Episcopal Academy

By CHRISTOPHER A. VITO

Special to the Times

NEWTOWN SQUARE — In blue gym shorts and loose-fitting shoulder pads, players whizzed around the turf at Newbold Smith Field. The star-in-the-making running back bounced comfortably between tackles. The quarterback delivered pinpoint passes with authority. The offensive line shuffled in unison, a quintet that knew the playbook like the back of its hand.

Episcopal Academy resembled a conditioned team, one already in midseason form — even on Day 1 of training camp.

“That’s because we don’t install plays on the field,” said Todd Fairlie, Episcopal Academy’s fourth-year coach. “We don’t like to walk around. Everything is done before we get on the field so we can go full-speed out here.”

In Fairlie’s tenure, he has instituted a four-night camp on the grounds of the Newtown Square school. He brings his players under one roof for a Sunday-through-Wednesday stretch in August, during which they sleep on air mattresses and eat meals prepared by their parents. They learn the playbook. They sit in on lengthy meetings. They share sleeping quarters and dinner tables with teammates.

Most importantly, according to Fairlie, they bond.

“It’s worked in the past, in bringing us together,” said two-way lineman John “Moose” Minicozzi, “so that’s what we’re hoping for this time around.”

The Churchmen followed up 2012’s perfect season and Inter-Academic League title with an 8-3 campaign a year ago, featuring lopsided clunkers in their final two games, which cost them an opportunity for a repeat championship. Losses to Malvern Prep and rival The Haverford School by a combined 48 points sent the Churchmen into the offseason feeling bitter.

“Until we go through the teams we lost to last year, we’re not at the top of the league,” Fairlie said. “We lost two games pretty handily at the end of the year. For me to say we’re top of the league would be false. We have work to do to get on top of them.”

Episcopal Academy is banking on bucking that trend. To do so, the Churchmen will lean upon their skill position players on both sides of the ball.

On offense, junior running back Dee Barlee will get the bulk of the handoffs. A year ago, he tweaked his hamstring in Week 3 and never shook the recurring injury. Barlee, who rushed for 679 yards last season, describes himself as “a North-to-South guy,” who won’t stray from the play call. He’s a rugged, lean back who puts his strength on display with the variety of events in which he competes during track season. Barlee runs the 100- and 200-meter dashes — and throws shot put.

“I’m probably the smallest guy around who throws shot put,” the Upper Darby native said, “but I can get it out there, trust me.”

Barlee and sophomore wide receiver CJ McAnally, a 6-0, 170-pound target, represent decent options for senior Ryan Whayland. Last season, the quarterback threw for 2,091 yards, establishing the Inter-Ac’s single-season record. But Whayland said his right arm should be regarded as the Churchmen’s backup plan.

“I think we’re going to be a tough team and can grind out anyone,” he said. “And when we have to, we can pass to beat anyone.”

Fairlie sees things differently.

“To have Ryan’s experience — I mean, we’re bringing back a guy who started 11 games under center and had a record year — that’s huge for us,” the coach said.

On the defensive side of the ball, Fairlie’s line lost two starters. Minicozzi, a two-time all-league selection, is back at nose guard. Nonetheless, Episcopal Academy doesn’t wish to be regarded as team to be taken lightly in the trenches.

“We want to beat the heck out of the team on the other side of the ball for four quarters, plain and simple,” said Minicozzi, a Media native. “We just want to pound the other team. We want them to remember they played Episcopal Academy and that, the next time they play us, they should be prepared.”

On this day of training camp, the Churchmen were prepared.

Eleven weeks of regular-season preparation, Fairlie hopes, will put them back on top of the Inter-Ac.