Oilers hope to be in playoff hunt

Lineman work out on the Lev Sled during practice Aug. 22.

By PENNY WEICHEL

Webmaster

Oil City hasn't been the luckiest team lately.

Misfortune riddled the Oilers last year during a disappointing 5-4 finish.

It doesn't appear to be getting any better this season, what with star wide receiver/cornerback Nick Stallone breaking his leg in the opening scrimmage Aug. 20 against Bradford.

But, the Oilers apparently are determined to forge ahead.

"What happened to Nick is a terrible thing," fourth-year coach Bill Heber, who hopes to have the senior back by the Franklin game or maybe even General McLane, said Aug. 22.

"Until then, though, this is a team sport and we have a lot of good players. I believe our skill players are the strength of our team, so we're going to be OK."

So much so that they plan to challenge pre-season favorites Strong Vincent and General McLane for the Region 5 and District 10 Class AAA titles.

"I think we're going to be right in the hunt, but that's all up to our kids," Heber said.

"We have to stay away from injuries, but I think we can be a playoff (contender) and I think we can make a push for the conference. A lot of things have to happen, though. We've got to prove some stuff to ourselves and everyone else. Right now Vincent and McLane are the two teams to beat and we've got to do it on the field."

The skill positions are the strength of the team because of players like Stallone (1,003 yards passing, running and receiving last season), split end Joe McIntyre, quarterback Tanner Hall and junior running backs Dante Jones and Ryan Heasley.

Stallone and Hall split time at QB last season -- with Stallone getting the majority of the snaps, but was going to play Z-back this year.

While the skill positions are the strength, the line is a cause of concern -- Oil City graduated all its 2004 starters.

That group is coming along, though.

"I was real impressed with how well they blocked (in the scrimmage) for not having any real game experience at the varsity level," Heber said.

"They're further ahead than I thought they would be at this time, so that's a positive. But we still have some things we have to iron out. But we're improving each day."

And although Stallone is the only returning defensive starter, several others -- McIntyre, Heasley, Drew Reinsel and lineman David Grams -- have started at least two games, and Adam Brozeski has started six. Nathan Stack and Greg Tenney also started a game apiece.

"So we're not completely green," Heber said. "We have to stop reaching and grabbing and start running through people more, but overall I'm pretty pleased right now with where the defense is."

Reinsel, a junior will handle all of the kicking duties, and the Oilers might kick after touchdowns instead of going for two more than they have in the past. "He has a pretty live leg," Heber said.

Following is how the Oilers will line up on both sides of the ball:

Offense

Split end -- Joe McIntyre; backups are Ryan Skuse and Adam Carll

Tight end -- Charles Zimoski; backups are Zack Hutchinson and Ben Garbacz

Tackles -- Joe Drozdo and Zack O'Brien; backups are David Grams and Matt McVay

Guards -- Tom Havranek and Nathan Stack; backups are Karl Gesing, freshman Nick Switzer, Zack Smith and Matt Kirkpatrick

Center -- Bobby McClellan; backups are Jared Sumner, Bumper Woods and Switzer

Quarterback -- Tanner Hall; Drew Reinsel and Pat Schumacher are the backups

Fullback -- Dante Jones; backups are Jeff Hollidge and Greg Tenney

Halfback -- Ryan Heasley; backups are Jordan Way and Adam Brozeski

Z-Back -- Adam Brozeski; backups are Reinsel and Ryan Ochalek

Defense

Ends -- Joe Drozdo and Bobby McClellan; backups are Matt McVay and Matt Kirkpatrick

Tackles -- Nathan Stack, David Grams, Caleb Wilson, Bumper Woods and and Zack O'Brien. "Those guys are still fighting it out and no one is ahead of the other," Heber said.

Outside linebacker -- Dante Jones; Taylor Vogan and Tanner Hall are backups

Middle linebacker -- Charles Zimoski; backups are Kevin Ochalek and Karl Gesing

"Will" linebacker -- Tom Havranek, Greg Tenney and Jeff Hollidge. "Any of those guys can be starting at any time. They're all pretty close," Heber said.

Cornerbacks -- Joe McIntyre and Drew Reinsel; Adam Carll is McIntyre's backup; Chris Neidich and Gary Glass back Reinsel, who is filling in for Nick Stallone.

Safeties -- Ryan Heasley and Adam Brozeski; backups are Jordan Way, Neidich and Ryan Skuse.

Vogan also is listed as the backup punter.