close

Don’t overlook Rangers in Black Hills race

4 min read
1 / 3

Observer-Reporter

Former Fort Cherry football player Mason Sweetie, right, cools off with a drink with help from Alex Orenbaun during a break in the Rangers’ preseason camp.

2 / 3

Fort Cherry tackle Jake Schulz, right, uses a move to brush past guard Trevor McIntyre during practice. Schulz and McIntyre are each three-year starters on the Rangers’ offensive line.

3 / 3

Fort Cherry strong safety Robbie Cooper, right, closes in on tight end Jamie Menzer as he catches a pass during practice.

Every high school football program has a rebuilding year at some point.

Last year was that point for Fort Cherry.

After finishing 10-2 and tying for the title in the Class A Black Hills Conference in 2013, the Rangers took a step back last season.

The Rangers are coming off a 3-6 year, but even in a rebuilding campaign they were only a few points shy of making the WPIAL playoffs after losing their final two games by a combined five points.

“We knew it was going to be a rebuilding year,” head coach Jim Shiel said. “We knew inexperience was going to be a factor. We were in the majority of our games, but the inexperience definitely showed.”

The fourth-year head coach and the Rangers are ready to write off last season. They are looking forward to competing for a conference championship in 2015.

The Rangers are returning eight starters on offense and defense, but they will need to find a new quarterback after graduating starter Anthony Panizza.

Competing for the quarterback duties will be 6-6, 220-pound junior Devon Brown and 5-6, 165-pound freshman Brady Whalen.

Brown gained some experience last year, starting two games early in the season when Panizza was out with an injury. Browns also served as one of the Rangers’ tight ends.

“He has a lot of potential,” Shiel said. “He has an absolute gun for an arm but had no experience last year.”

Whalen is the grandson of legendary Fort Cherry head coach Jim Garry and has impressed Shiel with his maturity at a young age.

“He is very bright,” Shiel said. “He is quick but needs to improve his arm strength. He is very accurate, though. He makes really good decisions. I don’t want to throw him to the wolves as a freshman, but I feel confident if we have to do that.

“Brady has been around football all his life. We will have to roll him out more. That would change our game a little, but I am confident he will do a good job for us.”

Nick Cook rushed for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. He returns at running back and gives Fort Cherry a good starting point to its offense.

The Rangers’ offense has the ability to be flexible, depending on who their quarterback is, thanks to the strength of the offensive line.

Leading the linemen is 6-2, 280-pound left tackle Jake Schulz, who is one of three members of the offensive front to be entering his fourth season as a starter. Joining him are Brian Carnegie (5-9, 225) and Trevor McIntyre (5-10, 245). Carnegie was a preseason all-state pick last year and earned all-conference each of his first three seasons.

“They all have outstanding footwork,” Shiel said. “They could interchange position with each other.”

After coming off a down season, Shiel believes his team can surprise the conference members this year. He knows the road to the Black Hills title still runs through defending league champion Cardinal Weurl North Catholic and WPIAL runner-up Avonworth.

“You have to give Avonworth the nod as a front-runner because of its success last year,” Shiel said. “They went to Heinz Field last year and have their No. 1 quarterback back.

“I would definitely like to compete for a section title. I would be disappointed if we didn’t make the playoffs. I do like flying under the radar, though. I feel like our experienced kids are playing well. I think we can surprise people this year.”

The Rangers’ comeback season will commence Friday at home against Our Lady of Sacred Heart, a game they know they need to win. Fort Cherry defeated OLSH last year for one of the Rangers’ two conference victories.

“Home games are advantages, and you need to win the ones you should win,” Shiel said. “With that said, I don’t think it matters too much. You need to win the games you should. You have to win the majority of the toss-up games as well.”

Those toss-up games were contests the Rangers couldn’t find ways to win last year. They lost three games by three points or less.

“You have to find a way,” Shiel said.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $3.75/week.

Subscribe Today