Souderton has plenty of familiar faces
FRANCONIA — When it comes to playing on the line, Souderton Area’s Phil Stolfi is a lifer.
“I’ve played lineman my whole life,” the Big Red senior captain says with pride. “I just kinda got used to it and I’ve grown to love it, just being able to make contact with somebody every single play. One-on-ones, two-on-ones — double teams and stuff…everything about linemen, I enjoy doing.”
It’s a steaming Tuesday afternoon on the practice field at Souderton Area High School, and Big Red breaks for the day with laughter and enthusiasm.
Big Red returns eight starters on offense this year, nine on defense. And with Stolfi, a three-year veteran, anchoring a young but fast offensive line, Big Red is heading towards the season with plenty of push.
“We definitely like to play together,” Stolfi said of the Indians, who open 2015 at home with a non-league contest against Plymouth-Whitemarsh, on Sept. 4. “It’s a great thing. I love that about this team.
“We’re always ready to go. We’re always ready to hit something. And just get better.”
Stolfi, who plays both offensive guard and defensive end, joins returning senior guard/center Andrew Horton on the o-line and returning junior nose guard Andrew Stein on the d-line.
There are plenty of familiar faces at the skill positions.
“I’m very optimistic about our returners,” Big Red coach Ed Gallagher said. “We had a lot of kids get experience over the last two years — we have some three-year starters, so I’m very optimistic about what this team is capable of.”
What makes this team unique is that it has been able to cultivate and groom a rare and valuable treasure: depth.
Souderton can lean on key two-way players like Stolfi and fellow seniors Blake Gular (FB/LB), Jamar White (HB/CB) and Matt Pierce (LB/TE), but does not have to do that at every position.
“Even though we have some depth, we gotta stay healthy,” Gallagher said. “We have to stay healthy and be able to flow that depth in. And get the kids in without having to be down to a situation where you have to play a kid both ways, because right now we have some good two-way players, but right now we have a system going into the season where we should be able to play more of them in a platoon setting on one side of the ball and not suffer too much.
“If we can do what I had planned, we’ll be a lot fresher and be able to finish out some games.”
Souderton is attacking the blistering two-a-days with focus and optimism.
“The first thing we’re worried about is practice (on Wednesday), if we can make it through that,” Stolfi says with a smile. “We’re definitely looking forward to PW (in the season opener), getting to that first game. We have some scrimmages, have some time, but we’re looking forward to getting in a real game situation.”
Top Photo: Souderton head coach Ed Gallagher shares a laugh with a team member as the team runs through drills during an afternoon practice at Souderton Area High School on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015. (Mark C Psoras/The Reporter)
