Key starters return for Sabers

BY COREY GESFORD

Correspondent

After a season in which a fast start was derailed by key injuries, the Susquehanna Sabers football team is attacking the 2018 season with an eye on utilizing their experience and expanded depth.  The Sabers team is comprised of players from Susquehanna Community and Blue Ridge.

Coach Kyle Cook’s Sabers capped the first two weeks of the preseason with a successful scrimmage at Athens High School on Saturday.

“I was very pleased, it went really well,” said Cook. “Our tackling was phenomenal, and we did things in our blocking that we put a lot of emphasis on.”

Cook likes the position that the Sabers are in returning nine starters on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Many of those players have been three-year starters and some with four years of experience.

“Guys are comfortable in knowing what we want to do,” said Cook. “It allows us to open things up with our offense and just take things to a different level.”

Cook has also seen a nice dynamic with the leadership in this year’s team because it has been much more of a group leadership persona rather than one or two individuals.

“Sometimes when guys are hearing the same one or two voices all the time, they start to tune them out,” said Cook. “We’ve had different people be vocal and lead by example so far.”

Senior quarterback CJ Stone likes the focus and drive of this year’s squad and echoed that the senior experience brings a lot of optimism and commitment.

“We have a ton of seniors, and we know this is our last season together,” said Stone. “I think that we are just more focused and driven this year.”

Stone, who assumes the fulltime starting quarterback position for the second year and had many reps as a freshman and sophomore under Center is one of the players Cook is relying on to be able to open up that offensive playbook. 

“CJ has great handle on what we want to do and now knows when to audible which is great advantage for us,” Cook said.

“The experience I have had has allowed me to learn more and more about the teams we face and what their players do, and what our own players are capable of doing,” Stone added.

During the offseason Stone did several things to get prepared for his senior year. Often, he and Cook would gather to go over game film and look at different formations. He also attended The Curry Quarterback Camp held at Berwick High School.

“The Curry Camp really helped with my footwork and how to analyze things at the line of scrimmage,” said Stone. “Coach and I would spend time weekly breaking down film and discussing different formations.”

Stone will have a fine stable of running backs behind him beginning with senior Sam Cosmello, who fought through injuries after a quick start and still amassed over 500 yards on the season. Cook said Cosmello has added about 15 pounds to his athletic frame and looked great on both sides of the ball in the Athens scrimmage.

The hard-nosed senior Adam Roe returns at fullback after missing most of the second half of last season with a neck injury. Seniors Billy Perry and Dylan Dubanowitz, along with sophomore Garrett Decker will also be on hand to take turns wearing down defenses.

When Stone needs to go to the air he’ll have one of the area’s most athletic wideouts in senior Mason Deakin. Last year, Deakin took advantage of the opportunities he was given turning six of his 13 receptions into touchdowns. Seniors Anthony Dolfini, Dan Baker, and Adam Rockwell provide other passing targets for Stone.

If there’s one area that Cook sees his team to get better at as the season progresses it is up front with their blocking. The Sabers have to replace Dream Game Participant David Armitage along with center Joel Bayle. Senior tackle Brock Gumaer and juniors Tim Sweeney (tackle) and Eli Aldrich (guard) return from last year’s roster.

“We have new guys filling in, starting to grasp everything,” said Cook. “In the scrimmage you saw guys going half speed because they’re not yet comfortable in what they need to do.”

One of those comfortable in what they are doing is senior guard Ryan Carmody and he will be a key component in stabilizing the line.

Carmody hit the weight room religiously and tried to add calories to his diet to increase weight and strength.

“Ryan just worked so hard in the weight room, adding another 20-30 pounds,” stated Cook.

“I just got in the weight room right after the season last year,” said Carmody. “We got in there and lifted seven to eight in the morning before school. I really feel I can move anybody now.”

Stone also has faith in the line gelling and likes the progression being made during the preseason.

“I feel really comfortable passing behind this line,” said Stone. “Ryan (Carmody) is stepping up and leading the guys on the line.”

“I just try to lead by example,” said Carmody. “Make sure everyone knows where they need to be and what to do.”

The plethora of returning seniors and the emergence of some of the underclassmen along with a new emphasis in their tackling will hopefully help the Sabers to avoid the injuries that torpedoed last season.

“We’re teaching a new way of tackling,” added Cook. “But with the younger guys ready to fill some varsity roles we hope to have guys playing less both ways which I think will help.”

Another change for the Sabers is the new Defensive Coordinator Curtis Mills who takes over for the highly respected Carl Zukas. Mills played at Susquehanna during his high school career and has spent the past two seasons as a volunteer assistant.

“Curtis played well under us, so he understands the system, and he brings a lot of energy to our staff,” noted Cook.

Cosmello returns at linebacker and handles the defensive signals on the team. He felt the defense did the things Coach Mills emphasizes to the team.

“Coach Mills has a focus on three things – Get off blocks, make tackles, and create turnovers,” said Cosmello. “If we can do that we can be successful.”

The realignment of the divisions in the Lackawanna Football Conference finds Susquehanna in Division IV along with county rival Montrose, Holy Cross, Old Forge, and Lackawanna Trail. They will crossover to play Lackawanna Division III teams Carbondale, Mid Valley, Dunmore, and Riverside.

The Sabers face a Wyoming Valley Conference team, GAR, in the season home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m.

If the Sabers qualify for the playoffs they will play compete in Class 2A.

“I like the new division,” said Cook. “We’re more competitive within the division and the realignment just made for a more flexible schedule.”