SHAWN CURTIS
scurtis@tribdem.com
DAVIDSVILLE —
A 10-2 campaign from 2009 is in Conemaugh Township’s rear-view mirror.
So is the District 5 Class A championship, the program’s first on-field district title since 1993.
That isn’t to say that Sam Zambanini’s squad can’t take many of the lessons learned from last season and apply them to 2010.
“I think our returning guys, although there’s not a ton of returning starters, they realize the work ethic and week-after-week grind and the dedication that it takes to get through and win a district championship,” Zambanini said. “That’s the biggest thing that we’ll take from last season. We’re trying to get them to understand that you don’t get any bonus points for winning it last year. Certainly, everyone will be gunning for us, when you’re the reigning champ.”
After falling short in the 2008 District 5 title game, the Indians went 8-1 through the regular season with a 27-14 loss to Portage as the only blemish. Conemaugh Township beat Meyersdale 34-0 in the 5-A semifinals, then edged WestPAC rival Windber, 21-20, for the district title.
Conemaugh Township fell to eventual state champion Clairton 46-0 in the quarterfinals. When the season concluded, the Indians also said farewell to 2,000-yard rusher Seth Zaman along with a host of other players, leaving the squad low on returning starters, but not leadership aspiration.
The Indians return three starters on offense and four on defense with just five seniors on the 37-student roster.
“Although our senior group is small, they have some goals in mind,” Zambanini said. “Those goals have become team goals. Our goal is to win every week, but our goals are to have a winning season, get to the playoffs and anything can happen in the playoffs. We’ve been to the last two district title games, and our seniors are trying to relay that message to the rest of the group that they want to be back this year.”
Meyersdale hosts Conemaugh Township to open the season on Friday, beginning a tough trek through the WestPAC split by a non-conference game with Chestnut Ridge in Week 5.
“It’s a grind in this conference,” Zambanini said. “We just don’t have automatic wins in our conference. We have to be prepared every week.”
Offensively, the Indians will give opponents varied looks throughout the season with multiple-I, one-back with two- and three-receiver sets along with the wishbone in the playbook. Senior Hayden Stumpo, a transfer from Ferndale, is penciled in as the team’s starting quarterback. Joining Stumpo in the backfield will be junior fullback Rick Ewing and senior tailback Brett Byers.
Junior Jordan Shroyer will handle the role of flanker while juniors Dan Zambanini, Corey Berchick and senior Enoch McRae will all see time at receiver. McRae is tagged as Conemaugh Township’s utility player by Zambanini.
Tight end duties will fall on senior Aaron Putyrski and/or junior Luke Garman.
Junior Luke Gindlesperger anchors the projected starting line at center and will be flanked by guards Chris Mazzarese (junior) and Derek Shifflett (senior). Junior Nick Holsopple and sophomore Ben Shaw are the tackles.
“We’re a little inexperienced up front,” Zambanini noted. “But with that crew, we feel that if they can put it together that we have the skill kids that can do some damage and give people some problems.”
Place-kicking and punting duties will fall on either sophomore Ken Domonkos or junior Grant Speigle.
The Indians will counter teams defensively with a 5-3 front, but will switch to even fronts when needed, according to Zambanini.
Shifflett will play nose guard with Holsopple, Shaw and Gindlesperger all sharing time at defensive tackle. Ewing, Mazzarese, Speigle along with sophomore Jeff Fisher, will battle for the defensive end positions. Byers, who was The Tribune-Democrat’s Defensive Player of the Year last season, anchors the linebacking crew. Shroyer and sophomore Tanner Cahill will fill the outside linebacker slots.
Dan Zambanini along with McRae, junior Matt Yost or Berchick will occupy the cornerback slots while Domonkos and Speigle top the depth chart at the safety positions.
Zambanini is aided by varsity assistants Pete Kuharchek, Don Haines, Ron Telenko, Rod Jarvis, James Rubal, Jeff Slatcoff, Ben Blough and Nate Jarvis.
