BucksLocalSport on Twitter

Council Rock North Football

2016 Schedule

Sat., Sept. 03: at Central Bucks South         12 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 09:  Coatesville                  7 p.m.

Fri., Sept. 16:  at Neshaminy             7 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 24: Pennsbury *               1:30 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 01:   at Harry S Truman     5 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 07:    Abington                    7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 15:   Central Bucks East     7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 21:    at Bensalem               7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 28:    Council Rock South   7 p.m.

* HOMECOMING/FALL FESTIVAL

PAST 5 YEARS

2015: 7-4

2014: 6-5

2013: 8-4

2012: 5-5

2011: 5-5