SHARON HILL — For the better part of two decades Academy Park has been one of the winningest football programs in the area. The Knights have won three District 1 championships and numerous Del Val League titles over that span.
Thus, AP’s suboptimal 2022 season was very unusual. The losing record (3-8) was the team’s first since 2007, when Jason Vosheski was in his third year as head coach.
Everyone in camp on Calcon Hook Road in Sharon Hill shares the belief that last year’s performance was an anomaly. The Knights expect to reclaim their position as one of the elite teams in Delco in 2023.
“We should be better and we will be a fun team to watch,” Vosheski said. “It’s night and day. Last year we had a lot of quiet guys, maybe more lead-by-example guys, which is fine. But no one would take the reins when things started to go wrong. Unfortunately, when that happens, and no one wants to be that positive energy, the negative people come out and they kind of take control of the team.
“We had two overtime games and when you lose games like that and then get throttled by Coatesville, the negativity comes out.”
One of the team’s bright spots was Terrence Oliver, who rushed for 1,666 yards and accounted for 19 of the Knights’ 25 touchdowns. He’s playing college ball at Lycoming.
“He was our offense,” Vosheski said. “We couldn’t do anything unless he was the guy doing it.”
This year’s offense will have offer more options, starting with 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore quarterback Kareem Moore, who has size and shows good zip and accuracy on his throws. The only returning starters are senior defensive end Camani Chase (5-10, 175), junior wide receiver/defensive back Amir Thomas (6-0, 180), and junior offensive linemen Sayian Garey (5-10, 200) and Jaylen Williams (6-2, 295). Chase had a solid junior campaign with 69 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
“I feel like my leadership and experience from last year will help the young guys,” Chase said. “I can help them with the plays because we do have a lot of young guys and they’re not accustomed to the playbook yet. I can help them with their assignments and gaps, so that they’re not lost when they’re out there on the field.”
Seniors Camir Jones and Ibrahim Jabbie are full-time starters for the first time, but each player is said to carry himself with the maturity and the intelligence of a four-year varsity member.
“I stress to the young guys specifically that this is a very important season not only to me, but to everyone in the community and to the families who want to send their kids to AP,” Jones said. “A parent wants to send their kid to a school that they know will be good, so we want to show that you can build a future here. It’s up to us to show out and show people you can make something of yourself at this school.”
Jones is expected to get the lion’s share of carries at running back.
“I look forward to not filling the gap (left by Oliver) but basically playing a bigger and better role for this team,” Jones said. “Last year I feel as though there weren’t as many leaders on the team and I’m going to try my hardest to be that leader I need to be to make sure this year is better.”
Jabbie (5-9, 165) will be a main target for Moore at wide receiver.
“Last year didn’t go as well as expected, so this year everyone is working hard and we have a lot of young guys trying to prove themselves,” Jabbie said. “Everyone is excited.”
Senior defensive lineman Azim Jones (6-2, 280) and sophomore defensive lineman Nafees Fenner (6-1, 230) are other key newcomers.
The Knights again have one of the toughest schedules in the county, beginning Saturday at home against Unionville of the Ches- Mont League. Their next two games will be on the road against perennial powerhouses Coatesville and The Haverford School.
