Football season kicks off this weekend SPASH, A-B, Amherst host openers; Pacelli, Rosholt hit road By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Senior High football team will have a new look this season. No, longtime coach Jerry Fitzgerald isn't installing a new system. The uniforms are the same but the players wearing them will, for the most part, be different. The Panthers, hit hard by graduation after a 7-4 overall record last season (5-3 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference), are replacing more than 75 percent of their starting lineup. "Having to replace eight/nine on each side of the ball will make the first three weeks of the season interesting," Fitzgerald said. "We have a great team chemistry, decent strength and better than average team speed - all the ingredients found in upper level teams. "Barring injuries we could be very competitive as the season progresses." The first test for the Panthers is Friday night, as SPASH takes on Wausau East at Goerke Field, at 7 p.m. A good part of SPASH's quickness is provided by junior running back Cory Flisakowski. As a sophomore, Flisakowski ran over the opposition for 1,116 yards on 184 carries (6.07 yards per carry) and 16 touchdowns. The Panthers have another player returning at a top position - quarterback Ross Adamczak. The senior stepped in after Nate Karl's injury last year and threw for 388 yards on 23-of-47 passing. He threw four touchdowns and two interceptions. Other starters back from a year ago include seniors Kevin Fitzgerald (fullback, linebacker), Justin Haley (flanker, cornerback), Robb Kolodziej (tackle, defensive line) and Gabe Bauer (tight end). Joining Flisakowski, who will also play free safety, is junior Kyle Bohm (tight end, defensive line. Offensively, the Panthers have four players who could see time at wide receiver - Casey Taggatz, Chase Kostichka, Josh Kuzawa and Mike McCarthy. Joe Richter will join Bauer and Bohm at tight end. In the backfield, Adam Kostichka (tailback) and Tim Bartsch (fullback) will battle for time while Ben Peterson will back-up Adamczak. There are several people vying for starting jobs on the offensive and defensive lines. Josh Nantell (offensive tackle, DL), Justin Roselius (center, DL), Travis Mews (offensive guard, defensive end), Josh Begerl (OG, DL), Bartsch (DL) and Adam Kostichka (DL) are among the players who will try to solidify the Panthers up-front. At the linebacker position, Anthony Gishia, Chris Kolodziej, Richter and Kuzawa will compete with Fitzgerald for playing time. In the defensive backfield, Peterson, Mike Phelps, Kevin Polito, Matt Baden, Ben Bolton, Taggatz, Chase Kostichka and McCarthy will join Haley and Flisakowski. Ryan Hoffman could be SPASH's punting and kicking specialist. Pacelli High School Last year the Cardinals ran over their opponents en route to a WISAA runner-up finish. But this year Pacelli's backfield will have a different look without running backs Andy Cashin and Ty West. The duo, who combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the ground and 35 touchdowns, will be replaced by seniors Neil Jurgella and Wayne Zelhofer. While Pacelli coach Bob Raczek says Jurgella will start, Zelhofer currently holds the upper hand over junior Justin Anderson for the second back spot. With new runners as well as a new receiving corps and new offensive and defensive lines, Raczek says the Cardinals are shooting for another conference title and a state championship. He compares the turnover to what happened before the 1998 season. "Here again, other guys have to step in like they did the year before," Raczek said. "We'll take it game for game and try to win every game. I think you have to have some type of final goal, and that would be to win state. "I think the kids that played there knew we didn't play a good ball game," he said. Back from that team is senior quarterback Steve Wiczek. As a junior, he completed 60 percent of his passes (86-of-143) for 1,280 yards and 15 touchdowns. "He played a lot as a sophomore and had a real outstanding year last year," Raczek said. "He's bigger, faster, we'll probably run him on options and quarterback keepers. That will put a little more dimension in our offense that the opposition has to prepare for." The first opponent readying for Pacelli is Owen-Withee, who the Cardinals face on the road Friday night. For the opener, Raczek will likely start senior Matt Kruzicki and junior Adam Brazzale at wide receiver; Pat Schmitt at tight end; and seniors Matt Schulist, Dave Platta, Mark Schwarz and juniors Matt Karch and David Blaha on the offensive line. On the defensive end, seniors Ben Kissel, Schwarz, Platta and juniors Blaha and Karch will comprise the line; Schulist and sophomore Joe Usher will play linebacker; and Wiczek, Schmitt and Kruzicki will man the secondary. While many haven't started before, all got valuable varsity experience last year during Pacelli romps. Raczek took out his starters in most of the games, allowing underclassmen to play lots of minutes. "A lot of these younger guys got a chance to play," Raczek said. "And that should help us this year." In the final year of the Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference, Pacelli's biggest challenge could come from Eau Claire Regis, who has most of its starters back. Raczek said Marshfield Columbus, which has had a few down years recently, looked good in a preseason scrimmage. "We have a good, tough schedule. It looks like we could have good battles in the conference. To me that's good - that's the way it should be," Raczek said. Almond-Bancroft High School No matter what happens, A-B's season will start on a bright note. The Eagles host Princeton Friday night at 7 p.m., the first night game in Almond in school history. Obviously new lights don't win football games, but fundamentally sound players can. And that's what A-B coach Rodney Wedig believes he has. "This team is not big, not fast, and not exceptionally quick, but we are fundamentally sound. We will be able to stay competitive in every game and we'll beat any team that takes us lightly," Wedig said. The Eagles have many members of last year's team coming back for at least another season. Jon Tullberg, Chris Leary, Matt Cummings, Jake Erickson, Gavin McIntee, Blake Schultz, Josh Warzynski, Nick Sanchez, Jesse Konczak, Charlie Warzynski, John Ruzicka, Nick Brehmer, Jeremiah Warzynski, Mike Johnson, Trevor Dernbach and Luke Mykisen all saw action for A-B a year ago. If all goes well, Wedig could see his team representing the Central Wisconsin Conference in the WIAA postseason. "If our defense can force turnovers and our offense doesn't turn the ball over, we could make the playoffs," Wedig said. "I am excited about this season because this program is on a definite upswing. We will be a playoff challenger for years to come." Amherst High School The Falcons are trying to bounce back from a 1-8 season last year (1-6 in the CWC) and finish at the .500 mark. Amherst will be helped by senior running back Paul Konkol, who missed all of last year after he broke his arm in a preseason scrimmage. The team is bringing back ten varsity players from last season, who will open the Falcons' season Friday against Wild Rose at home, at 4 p.m. "Last year's team was very young," Amherst coach Jerry Carlson said. "Their experience should be a great benefit this year. We have some nice size on the line with Paul Konkol showing some nice speed and quickness at the tailback position." Teaming with Konkol in the backfield will be sophomore Sam Allen. Among the other returnees for Amherst are senior wide receiver Jim Worzalla, senior tight end Jason Heinz, junior tight end Adam Kinney, junior running back Nate Peplinski, senior linemen Joe Dambroski and Kris Herek, as well as junior linemen Mark Jakubek, Justin Pacocha and sophomore lineman Tony Anderson. Other varsity candidates included senior lineman Dustin Yenter, junior wide receiver Dustin Stuczynski and junior tight end Josh Thompson. "Depth will be a concern for us as it is with all small schools," Carlson said. "We have 14 or 15 players who will see most of the time at the varsity level. "If we can stay healthy, we can do a respectable job. That's the trick. Last year we had lots of injuries and our record showed it." Rosholt High School With only five players returning from their 1998 starting lineup, the Hornets aren't quite sure what the season will hold. "This season begins with many question marks," Rosholt coach Jim Grygleski said. "For example, 'How will the offense and defensive lines respond with all but one starter gone? Or, will injuries cause problems due to very little depth?'" The good news is the five returnees are at key positions. Quarterback Ryan Zdroik is back on offense and he will have familiar faces in the backfield with halfback Jon Betker and fullback Aaron Yenter returning. Tight end Senica Omernick is also back, as is offensive tackle Dusty Wiza. On defense, Zdroik will play defensive back, Betker, Yenter and Wiza will all play linebacker and Senica Omernick will be on the defensive line. "We do, on the up side, bring back five key starters on both sides of the ball," Grygleski said. "I believe if the kids play the way they are capable, the sky's the limit, however, they must decide to perform. The jury is still out." Rosholt's first test comes Friday, when the Hornets travel to Crandon.