West Chester Rustin

By Nate Heckenberger

nateheckenberger@gmail.com

@nheckenberger on Twitter

WESTTOWN -- It’s not often a team with an undefeated regular season record ends the season with a bitter taste in its mouth.

West Chester Rustin has had to purge itself of the bad aftertaste of a first-round playoff loss to Perkiomen Valley. Bringing back one of the best running backs in the area from last season, as well as another big, physical offensive line helps that process.

Terry Loper, who led the Ches-Mont League with 1,755 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior, is back for his encore. And his coach, Mike St. Clair is expecting more.

“I think (Loper) can be even better,” said St. Clair, who’s gone 72-23 in his eight seasons. “He put on 10 pounds and is 195 now, and running track in the offseason has made him faster than last year. He’s a legit 4.45 (40-yard dash) guy now.”

Playing running back for Rustin is about the best gig in Chester County. With a staff that uses the pass game only to keep defenses honest, and a line that continually replenishes, Loper and Mike McKnight will have every opportunity to be dominant again.

Ray Bordley, a junior offensive lineman who’s garnered attention from the likes of Penn State, is the keystone in the line. Phil Vecciolli and Christos Moscharis aren’t too far behind in the size department on the line.

“(Bordley) is a bigger version of Chase Hoyt,” St. Clair said. “He has very good technique, and for being 320 pounds, he has very good feet. He’s pretty similar (to Hoyt) skill-wise.”

Dave Fithian graduated, leaving a vacancy at the quarterback position, along with versatile playmaker, Ethan Ridgeway. In camp Evan Wlock, Andrew Chobany and Jack Carfagno are battling to take over under center. Chobany started at free safety as a sophomore, but did not play as a junior as he focused on basketball.

St. Clair said it would likely take through the second scrimmage before a starter would be named.

Defensively, Rustin is always amongst the leaders in points against. Finding a way to fill the hole left by middle linebacker Sean Steinmetz will be the biggest task. Greg Krikorian is slated to start in the middle, with McKnight anchoring a young secondary. Frank Hosking is your typical Rustin defender who plays tough, disciplined football from the defensive end position.

“We’re not gonna be able to replace Sean (Steinmetz),” St. Clair said. “McKnight, Hosking and Phil (Vecciolli) bring a lot of leadership since they were starters last year. They’re system kids and they know how things go and what we’re about.”

Loper may see some time at one of the safety positions.

The Golden Knights have won 13 straight regular season games and will be favored in most of their games this fall. Unionville is typically the main hurdle to an American Division crown, and Great Valley will have a say once again. Outside the league, Rustin hosts Methacton and Downingtown East and will have to travel to West Chester Henderson and West Chester East.