Blue Devils brimming with confidence

Coaches usually don’t believe in moral victories. And why should they.

The object is to win the game.

So it was expected that even after last season’s oh-so-close loss to eventual PIAA Class 1A runner-up Southern Columbia, Old Forge veteran grid coach Mike Schuback was upset, angry even, that his Blue Devils were on the wrong end of the result in the first round of the state playoffs.

Schuback was adamant that his 11 should have won that football game.

But make no mistake about it, Old Forge gained something in the loss to the Tigers. 

They gained the confidence in that they could play with the best in the Commonwealth.

They gained the respect of the king of the Class 1A jungle.

And in the grand scheme of Coach Schuback’s program, they may have even gained a win for themselves somewhere down the road because of the effort and resolve they showed at Kemp Stadium in Shamokin last November.

That is why the Blue Devils are brimming with confidence and energy coming into the 2012 season despite losing a record-setting quarterback, all-state wide receiver and leading tackler from a year ago.

Driven by what might be Old Forge’s biggest offensive line in decades, the Blue Devils will feature a powerful running attack as they break in a new quarterback - a formula that has been successful for the defending District 2 Class 1A champion in the past.

Defensively, the Blue Devils will again employ a 4-4 defense that is fueled by a linebacking corps that is rivaled by no other in the Lackawanna Football Conference’s Division III.

Here is a position-by-position look at the 2012 Old Forge Blue Devils....

QUARTERBACK

Senior Brenden Wahl takes over at the wheel of the Blue Devils high-powered spread offense which enters its fourth year as part of the lexicon the Coach Mike Schuback's offensive schemes. 

Wahl has big shoes to fill but the quarterback position has been one that has flourished even when the Blue Devils have been unexperienced there. Wahl possesses a solid arm and also has the wheels to give Old Forge another running threat out of the spread.

Junior Jake Manetti is the backup and possesses a strong arm. Manetti was the freshman QB two seasons ago. 

TAILBACK

Despite losing a 1,000-yard rusher, the Blue Devils are strongest at the position that will dot the I. Senior Brian "Bubba" Tomasetti is ready to bust out. Tomasetti showed flashes last year as the top running back reserve then electrified the crowd during Old Forge's PIAA State Playoff game against Southern Columbia with his running after catching a few screen passes out of the backfield.

Juniors Brandon Yescavage and Matt Trotta, and sophomore Brandon Vahey are competing for carries behind Tomasetti with Yescavage having emerged as the top backup after the first two weeks of practice.

FULLBACK

Jordan Sekol is a bulldozer in the backfield. The junior is back after finishing last season as the Blue Devils lead blocker out of the backfield. Sekol also is a strong runner and has good hands which Old Forge requires from the position.

Sophomore Bobby Rinaldi will be Sekol's backup. 

WIDE RECEIVER

Seniors Mike Vieira and Anthony Piccolini both return after seeing extensive action last year as Old Forge's No. 2 and No. 3 receivers. Not big in size, Vieira and Piccolini possess stellar speed but can also make the tough catch as both are fearless competitors. 

Junior Jake Manetti is slotted for the No. 3 spot with seniors Warren Welsh, Kyree Toomey, Matt Mancuso, Elijah Wilson and Tyler Salerno fighting for the fourth WR slot in the spread package. 

TIGHT END

Junior Shane Schuback came on late last season on the offensive side of the football and will be looked upon this year in a full-time role as a big blocker and an athletic pass catcher.

Senior Phil Vahey will serve as the back up Schuback.

OFFENSIVE LINE

The most experience part of the Blue Devils is in the trenches. Four starters return to a unit that played together the entire 2011 campaign.

Juniors Ryan “Big Boy” Paulish and Paul Papi give Old Forge a massive right side at tackle and guard respectively. Junior Joey Bruno will protect Wahl’s blind side at left tackle while senior Tyler “Tippy” Clark anchors the line at center.

Senior Tony DeSando moves from tight end to left guard as the only inexperienced interior lineman.

One senior and three sophomores will serve as the top reserves on the line for Old Forge. Dave “Rudy” Rudalavage, Corey Souryavong, Zach Chludzinski and Mike Wasko give the Blue Devils good size off the bench. Junior Mason Wheeler is also in the mix on the offensive line.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The five rocks of granite on the offensive line will rotate on the defensive line in Old Forge’s four-front look. 

DeSando can play both defensive end and defensive tackle as can Paulish. 

Papi had a breakout yeah on defense last year and gives the Blue Devils an experience big body at defensive tackle to eat up blockers, allowing the linebackers to roam free.

Bruno will be counted on more on the defensive side of the ball this season at tackle after concentration on offense as a sophomore. The same can be said for Clark who served as a reserve linebacker in 2011.

Yescavage, Toomey, and sophomore Ryan Levan will backup the ends, with Wasko, Souryavong, Rudalavage, and sophomore Paul Piemontese working for time at tackle.

LINEBACKERS

The strength of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew for years, the Blue Devils inside linebackers possess something they haven’t had since the 80s - a pair of big linebackers.

Sekol and Schuback are too big, athletic run stuffers in the middle. Both juniors, the powerful tacklers should battle all year for the top spot on the stat sheet.

Outside, Old Forge inserts Piccolini and Welsh, two sure tacklers with speed to compliment the ruggedness of the inside backers.

Trotta, Rinaldi, Chludzinski, and Brandon Vahey will be the reserve linebackers.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The defense is completed with another strong an experience unit - the defensive backs. All three d-backs return to the lineup from a year ago.

Tomasetti and Vieira return to the corners with Manetti back at safety. Salerno, Phil Vahey, Wilson and Wahl will serve as the backups.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Mancuso returns for his third season kicking off and place-kicking. The senior has a strong leg and is another weapon for Old Forge both on offense and defense. Yescavage has emerged as the punter.

Manetti and DeSando will do the long snapping on punts and field goals/extra-points respectively, and Vieira will be the holder.

Vieira and Piccolini will give the Blue Devils two explosive return men.

COACHING

The entire staff returns in tack for Old Forge.

Schuback enters his 11th season at the helm of his alma mater. The second all-time winningest coach in OFHS history, Schuback works with the Blue Devils lineman and quarterbacks. He has proven to be one of the best coaches in the LFC.

JP Gutowski is also back for his 11th year on the staff. Gutowski coaches running backs, linebackers and defensive backs, and is the Blue Devils offensive coach in the press box.

Dan Holland calls the defense for the Blue Devils and mentors the linebackers. Holland is the lone non-OFHS graduate on the staff, but the former Division II All-American linebacker teaches in the high school.

Mike Cusumano returns for his second season coaching quarterbacks, wide receivers and defensive backs.

Gene Biscontini coaches receivers and defensive backs, and gives Old Forge another guy with head coaching experience, having served as the Honesdale head coach for five seasons.