Chester’s time is now

Remember to pick up the annual Daily Times High School  Football Preview in the Sept. 4 edition of the Daily Times. In it you’ll find full-page preview stories of all 22 teams in Delco, plus full schedules and other goodies.

Coach: Tony Beaty (second season)

2014 Record: 4-6 (3-2 Del Val League)

2014 In Two Sentences: It took some time for the Clippers to come together under first-year coach Beaty, but they were competitive in every game except for their season opener. A winning record in Del Val League competition (including a season-ending rout of Interboro in the pouring rain and mud) gave the Clippers a load of confidence going into the offseason.

Key Departures: Hasson Bush (WR-DB), Kquran Matthews (TE-DE).

Looking Ahead:

Is Chester expected to run the table and go undefeated? No, not many teams are. But are the Clippers talented  to point that they can win the Del Val League and become Delco football’s feel-good story of 2015? You better believe it.

Roughly 13 players from last fall are back on the roster. They have a monstrous Division I lineman who can flat-out dominate on both sides (D’Andre Dill), an athletic QB (Nahmir Ishmail) and a slew of  two-way skill competitors with big-play ability (Rashee Alexander, Ed Nelson Jr., Arlo Lee Jr.). So, let’s just say it: Chester has the chance to be very dangerous.

Players to Watch:  Dill (Sr. OL-DL), Ishmail (Sr. QB), Alexander (WR-FS), Nelson (SS-RB) and Lee (RB-LB) are crucial to the Clippers’ success in 2015, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg.

Dill, is a four-year starter who committed to Temple in the spring. Nelson is garnering interest from FCS schools. Lee was the team leader in tackles last fall, and Alexander led the team in interceptions.

Like Alexander, Nasheed McCaskill is a skilled wide receiver and defensive back. Naim Little, Desmond Hardy and Keyshaun Ash provide plenty of thump in the trenches.

Season Opener: Away vs. W.C. Henderson, Friday, Sept. 4, 7 p.m.