SE PA Football Preview Phila Public League

Washington and Frankford inching closer to a breakthrough in the PIAA
By Gorden Blain
Last season, George Washington pulled off the “big” upset win over Catholic League champion La Salle in the first Philadelphia City Championship game since 1979.

The 23-14 victory gave the Eagles the PIAA District 12 AAAA championship. It also gave Public League football reason to believe that its champion truly does stand a chance with all of those PIAA and Catholic league heavyweights.

Even Washington coach Ron Cohen’s main Public League rival jumped on the bandwagon.

“Washington beating La Salle last year was big,” says Frankford head coach Mike Capriotti. “It showed that the Public League is good football. In my opinion, it’s as good as anywhere.”

Quite a stunning turnaround by a coach who, back in 2004, wasn’t all that much interested in the Public League joining the PIAA. The comeback of the City Title game only was made possible because of the PIAA. When the Catholic League joined the PIAA last year, it set up a District 12 AAAA championship game between the AAAA champions of both leagues.

Cohen was always an advocate of the move by the city leagues to join the PIAA and even though Washington lost to District 11 champion Liberty 30-13 in the state quarterfinals—the Pub’s AAAA teams are 0-5 versus the District 11 in the state quarterfinals—he has no doubt that the Public League AAAA champion is on the verge of winning a state playoff game and maybe even reaching Hershey.

“This is the year we’ve been pointing towards,” replies Cohen when he assesses his expectations for the Eagles in 2009.

Cohen has the Eagles jumping into the fire with both feet. They open the season at home against Parkland, which is a strong challenger to defending PIAA State AAAA champion Liberty in the Lehigh Valley Conference. He’s anxious to see the Eagles compete outside the Public League and is excited about their chances.

“I want them to experience what Pennsylvania football is really all about,” says Cohen.

So from a “big” win to a “big” step forward, the Eagles have the biggest name in Pennsylvania in their lineup.

DT-OT Sharrif Floyd (6-3, 310, Sr.) is a “big” man, a “big” force in the Public League and a “big” name among the best major college football recruits nationally. National college football recruiting publications rate Floyd, who ironically was on the 2008 AP first team AAAA all-state team as an offensive lineman, first or second among all defensive tackle prospects. Among all blue-chip prospects, Floyd is ranked among the top 30 nationally. There’s 50 or more scholarship offers from all of the marquee teams—Penn State, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan and more-- on the table for Floyd to back up those ratings.

Floyd is one of five Public League AAAA Red Division first team all-stars returning for Washington. No wonder Cohen has such “big” plans for the Eagles.

“You always have high hopes for the team,” says Floyd. “Every year we say States. The last couple of years, since I’ve been here, we haven’t been fortunate to get past the first round. That should change this year.

 

“We don’t practice for the Pub anymore. That’s no insult to the Pub either. We practice for the big guys, the City titles and the Suburban leagues. We practice for them, not saying the Public League is going to be a cakewalk, because it is not, but we practice hard, we play hard, we come home with a W. That’s how it is.”

 

Says Floyd:  “We’ve got to keep our motor going. We can’t bow down to anybody. Like I said before, they put their pads on the same that we put our pads on. Yes, they might be bigger. Some of them might be faster. But that’s not going to let them win. They need more than two players on the team to win.”

First-teamers QB-DB Aaron Wilmer (5-10, 190, Sr.), TE-LB James Fowler (6-1, 205, Sr.), RB Kessan Christopher (5-8, 190, Sr.) and LB Martin Haynes (6-2, 215, Sr.) return. Last season, Wilmer passed for 1,150 yards and 17 TDs and scored 6 TDs. Fowler caught 25 passes for 325 yards and 5 TDs. Christopher rushed for 453 yards on 89 carries and scored 8 TDs.

Also returning are WR-DB Nate Smith (6-0, 175, Soph.) and WR Joe Clayborne (Jr.).

Before the Eagles think “big” about their post-season plans, they first must survive their AAAA Red Division rivals Frankford and Northeast. Not much separated the three teams last season. Washington eeked by Frankford 6-3 in a regular season battle of field goals and needed three overtimes to defeat Northeast 41-34 in the Red Division championship game.

The rest of the Public League…
AAAA Red Division
George Washington is riding high as it goes for its third straight Public League championship but Frankford hasn’t taken a back seat to its rival. Since 2000, the Pioneers have four Public League championships to GW’s five. Once again this season, Frankford head coach Mike Capriotti doesn’t see much difference between the AAAA Red Division’s top three teams. “I think we’ll be in the mix with Washington and Northeast,” says Capriotti. “Both of those games last year were like stalemates.” Public League AAAA Red Division first team all-stars LB Taron Mills (5-10, 170, Sr.) and C Elvis Diaz (5-10, 220, Sr.) and OL-DL Taheed Smith (6-5, 360, Sr.), DB-RB Tyrell Martin (5-11, 185, Sr.), a track sprinter and versatile athlete who can catch, DE Tyrell Allen (6-1,180, Sr.) OG Brandon Russell (5-11, 210, Sr.) and TB-DE Zaire “Bam” Anderson (5-11, 190, Sr.) return for Frankford. Anderson rushed for 173 yards last season. QB Mike McGroarty (6-3, 190, Jr.), who returns after starting three games last season, and OT- Jovon Smith (6-1, 230, Sr.), OG Edwin Burgos (5-9, 185, Jr.) and TE-WR Roosevelt Hagins (6-2, 175, Sr.), all who saw significant playing time last season, are emerging playmakers for the Pioneers. Always geared to play tough defense and a ball control running game on offense, head coach Mike Capriotti is looking for more balance on offense. “I think we’ll be able to throw the ball more with McGroarty this year,” says Capriotti, who expects RB-DB Jeffion Thomas (5-10, 180, Sr.), a sprinter who transferred in from Glen Mills last school year, to emerge as playmaker. McGroarty passed for 177 yards and 2 TDs last season. Capriotti expects some lineup help from players who were on an undefeated junior varsity team last season.

Former Cardinal Dougherty head coach and Northeast player Chris Riley has replaced Mel Hinton as head coach of Northeast. Riley, who was an assistant coach for the Vikings, has the challenge of developing a group of first-year starters to compliment a strong group of returning starters after 26 seniors of 42 players graduated from last season’s team. The centerpiece of the Vikings is four-year starter and playmaker QB Malik Stokes (6-1, 175, Sr.), who is on the verge of becoming the Public League’s all-time career passing yardage leader. A reason alone that the Vikings remain in the mix for the AAAA Red Division championship, Stokes, not to be confused with his brother and WR Je’Ron Stokes who landed a major college football scholarship at Michigan last season, has passed for 3,053 yards and 27 TDs the past three seasons. The all-time Public League leader is Mastbaum’s Markies Tavares with 3,381 yards. After outstanding performances at elite QB showcase camps, Central Michigan has offered Stokes a scholarship and Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State and Temple are interested in Stokes, who passed for threw for 1,379 yards and 11 TDs. “Malik’s a hard worker, a great kid, a very good student,” says Hinton. “He will do well. He has excellent skills picking up defenses. He has a very strong arm and good techniques. He’s the complete package.” Other returning starters are first team Public AAAA Red Division all-star OL-DL Maciej Mazur, who Riley says is a Division 1 prospect, C Jerome Brown (6-1,245, Sr.), WR Eric Brundidge (6-1, 180, Sr.), one of top 400-meter sprinters in PA and a home-run-ball threat for Stokes (34.7 yards per reception on 7 catches), DE-TE Deion Barnes (6-4, 215, Jr.), an emerging athletic Division 1 prospect, LB-FB Camille Max (5-10, 185, Jr.), RB-DB Tyleel Taylor (5-9, 170, Sr.) and DB Albert Burgos (5-9, 175, Sr.). Riley expects newcomers WR-LB Rashaun Sligh (6-1, 190, Jr.), a transfer from Leeds Military Academy, and RB-S Marquis Edwards (5-9, 165, Fr.) to make an impact.

Public League AAAA Red Division first team all-star ATH-DB David McCants (Jr.), who rushed for 409 yards and scored 3 TDs, returns for Overbrook. Panthers head coach Ken Sturm turns to first-year starter Ehramis Chism (Sr.) at QB…It’s not the kind of reward it’s looking for but John Bartram moves into the AAAA Red Division after finishing in first place in the AAAA White Division last season. “Losing many key starters and moving up to the top division in the Pub makes our task monumental,” says head coach Damond "Smash" Warren. “We will play hard, compete and hopefully steal a few victories in the process.” Returning for the Maroon Wave are OL-DL Malcolm McNair (5-11, 270, Sr.), OL-DL Ray Fearon (6-0, 295, Sr.) and FB-LB Derek King (5-10, 180, Sr.), who all were first team AAAA White Division all-stars last season, QB Jose Morales (5-10, 170, Sr.), who moved to QB from WR for the last five games in 2008 and passed for 123 yards and 2 TDs, RB-DB Al-Haaj Shabazz (5-10, 170, Sr.), a 2008 midseason transfer from Bok who Warren expects to emerge as a playmaker in the secondary, LBs Alphonso Murchison (5-11, 195, Sr.) and Russel Calloway (Sr.), TE Mohammed Diabate (6-2, 180, Sr.), WR Basheer Lee (Sr.), OL-DL Kamal Bloodsaw (5-10, 230, Jr.) and OL-DL Darell Lane (6-3, 245, Sr.).

AAAA White Division
Last season’s AAAA Blue Division champion University City and Central, the last place team in the AAAA Red Division move into the AAAA White Division…Former Central standout WR Rich Drayton returns to his alma mater and replaces Frank Conway, Jr. (78-55 in 13 seasons) as head coach of the Lancers, who pulled off the rarest of feats by qualifying for the Public League AAAA playoffs as a winless team (0-6), The Lancers finished 0-11. Drayton is leaning on returning starting QB Devonne Boler (5-10, 190, Sr.), who passed for 977 yards and 8 TDs and rushed for 172 yards and 5 TDs last season. Also returning are PK Joseph Guarnieri (5-6, 150, Sr.), RB-LB Irvin Johnson (5-8,180, Sr.), TE Shaune Marshall (6-1, 180, Sr.), OL-DL Devon Honeyman (6-0, 230, Sr.), OL-DL Jon Madrack (6-1, 220, Sr.) and OL-DL Khalil Smith (6-1, 220, Sr.). Drayton hopes to find WRs, LBs and DBs to emerge from a large group of seniors who got playing time last season…Germantown head coach Mike Hawkins expects returning starters QB Ramadan Abdullah (6-1, 180, Sr.), who passed for 1,009 yards and 6 TDs last season, and RB-DB Brent West (6-1, 190, Sr.), who missed all but the last two games of the 2008 season with a broken collarbone, to have breakout seasons. TE-DE John Ellis (6-1, 190, Sr.) is another returning starter. Hawkins is concerned if the Bears’ new offensive and defensive lines and linebackers will jell in time…Returning starters RB-DB Tariq “Pop Tart” Gordon (5-10, 180, Sr.), who rushed for 1,122 yards, had 19 receptions for 233 yards and scored 13 TDs last season, FB-LB Parrish Shoatz (5-8, 175, Sr.) and QB Michael Adens (6-1, 180, Sr.), who passed for 1,338 yards and 14 TDs, were first team AAAA Blue Division all-stars last season for University City. Also returning are FB-LB Sam Bracy (5-10, 230, Sr.), OL-DL Talim Smith (6-1, 245, Jr.), WR-LB Terrell Stanton (6-0, 185, Sr.), OL-DL Christian Maynard (6-4, 250, Sr.), WR-DE Amir Washington (6-1, 190, Sr.), OL-DLShaquil Samuels (5-10, 205, Jr.) and OL-DL Jaseem Waiters (6-3, 260, Sr.). Jaguars head coach Lou Williams says the spread offense and playmakers are in place but his challenge is to find some linemen and firm up the defense.…Srs. QB Joe McCausland, WR-DB Omar Black and OL-DL Hakeem Cooper (5-9, 185) were first team AAAA White Division all-stars last season for Abraham Lincoln. McCausland passed for 824 yards and 9 TDs and the versatile, two-way player Black rushed for 145 yards, had 297 yards receiving and had three interceptions. Black scored 9 TDs four different ways for the Railsplitters with 3 rushing, 4 receiving and one each on an interception and kickoff return. Cooper has been a first-team all-star for the last two seasons…First team AAAA White Division all-star WR-DB Jaron Turner (5-9, 170, Jr.) had 362 yards receiving and scored 6 TDs last season for Olney. RB Eric Barrow (5-10, 200, Sr.) rushed for 617 yards and scored 4 TDs for the Trojans…

AAAA Blue Division
West Philadelphia moves into the AAAA Blue Division after finishing last in the AAAA White Division in 2008… First team AAAA Blue Division all-stars QB Shaquille Gaskins (6-0, 180, Sr.), C-NT Richard White (5-9, 190, Sr.), who had 19 sacks, and DE Sean Allen (5-10, 195, Sr.) give Southern a formidable group of returning starters. Head coach Stosh Tunney also expects RB Andrew Auer (5-10, 200, Sr.), who had 123 yards rushing, and OL-DL David Blackwell (6-8, 290, Jr.) to make important contributions for the Rams this season. Tonney expects a breakout season for Gaskins, who had 307 yards passing with 3 TDs and 272 yards rushing and scored 6 TDs. He also had four interceptions. "We are going to look to Gaskins to make big plays for our offense,” says Tunney “He is a very effective dual-threat quarterback with the ability to make impact plays at any point in the course of a game."…Pat O’Hara returns for his first full season as head coach of West Philadelphia after he replaced long-time Speedboys head coach John Lay who retired after the third game of the 2008 season… First team AAAA Blue Division all-star Sr. QB-P Terrell Lee passed for 830 yards and 11 TDs last season for Thomas Edison...Samuel Fels head coach William Harrigan claims the Panthers are buying into his coaching philosophy. "It is necessary that we take steps forward in the right direction and improve in some way or another," says Harrigan. Fels has shown steady improvement in the win column. The Panthers did not win a game in their first season in the Pub in 2006. They won two games in 2007 and three in 2008. RB John Counts (5-10, 170, Jr.), RB Cortez Covington (5-10, 180, Jr.), TE Akeem Small (6-3, 225, Sr.) and OL-Dl Steven Cenesca (6-0, 220, Sr.) are returning starters. Harrigan expects first-year player Devin Perrin (6-3, 180, Sr.) to emerge at QB.… Martin Luther King hasn’t had a winning season since 2005.


AAA Division
OL-DL Kwame Bell, OL-DL Justin Coffey, RB-DB Akmed Greene and RB-DB Braheem Ford were first team Public League AAA Division all-stars for Roxborough last season and give Indians head coach Mike Stanley a mix of veteran linemen and playmakers. Greene had 252 carries for 1,540 yards, had 158 yards receiving and scored 9 TDs for the Indians last season. Ford had five interceptions and caught 11 passes for 254 yards and 3 TDs…Simon Gratz head coach Eric Zipay says the Bulldogs are "starting to come around…We have a lot of good players with character," says Zipay. Odd-man out for the Public League AAA playoffs last season, Gratz was winless in division play last season and 4-7 overall but, with 18 starters returning this season, Zipay expects the Bulldogs to be a contender for the Public League AAA championship. Zipay wants a more balanced offensive attack so he plans to adjust the Dogs spread offense by incorporating a pistol formation with four wide receivers that showcases the athletic talents of first team Public League AAA all-star QB Montrell Stewart (6-2, 180, Jr.), who passed for 800 yards and 8 TDs last season. "With Montrell we have more a dual-threat quarterback who looks to throw first but can also scramble and make plays in and out of the pocket,” says Zipay. “We’ll look to use a lot of speed option with Montrell." Also returning are first team AAA Division all-stars ATH-LB Khalil Brown (5-11, 195, Jr.) and C-LB Tamaric Richardson (6-2, 240, Sr.) along the versatile DB-WR Malik Joe (6-0, 180, Sr.) and to mammoth linemen Rahsaan Everett (6-3, 340, Jr.) and Jameel Morgan (6-0, 340, Jr.). The Bulldogs join the increasing number of Pub teams scheduling non-league games outside of Philadelphia when they travel to Pottstown to open the season against St. Pius X. "I feel we need to give our players some exposure, and that’s why I feel St. Pius X should be an interesting game." says Zipay…Defending Public League AAA champion Murrell Dobbins Tech head coach Lou Zambino says the Mustangs have the returning talent that’s "hungry for more" to repeat. Returning starters TE-DB Joshua Bangura (6-2, 190, Sr.) and OL-LB Aaron Walker (5-11, 225, Jr.) were first team Public League AAA all-stars last season. Bangura had five interceptions. RB-DB Karon James (5-7, 170, Sr.) rushed for 770 yards and 4 TDs for the Mustangs. Zambino expects FB-LB Brian Gibson (5-11, 190, Sr.) to emerge as a playmaker. Zambino has two QBs to work with in QB-LB Terrence Stafford (5-9, 185, Jr.) and QB-DB Martin Culbreth (5-10, 190, Sr.). Zambino is looking for OL-DL Roscoe Bruce (6-0, 240, Jr.), OL-DL Iziah King (6-0, 270, Sr.), OL-DL George Goblock (6-0, 290, Jr.) and OL-DL Jamar Samuel (6-2, 270, Sr.) to be first-year starters on the OL…With four wins in 2008, William Penn matched the total number of wins it had in its first four years of football since resurrecting its Pub football team in 2004 and got its first taste of AAA playoff football. Lions head coach Terry Henderson returns to replace James Ockimey, who coached one season…Taking advantage of its move from Public League AAAA competition to the AAA Division, Jules Mastbaum Tech snapped a string of four straight losing seasons in 2008.

AA Division
Edward Bok Tech
has been on a roll. It begins the season with a 38 division-game winning streak dating back to 2001. The Wildcats have seven straight winning seasons and have won seven straight division championships, including the first Pub AA title last season. Jr. QB Andre Frazier emerged last season after starter Al-Hajj Shabazz transferred to Bartram after three games. He passed for 467 yards and 9 TDs. Bok RBs Faison Perry (226 yards), Gary Jackson (218 yards) and Manny Gregory (206 yards) combined for 650 yards and 11 TDs last season behind the Wildcats’ featured RB Ray Tucker, who, along with six other seniors who were Public AA Division all-stars, graduated. Not to worry, Bok head coach Tom DeFelice always finds the talent to restock the lineup…Besmin Daniels replaces Ken Geiser as head coach at Benjamin Franklin. OL-DL Aaron Edwards and RB-LB Marquis White (5-10, 180, Sr.) were Public League AA all-stars last season. White, who was the Electrons’ leading rusher last season with 773 yards, returns as the versatile centerpiece on offense. White, who lines up at RB or WR, scored 11 TDs—7 rush, 1 reception and 3 fumble returns. “He’s a dynamic back who is always a threat to score,” says Daniels, who plans to replace the Electrons’ traditional rushing attack with a spread offense. Daniels expects to have a two-quarterback system with dual-threat QBs Evander Barkley (5-9, 165, So.) and Kevin Whitehead (5-8, 160, So.) sharing playing time. Daniels expects contributions from FS Malik Johnson, LB Ronique Felton and DT Corey Maxey…Returning starters QB Christopher Lewis (6-0, 175, Jr.), who emerged as the starter in the second half of last season and passed for 643 yards and 7 TDs, and speedster WR Kendrick Lewis (5-8, 155, sr.), who had 334 yards receiving and scored 4 TDs, and Leeland Smith (5-10, 165l, Sr.), who moves from QB to WR, gives Imhotep Charter an explosive set of playmakers that gives head coach Marc Wilson reason to believe that the Panthers are ready to challenge Bok and Franklin in the AA Division race. Wilson expects RB-DB Devin Sanders (5-9, 160, Jr.) and TE-LB Malcolm Toney (6-1, 185, Sr.) to add more firepower. LB-FB Dasir White (5-7, 165) is the leader on defense to lead the Panther defense…Horace Furness head coach Anthony Pastore believes the Falcons are ready to turn the corner and get their first winning season. From an 0-10 inaugural season to a 6-6 record and first playoff game last season. Pastore's son, FB-LB Victor Pastore (5-11, 205, Sr.), a dynamic two-way player who was a Public AA all-star, rushed for 322 yards and scored 4 TDs and had 116 tackles and 2 interceptions. Another returning starter, QB Ryan Johnson (6-1, 210, Sr.), who played WR last season, has drawn recruiting interest from Temple, Florida A&M and Penn. RB-DB Sharif Smith (6-0, 190, Soph.), one of only two freshmen on any of the six AAAA (three), AAA, AA and A Public League all-star teams last season, returns after he emerged as a dynamic playmaker with 930 yards rushing on 195 carries, 6 TDs and 4 interceptions. "Coming out of nowhere," says Pastore. "I have huge expectations for Smith.” Pastore expects important contributions from OT-DT Robert Jenkins (6-1, 285, Sr.), OL-DL Nabin Harris (6-0, 260, Jr.), DB Devin Walker (6-1, 190, Jr.), C-DE Henry Green (6-2, 250, Sr.) and LB Aaron Jones (6-0, 210, Jr.). Understandably, Pastore has big plans for the Falcons. "The game this year with Bok will be the toughest team for us to beat,” he says.”There will be no room for mistakes and we will have to execute on every play."…With 20 returning lettermen, Thomas FitzSimons head coach Joe Bradley has the personnel to recover from the departure of 11 senior who graduated and as Bradley says, “put FitzSimons back on the map." Bradley says the Rams are committed to making dramatic improvement over their inaugural 3-8 season. "I have a strong coaching staff that I trust and look forward to working with day in and day out," says Bradley. “I have guys that are willing to play big for me, we are all winners. Our saying for the upcoming season is "On a Mission," not for revenge but we are on a mission to prove to ourselves and to everyone else in the league that there is promise at Fitzsimons and we believe we can win." In their second official year of varsity football, QB-DB Richard Williams (6-2, 195, Jr.), who passed for 350 yards and 3 TDs, TE-DE Sean Carter (6-2, 200, Sr.), who caught 4 passes for 121 yards, OL-DL Dominique Johnson (5-10, 250, Sr.) and FB-LB Steven Pruitt (5-10, 195, Jr.) return for the Rams…After its first official varsity season in the Public League, Esperanza Academy, was 0-11 but first-year head coach Chris Hadley, who replaces John Grone, says the Toros gained a lot of valuable experience. "I am very excited for the kids, our program is growing and is fresh with young players and new coaches," says Hadley. QB Brandon Abner, who passed for 333 yards and 1 TD, RB Andrew Davila and RB David Martinez are among the core of the young player returning this season.

A Division

At Communications Tech, Johnny Gossett replaces head coach Rob DiMedio, who stepped down after one season. DiMedio had replaced Greg Harris who was head coach for the first two years of varsity football in 2006 and 2007. The coaching transition won’t cost the Phoenix. Communications Tech left no doubt in 2008 it was the best A team not just in the Public League, but among all of the District 1-12 subregion A teams. The Phoenix won the A Division regular season and the Public League A championship and then won the Public League’s first-ever PIAA state playoff game when they defeated Bristol 18-14 in a District 1-12 subregional semifinal. They followed that up with a 22-10 victory over Jenkintown to win the subregional championship. To top it off, 15 of the 25 Public League A all-stars were from CT and six of them were underclassmen including Srs. OL-DL William Bates, RB-DB William Dennis, LB Lawrence Jackson and LB Kyle Quinn, Jr. OL-DL Dante Glover and Soph. LB-RB Rolando Ransom, one of only two freshmen on any of the six AAAA (three), AAA, AA and A Public League all-star teams last season. Ransom rushed for 637 yards and scored 7 TDs. Dennis had 173 yards rushing…After its inaugural season of Pub football, Delaware Valley Charter remains the playoff-caliber team it was last season when it lost the division title game to Communications Tech and its first round state playoff game. Except for QB Jabri Monk who graduated, all of the players who produced most of the offensive yardage return. Warriors head coach Barry Thomas expects contributions from returning starters WR-DB Brad Wilson (5-10, 190, Sr.), WR-DB Rashaan Walker (6-0, 190, Sr.), QB Shawn Williams (5-11, 185, Sr.) who passed for 140 yards and 2 TDs last season as a backup, RB Markeese Walker (5-6, 180, Jr.) and OG-LB Nate Myers (5-11, 230, Sr.). Markeese Walker, who rushed for 800 yards and 8 TDs, and Srs. TE Jeremiah Mitchell, RB Neil Warren, who rushed for 630 yards last season, and WR Brian Murray, who rushed for 186 yards, were first team Public A Division all-stars last season. Wilson had 323 yards receiving and 7 TDs. Mitchell had 231 yards receiving and Rashaan Walker had 212 yards receiving…With its inaugural season in the Pub behind it, RB-ATH Khalil Hobson (Jr.), who rushed for 360 yards and scored 2 rushing TDs and 2 TDs on kickoff returns, and OL-DL Ryan Taylor (Sr.) were Public A all-stars last season for High School of the Future. Head coach Don Stockton needs playmakers for the Phoenix to improve on offense, which scored just 48 points, and on defense, which allowed 296 points… RB-DB Charles Barber (Jr.), who rushed for 287 yards, had 123 yards receiving and scored 5 TDs, was a first team Public A all-star last season for Prep Charter, where Tony Beaty replaces Larry Arata as head coach. Freire Charter, after four seasons in the Public League, has decided not to field a varsity team this season.

Also, Boys Latin of Philadelphia Charter School lin West Philadelphia launches its football team this season. It's schedule includes six away games: Sept. 12, 1 p.m. at Germantown Academy, Sept. 18, 3 p.m. at West Philadelphia, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. at Germantown, Oct. 2, 3 p.m. at Overbrook, Oct. 30, 3 p.m. at Valley Forge and Nov. 6, 7 p.m. at Springfield Township.

Favorites

Red AAAA: George Washington

White AAAA: Germantown

Blue AAAA: Southern

AAA: Roxborough

AA: Bok

A: Communications Tech

 

Main Contenders

Red AAAA: Frankford

White AAAA: University City

Blue AAAA: West Philadelphia

AAA: Mastbaum

AA: Franklin

A: Del-Val

 

Preseason Player of the Year

DT-OT Sharrif Floyd (6-3, 310, Sr.)

 

2008 Standings

Red AAAA

George Washington 4-0, 10-2

Frankford 3-1, 8-3

Northeast 2-2, 7-5

Overbrook 1-3, 5-7

Central 0-4, 0-11

 

White AAAA

Bartram 3-1, 10-2

Germantown 3-1, 7-5

Lincoln 2-2, 7-5

Olney 1-3, 6-5

West Philadelphia 1-3, 5-7

 

Blue AAAA

University City 4-0, 5-7

Southern 3-1, 4-7

Edison 1-3, 1-11

Fels 1-3, 3-7

Martin Luther King 1-3, 2-10

 

AAA

Roxborough 4-0, 7-5

William Penn 2-2, 4-7

Dobbins 2-2, 8-4

Mastbaum 2-2, 8-4

Simon Gratz 0-4, 4-7

 

AA

Bok 5-0, 10-1

Franklin 4-1, 7-4

Imhotep Charter 3-2, 3-5

Furness 2-3, 5-6

FitzSimons 1-4, 3-8

Esperanza 0-5, 0-11

 

A

Communications Tech 3-0, 9-2

Del-Val 3-1 6-6

School of the Future 2-2, 2-9

Prep Charter 1-3, 2-9

Freire Charter 0-3, 1-4