Council Rock South

Three years after a trip to the District 1 finals, Council Rock South takes the field in a brand new division with CB East, CB West, Norristown, Hatboro-Horsham and Quakertown.

While the Hawks may have put a dozen wins on the board in 2011, they’ve found victories much tougher to come by the last two seasons, emerging triumphant just four times in 2012 and 2013, combined.

The past is left where it is, says first-year starting quarterback Shaun Stackhouse.

“It’s a new year and a new team,” he said. “We try to look at everything like it’s something new – a new play, a new set of downs, every second, something new.”

Indeed, South takes the field this year without quarterback Greg Paprocki, running backs David Haun and Tyler Anderson and wide receiver Joe Castronuovo. The Hawks are missing offensive linemen Pat Emery, Sean Frusco and Eric Gallo, a 6-2, 275-pound center who left for Virginia Tech.

“You don’t replace an Eric Gallo,” stated head coach Vince Bedesem. “His legacy is laid out for some of these guys who played with him.

“Hopefully, they’re going to pick up where he left off and go with it.”

One of those players the coach is counting on for that is two-way lineman Connor Brunetti, a senior and returning starter. Brunetti is going to have help from senior Emeka Enogwe, who will also play both sides of the ball this year after playing only defense last year. Senior tight end Mike Crowley is back at that slot on offense but will also play on the defensive line.

“When you go 2-8, you’re looking for a resurgence of new blood,” explained the coach.

“We have a lot of juniors who got a lot of playing time last year and we have a lot of high hopes for this group.”

One of those in the junior class, which numbers 29, is Mike Stock. Mike takes over the fullback position this year and will also play inside linebacker.

“Michael has turned himself into quite a football player and we’re expecting big things from him this year,” said Bedesem.

Juniors John Anderson and Georgio Coulouris, a first-year starter, will play on both sides of the line. Junior Joe Carter will see time at center and will also be on the rotation along the D-line.

Junior Kyle Hickey, a returning starter at defensive back, will see time in the running back rotation as will defensive back Joe Louch. Juniors Brando Broe and Joseph Scannapieco could also see time at running back.

“In our offense, a lot of guys have the opportunity to touch the football,” explained Stackhouse. “Our passing over the past couple of years has been pretty minimal. But we have three or four guys who can really run the ball in our offense compared to other teams that run only one or two guys on every play.”

South’s wide receivers emanate from the junior class as well – Nick Crane, a returning starter along with Rick Johnston and Sean Murray.

One of the seniors the Hawks will look to for leadership is Vince Alimenti and Vince will try to do that from his position as running back and outside linebacker.

How this group melds together is the key, says Stackhouse.

“What’s really different about this team is that we have a lot more chemistry – off the field and on the field,” said the quarterback. “I think our coaches are really trying to utilize that.”

Stackhouse will try to lead South back into contention in the newly aligned SOL Continental Conference. A centerfielder for the Hawks JV baseball team, Shaun follows a line of baseball players under center at South that includes the departed Greg Paprocki, Brian Donnelly (Rider baseball) and Billy Fleming (WVa./Yankees), who led the Hawks to the district playoffs three straight seasons (09-11).

“It’s an ongoing formula for us,” quipped Bedesem.

“Being in an option offense, you have to be very athletic,” said Stackhouse. “The guys that went ahead of me – Greg Paprocki, Brian Donnelly – they had a lot of balance between the two sports, proving that they were athletic.

“I plan to follow the same path – do my best and try to balance both sports.”

Stackhouse enters the starting role with some experience; he finished the Neshaminy game in 2013 and played the entire matchup with Abington after Paprocki suffered a concussion in the first half of the battle with the Redskins.

“It definitely introduced me to the faster pace of the game at the varsity level,” he said.

“It was good for me to get the opportunity to play, get the feel of things, what the atmosphere is like on Friday nights.”

South hasn’t said goodbye to the National Conference entirely. The Hawks open the season facing three of their former division foes in Pennsbury, Bensalem and Neshaminy.

“We still like the local flavor,” said Bedesem “We wanted to keep our non-league schedule local.”

Still, the coach likes his team’s new address in the Continental Conference. But it’s been a long time since this team has seen any of the CBs, save CB South who it has opened with for many years now.

The last time CR South took on CB West was in a 2010 District 1 quarterfinal when the Hawks outpaced the Bucks in a shootout. South FB Mark Damirgian rushed for over 230 yards and West QB Ward Udinski threw for over 190 yards. The last time the Hawks took on East was 2009 when South registered a 31-7 triumph.

“We’re looking forward to the new league – it’s a re-start, a re-birth for us,” the coach said.

“The CBs – our neighbors to the North - they’re great teams. If (the realignment) spices things up for some, that’s great.”

Coming from the bigger National Conference makes no difference, says the quarterback.

“We can’t take anyone lightly. We don’t expect to walk in knowing that we were in the (bigger) division before. We’re a young team but everybody is ready to fight; we’re ready to deliver as a team.”

And opening the season against the defending division champion Falcons, the Owls and the defending District 1 champion Redskins is a tall task for an team.

“While we’re not going into a game taking anyone lightly, we’re not going into any game thinking that we’re defeated either.

“You have to beat the best to be the best.”

“We’re going to bring our tough attitude and our own swagger into each game and we’re going to compete.

“They might be bigger and stronger but we have our own sense of urgency on our team.”

A sense of urgency at South? It would seem the first-year quarterback and the coach have plenty they agree on.