Paul Reduzzi came to Bangor five years ago looking to restore a proud program’s winning ways.
After two sub-.500 seasons, the Slaters put together back-to-back 7-4 campaigns.
Reduzzi’s other goal remains a work-in-progress. He greeted 43 players earlier this month on the first day of practice.
“The goal for the program when I got here was to carry 60 players,” he said. “With the numbers we graduate I thought it was feasible. But we haven’t got that.
“There isn’t disappointment with any of the kids we have here. We got all the baseball kids, all the basketball kids. I don’t think athletes are hiding from us. We just can’t get the extra kids. They come out as freshmen and don’t see themselves starting the next year, so they walk.”
Bangor returns seven significant contributors on offense and 10 on defense, so it expects to have another chance at postseason success.
But injuries could derail the Slaters’ plans because of a lack of depth. The PIAA’s fourth-biggest Class 4A football program is in a similar situation to many of the smaller Colonial-Schuylkill League programs with regards to roster size.
Senior Gavin Nelson is a newcomer who is expected to help the Slaters on both sides of the ball. He played football until middle school, then took time off until friend and fellow football player Riley Stapp convinced him to give the sport another shot.
“I told him that he only has to do it once in high school,” Stapp said. “It’s a great experience. I told him how awesome it is on the field on Friday nights.”
Three things to know about the Slaters
Familiar face at quarterback: Senior Greg Campbell has been quarterbacking the defense the last two years from his safety spot.
After serving as Eric Striba’s backup the previous two seasons, Campbell will be quarterbacking the offense in 2023.
Bangor’s offense isn’t expected to change drastically with Campbell running the show. He is quick, athletic and familiar with the playbook. He has Noah Hillis returning at running back, Stapp at H-back and M.J. Siu at receiver, so it’s expected to be a smooth transition.
“Greg’s move at quarterback has gone well,” Reduzzi said. “That was a big question for us. He has a real grasp. He’s a natural athlete, an all-area baseball player. He throws the ball well, reads and meshes very good.
“There were two plays in a scrimmage last year. On his meshes, both plays were blown dead because they thought he handed it off to the running back. He’s really good with that. He’s really smart, a three-year starter in secondary.”
Well balanced: The Slaters have a good nucleus of experienced players on both sides of the ball.
Hillis ran for 540 yards and six scores last season as the counter to the graduated Ashton Kluska, including 101 yards and a decisive touchdown in a win at eventual District 11 Class 3A champion Northwestern.
Stapp, who recovered two fumbles in the Northwestern game, will play a more integral role as the H-back in addition to returning at linebacker with Hillis.
“I didn’t get the ball much in the first half of last season while I was getting used to the position,” Stapp said. “I should continue to improve from the last half of last season.
“I think we’ll be fine on defense. We basically have everyone back but one or two. We had a good defense last year. We rallied around the ball, were aggressive. We should be fun to watch this season.”
Siu and senior linemen Sam Woolverton, Dylan Krugh and Parker Sandt are back. Juniors Gianni Goodrich and Luke Rinaldi will join the offensive front. Freshman Jaxson Kreider is the backup quarterback but will see time at other offensive skill positions.
Most players are going two ways. Senior Jacob Weaver had 40 tackles and eight sacks last season. Junior Alex Fahrensbach, who scored a touchdown in last year’s Northwestern contest, will get time at receiver and in the secondary.
Sophomores Kamal Crockett, a standout sprinter on the track team, and Riley Waldron are two others who could contribute.
The one area Reduzzi said remains a work-in-progress: punting/kicking duties.
“Special teams, there’s a lot of work to do there,” he said. “The soccer kids we had last year did not come back out. It’s a big concern for us right now.”
Bangor’s 2023 schedule:
(at 7 p.m. unless noted)
Aug. 25: at Palisades
Sept. 1: at Jim Thorpe
Sept. 8: Southern Lehigh
Sept. 15: Saucon Valley
Sept. 23: at Wilson, noon
Sept. 29: Pottsville
Oct. 6: at Lehighton
Oct. 13: Northwestern
Oct. 20: at Blue Mountain
Oct. 27: Pen Argyl
Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at thousenick@mcall.com
