Uncertainty surrounds Falcons heading into season By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Heading into a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 23, the Amherst High School football team remains a mystery, with practice less than two weeks old. "It's too early to tell," said head coach Harry Page. "If our young guys step up, our juniors and sophomores fill in, we'll be OK." Page's uncertainty identifies a small school's situation when its 47-man roster includes only eight seniors, some of whom haven't played football since eighth grade. Yet Page feels the team could match the 2001 squad and qualify for the state football tournament. "I think this group is going to be more competitive. I like their attitude. They're working well. As long as they keep improving every days, that's a key. I think we can do better than last year, but we have to play," he said. Gone from last year's squad is Derek Konkol, an all-conference first-team running back and defensive back and Co-Player of the Year in the Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division. Also gone are first-team offensive tackle and honorable mention defensive tackle Rory Quinn and kicker Alex Engel. Also graduated are honorable mention honorees quarterback and defensive back Matt Mehne and running back and linebacker Kris Blenker. Don't paint Amherst's cupboard bare of talent. Page has great expectations for Joe Blanke, a junior who will be back at fullback. "He's been working out and lifting and got up to 250 pounds," Page said. Center and defensive tackle Pete Ostrowski, another junior, worked with Blanke on the weights during the off-season. "If they work that hard, it's usually a good indication that they'll have a good season," Page said. "Pete played JV last year and is strong enough and old enough now. We've got quite a few like that," Page said. As much as the team will miss Derek Konkol, Page said he feels Sam Warner gives the team another running threat after filling in for Konkol at times last year. "He's more of a scatback," Page said about Warner. "With Joe blocking, Sam could have a good year. And we have some juniors and sophomores who could find a spot." The Falcons have one all-conference performer returning, punter Phil Koback, who plays wide receiver and defensive back. He was a member of the first-place 4-by100-meter relay team in track with his brother Brad, Konkol and Werner. "We have speed," Page said about the receivers, with both Kobacks among them. "Brad did a good job running back punts and kickoffs last year." The offensive line could be a plus for the team, too. "Our linemen aren't too bad, but we're not very deep," Page said, listing Ostrowski, Shane Rzentkowski, Jed Shulfer and maybe Caleb Woyak and Casey Fisher as possible starters. At quarterback, junior Nate Shulfer and sophomore Chris Page are the top candidates to replace Mehne. Defensively, the Falcons' coach feels the line will perform well, although depth is lacking. Senior Adam Parrott will probably be at nose tackle, he said. "Our secondary will be a little better than we were last year," Page said. "Our linebacking, we'll have to see. Jed Shulfer (a junior) will get a look at linebacker." Last year, a lot of this year's juniors played on the JV squad and performed well. Page isn't sure about the caliber of competition on the other JV squads though. "You can't really go by that," he said. "Sometimes they don't play JV, they're playing varsity. We'll just have to wait and see." While the squad remains an unknown, Page said he's been impressed. "I like the enthusiasm. They play hard. If they play hard, it will come along, it will show up for the lack of experience." Despite the loss of important linemen, Page said the line appears to be good. "It's in better shape than I thought it would be. But again, we'll see in a few days. "I think the scrimmage will tell us a lot," he said, referring to the practice session with Iola-Scandinavia, Marion and Menasha St. Mary Central. This year's squad is bigger than last year's in numbers, with 47 out this year compared to 32 at the start of last year. "A lot of that is freshman, but that's good," he said, adding that seeing the upperclassmen lifting weights often inspire the underclassmen to take up the practice. A large squad would help Page achieve his goal to platoon players. "Realistically, in a school our size, we can't," he said, adding that there's advantages to a platoon system, such as going over plays with the offense on the sidelines and then talking with defensive players about formations. The platoon system also helps a player who may have less ability than another develop into a good player, he said, so he tries to get players with promise into situations where they can perform well. "You want to get as much competition as you can," he said, "then, in case of injury, someone can step in." Amherst 2002 Football Schedule Friday, Aug. 30, vs. Menominee Indian, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Pacelli, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, vs. Manawa, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Tri-County, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, vs. Rosholt (homecoming), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, vs. Athens, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Weyauwega-Fremont, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct 18, vs. Wittenberg Birnamwood, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, at Bonduel, 7 p.m.