September 19, 2024 • 41 mins
Welcome to another special Football Friday episode of A Matter of Principal, hosted by Vito Quaglia. This week, we are joined by one of our favorite guests, Coach Jack Baranski, to discuss the current state of high school football as we approach the halfway point of the season.
In this episode, we explore the performance of various high school teams, focusing on their progress, surprises, and traditional powerhouses. We dive deep into the strengths and challenges faced by teams such as Dallas, Hazleton, Delaware Valley, Pittston Area, Wyoming Area, Berwick, Hanover Area, Nanticoke, Wilkes-Barre Area, and Riverside.
Coach Baranski shares his insights on standout players, key matchups, and the importance of consistency in coaching and team-building. We also look ahead to upcoming games, including the much-anticipated Dallas vs. Pittston Area clash.
Tune in to get an expert's perspective on high school football and what to expect as teams gear up for the second half of the season.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hello, everyone. My name is Vito Qualia, and this is another episode of A Matter of Principle.
This is a special Football Friday episode, and once again, we have our favorite
guest, Coach Jack Baranski, on with us, and we're going to talk a little bit
about where we are right now in high school football.
It's nearing the halfway point, Week 5 games coming up, and we just want to
(00:22):
talk a little bit about maybe some of the teams and how they're going so far, Maybe some surprises,
some traditional powerhouses maybe aren't what they used to be,
or maybe they're just on their way to be what they traditionally have been.
So without further ado, let's welcome Coach Baranski to the podcast. Hey, Coach, how are you?
Hey, thanks for having me, Vito. Glad to be back.
(00:43):
Excellent. Well, first off, as somebody who coached, usually at this point in
the season, you have four games under your belt, you're going into the fifth great game.
Do you think these head coaches out there know what they have,
or do you think there's some questions still have to be answered?
You know, it's real interesting. You know, it's a great question.
(01:04):
People make their greatest growth between weeks one and two,
and then you start getting to midseason, and you kind of have a feel for who you are.
But there's some uniqueness this year in the strength of schedule.
You know, take Dallas, for instance. They opened up with a very front-heavy schedule.
Schedule and you know if they're lacking confidence
that's a young team coach manolo has out there and you
(01:24):
know confidence can mean a lot to a young football team and
it doesn't seem like they're shaking they bounced back last week with a nice
win over wooks bear but their schedule for all intents and purposes seems to
ease up here down this stretch and you can't be shocked dallas doesn't go on
a great run and some other people are still searching for who they are i think
some Some of the top dogs have sorted out, but who's the middle of the pack?
(01:48):
There's some big games coming up over the next couple of weeks.
They're going to really align where people are.
Is there anybody right now that is a surprise to you?
Is there anybody that stands out, maybe a team that hasn't been successful that
is, or a team that you expected more from and they're on the snide a little
bit? Anything out there yet?
Well, you know, I hate to view it from the snide part of things,
(02:09):
but Hazleton, you know, lost a ton of kids.
And, you know, they're playing competitive football up there right now. Low-scoring games.
I know Coach Bookman is an offensive-minded head football coach and would prefer
to have high-scoring games.
But as of right now, they've let up 78 points in the first four games and they've scored 53.
So they're playing these low-scoring grinders and hanging around.
(02:31):
And, you know, hats off to him with that young football team.
I'd say Hazleton right now in Division I, still alive right in the middle of it.
And the thing about Hazleton, as we all know, I mean, there's so many,
you know, kids up there that you can draw from, but trying to get,
you know, it's kind of a transient community more so than a place where,
you know, the kids have been there K through 12.
So trying to get some kids maybe to come out for football, you know,
(02:54):
you might see some guys move into the district that look athletic,
and you're always trying to get some more numbers.
And then the fact that, you know, trying to get kids to gel together. together
hazleton's always been one of those anomalies where if
they can just get get it rolling you know
to establish a tradition they might be it's like somebody's gonna
wake the sleeping giant up there because of how many athletes they
can draw from yeah there's no doubt i
(03:16):
mean it's a big school they graduate a ton of kids i last check they
were top five in the state in in population but like
you said you have you have a transient population and you
might see a good looking kid in the hallway you talk to him about coming out he may
never put a helmet on before and that's that that's
that's a lot of work to do as opposed to a kid that came up through the
many football programs junior high program understands the
(03:38):
system you know some of the basic techniques and fundamentals and
you know you it's a it's a much better build that way a much easier build yeah
and i think i mean look at you contrast that you know humongous school district
with with the district that's also pretty darn big but maybe a little bit smaller
than years past delaware valley you know i was there for a little bit my younger
(03:58):
brother is a coach on that staff with Coach Ulsemer.
And I think that the reason that that, you know, that's a bedroom community
of New York and New Jersey.
There's a lot of transient things going on up there, people moving around.
But when you have the consistency of the same staff, you know,
for two decades, you know, Coach Ulsemer has been there since 99.
You know, and the majority of his assistants have been there as well,
(04:20):
if not guys who came through the program.
So when you have the same voices, the same mindset, the same kind of philosophy
and tradition there, I think it's easier to deal with maybe the student-athletes
that come and go a little bit, you know, so I think they, DelVal has an advantage.
Now, right now, people might look at their record, and I know you're more of
a Wyoming Valley Conference guy, but, you know, having my brother up there and
(04:41):
being in the Lackawanna Conference right now, you know, working,
you know, they're not off to a start that you'd want to be at,
you know, they just lost a tough game against Prep,
who's a powerhouse up there, but I think as DelVal gets into their regular league schedule,
things will even up for them a little bit and you'll probably see them,
you know, knocking on the door at some postseason accolades,
you know, so don't sleep on DelVal.
(05:02):
Oh, under no circumstances. That's been over the last couple of years.
It seems like Coach Olsamer likes to open up with some really tough competition,
set this team, win, lose, or draw.
They're better for it come week six.
And now they're going to settle into a conference schedule here,
and they're going to be just fine. And you're exactly right with the longevity of that staff.
(05:25):
I was lucky enough in my career through the years here to coach in some really
big games against Delaware Valley and playoff games and championship type regular
season games with the huge crowds. And it was the same guys.
And we had some consistency here at Valley West in the Keating era too.
And we kind of, as staffs, we kind of got to know each other.
And you're right, that consistent voice, you get a new player in the system,
(05:49):
that player is getting the same message from all the coaches that are on the
same page. And that means a lot and they do a great job.
And and you know i i think talking you
know you say consistency helps you know with a shot in the
arm and kind of building confidence with guys who can kind
of see things you know as they come into the system they see the the the
records you know the the success of the wins and losses and you know
(06:10):
kind of try to fit into there but also when there's when there's some new blood
you know some new coaches younger coaches that also inject some enthusiasm and
and pittsson area is a place that has a brand new head coach and joe deluca
you know they had they had a couple rough goes the first couple weeks but last
couple weeks you know they turn things around a little bit and i know they have
some players there what do you think about pitts and aries so far.
(06:30):
Well, I'll tell you what, I got to see them up close and personal last week,
and I'm very impressed with the job that Coach DeLuca's doing.
And he's assembled a really nice staff up there.
Lenny Baczynski, Dwayne Downing, he has his sons, Johnny and Joey, are on the staff.
I mean, you're talking about a real quality coaching staff there.
(06:51):
And it really appears as if they're on the build. I liked what they were doing offensively.
They looked fundamentally sound defensively. and
you know they have some young guys in some key spots right now
but i'll tell you what the lapresto kid is as talented
as i've seen this year in some limited game
this this kid's explosive and they do a nice job getting on the ball they're
(07:13):
creative and again a veteran coaching staff they've been around they're patient
they're building and hats off to coach to luke and the job that he's done up
there yeah no they they're doing a really nice job and and i think if they If
they get some things right,
I think you might have some early season jitters when you're kind of doing things for the first time.
But when you have the athletes, they have it. It's a little bit easier.
(07:34):
Loprestos was outstanding, only a sophomore.
Last year he came on like gangbusters as a freshman.
And their quarterback is a kid who's a tremendous athlete, Matt Walter,
who I believe just came out last year, first time playing football,
was a receiver and a D-back and then slid into the QB role.
But, again, just a tremendous athlete and can get things going.
(07:56):
I believe Coach Ken White is on that staff. Did you say that?
He's a Wilkes-Barre alum. Oh, yeah, that's right. I saw Coach White. Yes, sir.
Yes, another veteran guy has been around the Myers, Wilkes-Barre area,
Coughlin. He's been to a lot of places, a lot of stops.
And to speak to the young man, Walter,
They're doing a lot of straight Q run game with him right now,
and you can see he's not a quarterback running the ball.
(08:17):
He's an athlete playing quarterback, and his delivery was pretty good. He missed on a couple.
They had some big plays early that he missed on, but they were good-looking
balls, and he runs the ball nicely, and that's a big advantage when you can run your quarterback.
Absolutely. And any time, because the defense has to account for that person, right?
A lot of times if you have those guys, especially coming out of the seven-on-sevens
(08:40):
where some people just stand on a spot and zing it around like a Tom Brady kind
of thing, if they're not going to be a running threat defensively,
you scheme completely different.
But if you have a kid over there that's really just almost another running back
who can throw the ball, then you really got to prepare a whole lot differently.
I mean, as a defense coordinator for so long, you definitely must agree with that. Absolutely.
(09:02):
That's a headache when you have a kid that's going to run around, create.
There's designed cue run game. The biggest advantage for an offense in a Q run game is this.
If a quarterback turns around and hands the ball off to a tailback and carries
out a good fake, you have nine blockers, a ball carrier, and a person who's
trying to hold people's eyes with a fake.
If you run the quarterback, it's just a numbers game. Now you have 10 blockers
(09:25):
and a ball carrier. You're plus one in the blocking game.
And like you said, from a defensive standpoint, when you're scheming this out,
you better round in your rush lanes.
If people are going to leave rush lanes and somebody's he's going to take advantage
of them and start ripping off 10, 15, 20-yard runs. It's a headache.
It's a major, major headache. So, yeah, they got a little something going there
with Mr. Walter. I like what's going on.
(09:47):
Well, and to jump across the river to their rival, Pinson area's rival,
Wyoming area, you know, that's another place very similar to a Delaware Valley
that's had the same coaches around for decades, same philosophies and things
like that. What do you see with the Warriors? Yeah.
Well, I got to see them in person week one up at Crestwood.
I'm going to talk about a couple of their athletes here quickly,
(10:10):
but I was very impressed with the physicality of their offensive and defensive line.
I thought that they were very physical because I thought Crestwood was pretty
physical too, and they kind of negated each other in week one.
But WA has playmakers.
Make no mistake about it. Otway Kellum, special teams, receiving,
(10:30):
running the ball. The kid is, I mean, he went for over 300 against the Dallas team.
You do that against any Dallas team, you know you're doing something.
So Otway Kellum, I'm sorry, Lidge Kellum. I'm sorry, I have the wrong,
Lidge Kellum at Wyoming. I apologize.
Otway Kellum's at Hanover. Lidge Kellum having a big year, and the young receiver,
(10:50):
Kopechny, I mean, some people ease into conference play.
He comes out and goes for over 150 yards receiving in his first start ever.
I mean, you know, he welcomed himself to the league. He didn't wait for an introduction.
He just went and did it. And, you know, good for him.
DeLuca at quarterback, good athlete.
Week one, he looked a little rusty up at Crestwood, but it looks like he's starting
(11:13):
to settle in and get the ball where it needs to be.
As far as division two, Wyoming Valley Conference, it's Wyoming area.
And then it appears like it's everybody else sorting out for your other spots.
Yeah, they're clearly headed above everyone else. and possibly,
bar none, Division I or II, possibly the best team in the conference.
Well, and it all starts up front for those of us who played in the trenches.
(11:37):
As much as the line doesn't get the accolades in the paper, guys who coach understand that.
And Coach Fonte, a long-time line coach there, does a great job.
And what I like most about the Wyoming area is...
Those coaches, they'll get an average or a sub-average kid maybe to be really good.
You know, anybody can get a really good athlete and make them themselves,
(12:01):
right? Just let them go play.
But when you truly, you know, you're a teacher slash coach, when you could really
get your mentality, you know, get the kids to be physical like you said,
but also understand the game, understand, you know, that their technique has
to be really good if you're undersized.
But they've had a stretch now where they've had some really physical.
Dominating big guys up front with maybe the 5'10", 5'11", guys as well who do a real nice job.
(12:24):
So I know Coach Fondy wanted to give him a little shout-out.
He does a really nice job with those guys.
Michael deserves that. Michael deserves a nice little shout-out.
And Randy does a nice job with, like all the great ones do, build your offensive
scheme around the talent you have.
If you have a kid who could run around back in the day with Nick O'Brien and
things like that, that was a tailback back there that could sling it.
(12:45):
Or if you have, you know, DeLuca, who's more of a quarterback,
quarterback, you know, it doesn't hurt to have a, you know, Kenny Cappuccini's
little boy out there. You know, Kenny himself was an outstanding receiver.
So, you know, you have these athletes littered all over the field.
You know, they do a really nice job.
And, you know, a couple weeks ago I had Coach Marenka on there,
and he's, you know, really sitting out in Arizona retired, but really pleased
(13:06):
with, you know, how those guys on that staff have really just kept that tradition rolling.
So, you know, hats off to those guys to still – It's almost like when they have
a down year, they're 5-5, right?
They don't really seem like they ever suffer one of those 1-9,
0-10 kind of things. So they seem like they're rolling again.
Yeah, it definitely looks definitely trending upwards. Like I said,
(13:27):
I thought they were a very physical football team in week one.
They came out with intent.
And you're right, again, with the consistency part. I mean, Wyoming area football
years ago, coaching against them, I don't want to say tendency-wise they're
the same, but schematically, defensively, they don't change. They're a 5-2 defense.
(13:47):
If you spread them out, you might get them into a forefront.
They have a program, and it's been that way for a long time.
And here's what we do, and we're not going to make excuses, and everybody understands it.
And I think that there's something really to be said for that.
Well, and it goes back for the dinosaurs like you and me talking about stuff.
When you had Coach Jackson involved in Coughlin, you know what I mean,
(14:10):
and the defensive kind of stuff that came out that you guys did at Coughlin,
and then when Coach Jackson was at Dallas all those years, you know what you're going to get.
You're going to get a very fundamentally sound team that was just going to keep
doing the same kind of stuff.
They weren't going to get into that, you know, offense of the week,
defense of the week kind of stuff. They just believe in this is what we do.
And, you know, and we're going to wear you down like Novocaine sometimes when
(14:34):
it comes to like some deliberate stuff offensively.
But hey, if you can instill that and you get a little bit of some confidence
with some wins and you get, you know, you go from 35 to 42 guys to almost 50
guys on your roster, things like that, that's when you get a successful consistency in your program.
And I think some of those programs we talked about so far, they have those things.
(14:54):
Yeah, definitely. You know, just like in education, the scaffolded learning,
if you have a basic structure for your program, you could always,
as the season goes on, build into it and add in some nuances or maybe take things
in a different direction,
but not run a different offensive scheme every week, but just have some things.
Be so good at what you do within the structure of your program that you're able
(15:15):
to add on and have a couple change-ups along along the way and then you really
got something going what about some of these schools i mean i i i haven't seen
berwick live i've seen you know some clips and read some things i know.
They're kind of struggling right now you know new new new coach down there probably
a new staff younger guy in coach curry what have you heard anything about the
(15:37):
program are they are they starting to make some improvements there they just
having a tough time to start out it appears Pierce, you know,
first of all, Coach Curry,
you know, just taking over, stepping in there.
You know, I think he was at Ceilings Grove. He did a short stint at Berwick
a couple years ago. I think he was at Ceilings Grove for a year or two.
So now he's back to home, for lack of a better term.
(16:00):
And it's going to take him some time to get this together the way that he wants
it. But they are playing impressive defense.
103 they're giving about 25 points a
game but right now they're struggling offensively they've only scored 24
points they're only averaging six points a game right now
so i know they're going to want to get that going they're
(16:20):
going to have some tough matchups because i know there's still a whelming area coming
up down the road they got a couple big games coming up but i
think coach curry's going to be looking for growth let's keep moving
forward let's run the ball a little bit better let's let's be
a little more consistent in our passing game let's start putting points on the
board and it's it's going to take some time and i
think coach curry's the right guy for the job down there and you know
(16:40):
he's gonna he's gonna get it going well and
i hope like you said it's going to take time
it isn't the berwick demographic it isn't the berwick community of the 70s and
80s and 90s and early 2000s you know just it's it's different now and and for
anybody out there who who thinks well this is you know another curry who he
(17:00):
must have all the the the X's and O's genius of his grandfather and things like that.
And it's going to take time. You know, and I hope the people down there,
you know, the fans and the community and the administration alike,
you know, give the young man time to build his program the right way,
to have that consistency,
you know, that all these other programs we've talked about a little bit so far have.
(17:21):
And I think you're right. I think he's the right guy for the job.
I think he could do a really nice job of maybe, you know, bringing back a lot
of those traditional things.
But, again, it's not going to be an overnight success. there's gonna
there's gonna be growing pains and i just hope that
uh everybody who has the the power down there does the right
thing by them yeah yeah i i happen to agree
with that he's a young guy he's he's only in his late 20s
(17:42):
i mean cj was a quarterback under his grandfather for
he was a two-year starter he understands the old
coach curry offense then he went on to east stroudsburg which
is a whole different style of offense and he finished up his in at
kings as a in a playing career so he's seen some
different things and i'm sure he he i know
that he has the utmost respect for his grandfather like we all do
(18:04):
and i'm sure he has some elements of that
but i'm sure it's it's gonna it's different he's not just gonna run his grandfather's
program he's gonna do it his way as he should and yeah patience patience is
the thing hopefully and i know that he's teaching the right things he's holding
holding the team to high expectations and that again that consistency consistency,
(18:26):
keeps putting that message in, get back in the weight room and,
you know, he'll get it going, I believe.
Well, definitely. I think that's like, hopefully, you know, down the road,
you know, we can talk back, you know, talk about that program,
you know, a couple of years down the road and say, Hey, I remember when they
started off and, you know, he's really got them in the right direction.
So, you know, we're all rooting for you, kiddo. So coach Curry,
you know, get after it and keep doing, you know, what you need to do.
(18:49):
How about some other, other programs, Rams, you know, in the area where I grew
up, grew up in the sprawling metropolis of Ashley Newtown, but Hanover area,
Nanticoke area, they're kind of, you know, going through some growing pains themselves,
you know, struggling right now. What do you see out of them?
Coach Majeros over at Hanover, they have a nice staff. I haven't seen them play
(19:13):
at all this year, but they're another team.
When you look at their statistics, they've struggled offensively.
So they've scored 40 points on the season.
They do have a young playmaker. I misstated him from Wyoming area earlier,
Jonathan Otway-Killam at Hanover area.
Statistically, he's the second leading receiver in Division II in the Wyoming Valley Conference.
(19:38):
So they have a playmaker, and I know they have a couple of them,
and their quarterback statistically is playing pretty well.
Last name of Richardson has some statistics throwing the ball.
But they've struggled consistently putting points up, and defensively they've
given up way too much right now with 163 in four games.
They're averaging 40.8 points a game allowed.
So they're going to have to get that straightened out. And I've known Coach Majeros a long time.
(20:02):
Jay's a great guy and a great football coach.
And he he again needs time he
he patience let him build a program let's
stay with it and i have faith that coach maduro's before
long especially with a couple of these young athletes he has we'll be making
some noise in that division too and nanny coke you know unfortunately suffered
(20:24):
such a you know tremendous loss of that program that community at the beginning
of the year so i know that they're struggling and not just x's and o's but really
just trying to rally rally behind you know, a lot of some,
you know, tragic stuff that happened to them.
Sad. I mean, you know, Coach Dennis took over for a long time.
Coach Bruza moved into administration, you know, for years, Nanny Cook,
(20:45):
you knew wing T, Coach Bruza, you don't see a lot of wing T's anymore, but man, he stuck to it.
And it can't be that bad. Southern runs it and they've been a little successful.
So, you know, Coach Bruza did a great job.
He stepped away, stepped into new administration, Coach Dennis came down,
took on a massive challenge because Nanny Cook graduated a ton of kids last
(21:07):
year, talented football players.
And it was going to be a build no matter what. Young team, some kids never even
had played football before and reading some of the articles,
quotes from Coach Bruza.
And Coach Dennis was positive all summer.
What a great leader for that young team. And to have that happen was...
(21:28):
My, you know, wow. I, I, I can't even imagine, you know, but hats off to them
picked up their first win this past week is just something to mention.
I'm sure that that was a celebration from Tunkhannock right straight back to
Nanny Coke. I'm sure that was a noisy bus and, and, and good for them. They deserved it.
Absolutely. And hopefully, you know, maybe the football season can be a rallying
(21:50):
point for them, you know, and,
and kind of lean on each other when you're trying to go through some,
some, you know, times of,
you know, loss, but you just, just it's another
life lesson like you're going to have situations where we lose
people close to us in life and you have to find you know ways
to persevere so luckily you know those that community that
that those guys can kind of rally around each other and hopefully
uh make it just a little bit better as they go forward yeah more
(22:13):
so than the game lifelong lesson here lifelong lesson
you know adversity how do you face it you know
you know that you need people to support you and and that's teammates
are there for and you know you know hats off to
coach bruza just to step back in there temporarily just
to you know hold things together but he had stayed in the paper again last week
(22:33):
this is coach dennis's team and uh you know he doesn't they won he would not
accept even one kudo for it you know and that's the kind of stand-up guy he
is and lifelong that he played Played at Nanticoke.
Coach Bruza lives and breathes Nanticoke football.
And he stepped in there to help hold it together. And, you know,
(22:55):
they play for the late Coach Dennis right now.
And, you know, again, great win last week.
Hopefully that's the start of some, you know, hopefully they can keep that going
and pick up a couple more here.
Now, how about Wilkes-Barre area? What's going on with the Wolfpack?
I'll tell you what. Watch week one on television.
They beat a tremendous District 11 school in Whitehall, who's consistent in the playoffs.
(23:20):
You can pencil their name in before the season starts every year.
Outstanding program. They come out. Jake Howe throws for big yards.
They win the football game.
Then they go up to Stroudsburg. Again, it was on television.
So I happened to watch some of it. They didn't play as well.
They faced a little adversity, and things didn't go their way.
(23:42):
They gave up some big plays. that rolled into a valley view team
you know again one of these programs valley view
set your watch to it they're going to show up they're going to be fundamentally sound
they're going to play physical and wooks bear struggled with it and then dallas
and so that i mean wooks bear starts out by beating whitehall and you think
(24:02):
okay here we go we're looking at eight and two nine and one and they're sitting
one and three so who's the real wooks bear area i guess that's It's yet to be sorted out.
And that, you know, this week, I'm sorry, week six, they go up to Hazleton.
Week seven, they have Pittston area. So they have some games going up.
They're going to say, where do we fall in this thing?
Are we still at the top of the food chain? Are we more middle of the pack?
(24:25):
You know, they have to find their footing. And to speak about the Howe kid,
you know, he started as a freshman, started at least 10 games.
I forget if they had a playoff.
At the very least right now, he is quarterbacked in 24 high school football
games. Most people don't play in 24, and he's only a junior.
He's a junior that's quarterbacked the team.
They have some leadership and stability at that quarterback spot and some playmakers.
(24:49):
They're really young. I was talking to Coach Sinti and Coach Michaels,
really young team. They almost have everybody back next year.
So they knew that they were going to hit some speed bumps along the way,
but they really liked this group.
And they think if they can get a go in the second half of the year,
which they should, you're no longer, you know, when you're playing in your sophomore
year, midway through the season, you're really not a sophomore anymore.
(25:10):
You got to start considering yourself a little bit. You've been around the block.
And, you know, late in this year, look out for Wilkes-Barre.
And then going into next year, pencil it in now.
One of the better teams in the area next year, the Wolfpack.
Well, and I think that's another place where once they hit their stride,
I mean, you're talking about kids coming from three different areas where there
(25:31):
used to be three different football programs back in the day.
You know, when you played and before that, you had, you know,
the Plains Yankees and the Mini Mohawks and the Heights Packers.
You had tremendous youth programs for decades.
You know, so there's been a lot of pride in those three Wilkes-Barre schools.
Schools and now for everybody to be together, I think there's,
there's probably just, just like any place where there's a jointure,
(25:53):
you know, there's a feeling out period trying to see it.
It's everybody coming out that would have played if they were in the three,
you know, separate high schools, things like that.
So there's, there's going to be a little bit of that, but once,
like you said, I think that's another place just like a, you know,
like, like a Hazleton, you know, a sleeping giant kind of thing.
If it comes together and they get a little confidence lookout because it could
(26:15):
be very contagious in what they're doing, but they have tremendous athletes.
My, my brother, Nick up at DV.
And when they play in the playoffs, those guys, you know, we're not thrilled
to see the caliber of athletes across the field.
You know, they knew they were going to be matchup problems are really athletic.
So yeah, they, they definitely have kids in that program. And I,
and I, I think it's just going to be a matter of time before they're consistently a winner.
(26:37):
So, and now just, and just to throw this out there, coach to you,
and this is something that should probably going to make some people mad who are listening.
If people even listen to us, But I had no idea why the schedule makers don't
have Delaware Valley playing the big schools.
I mean, they don't play Wilkes-Barre. They don't play Hazleton.
They don't play Williamsport.
I just don't understand that those guys up there have to go all over Creation
(27:02):
and New York to find games when there are quality programs here in and around District 2.
So it doesn't make sense to me, and I know as a person who sat on those committees,
it's not the easiest thing in the world to get those things
to happen but you you can and you should and
and district two teams should all play each other and not
have to you know run around every county and get on the bus for two and three
(27:23):
hours and go play games really hopefully hopefully next time around you know
after this cycle that they can get that right and make sure that delaware valley
is playing some more d2 teams that's just my own personal commercial not to
uh i didn't mean to speak for you if you feel that way or not but.
Yeah. Here's what I always thought as a coach. And, you know, a lot of the P.I.A.A.
(27:44):
In District two is about the playoff games and fill in the seats for a playoff game.
I always I think back to again, back to the 80s before district playoff games
when there was Eastern Conference and you were one Valley Conference champion.
You played somebody from Lackawanna County.
You didn't see each other all year. You don't even have common opponents and
those places would be jammed.
(28:06):
So I think there's something to be said about not playing everybody of the same
size in the area. So it brings a little intrigue to a playoff game.
Who's what? When you show up, you know, a couple years ago, I don't know,
Dallas Valley View. They played in the regular season.
I forget who came on. And the playoff game was just a repeat of what you saw in the regular season.
I think sometimes there's some real intrigue if teams did not play each other.
(28:30):
And here they are in the playoffs. They had two successful seasons.
Maybe they had a couple common opponents. You know, I'm not saying that Del
Valle should have to travel all over the world.
I think they like going to Florida to start the year.
Because they've been doing that for a little while. No, absolutely.
But I mean, but the fact that, I mean, they're sitting at 5A right now.
So I don't think they're playing any of the 6A. I mean, I don't know.
(28:54):
So that's what I'm saying. I understand you're not going to play everybody,
but the fact that I think they have to have four out of their 10 games against,
non-Northeast PA people, I mean, to me, that's a little bit of a stretch.
Yeah, and that's actually news to me. That's actually news to me because I just
know years ago at Valley West when we were playing all the other four A's, let's say. Yeah.
(29:14):
It wasn't much intrigue. Come play out. It's a lot more intriguing sometimes
when people didn't play.
Oh, sure. No, I agree with that 100%. Absolutely. Absolutely.
But they actually have to go out to Long Island to play a team.
Oh, okay. Yeah, so stuff like that.
I didn't understand that. But,
again, not to ruffle any feathers of D2 officials, but, hey, guess what?
(29:35):
They have thick skin. They can handle it. But a school that I do know a little
bit about who's having a great year so far, Riverside.
A small school, only graduates 100 kids per year, not a monster powerhouse population-wise.
But Coach Armstrong putting together another really good offensive team.
(29:57):
There's some quality kids there.
I'll give a shout-out to the offensive line up front that protects Chase,
the quarterback, and gives him time to sling it around to all those receivers.
Receivers but you know tavian branch who's a junior you know
getting looked at getting offers i think 11 or 12 officers at this point uh
penn state has been there a couple times to talk to him great
(30:19):
kid you know he's 6'4 290 only a
junior only gonna get bigger and and they have a they have
a 6'5 tackle they're tight end 6'2 230
uh richie kostoff he's he's you know got
offered by bucknell real real good kid so there's
they have some weapons they're playing really you know
really strongly now they're they're not you know
(30:39):
it's hard sometimes when you when you're a good team and you
know you're going to have a stretch of maybe you're playing some teams that
you might overmatch at one phase of the game it's it's easy to look past them
right coach you've all been in situations where you lose a game sometimes that
you shouldn't lose so i think there's some some games on the schedule for them
that they that they don't want to look past as they look towards the end of
the season and their rivalry with old forge and you know trail and and then
(31:01):
in the postseason, things like that.
But I think Coach Armstrong is doing a really good job, and he's got some quality kids up there.
Great, great. He's done a great job. He's been at it for a while up there now.
We were lucky enough when I was the head coach, they came down for some seven-on-seven
work in the summertime, maybe like three trips they came down.
And so I got to see him coach in a much more quiet and personal setting.
(31:27):
Outstanding football coach, great offensive mind. he was really
getting involved defensively at that point too and really
working him as as we were throwing the ball
and working the coverages just an excellent football coach
great guy you know and i wish him all the success in the world and yeah they
seem to really have it going and you know i have a question because i'm not
even sure if you know are they as far as district playoffs go are they a double
(31:51):
a school single a school 2a 2a yep so 2a will be i believe the five 2a schools are Susquehanna,
Redeemer, Riverside, Lakeland, and Dunmore, I think, are the 5-2A.
Because Mid-Valley, I believe, is 3-A.
Yes, I'm pretty sure they're the ones for a District 2 playoffs.
And they played Lakeland and Dunmore earlier in the year and beat them both.
(32:14):
You know, they have Trail, they have Old Forge. There are going to be some tough teams there.
And the thing about it, what Coach Armstrong has done, and I think it's what
the smaller schools have to do, is, you know, open the door to his program,
to the athletes that play other sports.
And, you know, the Rose Brothers, two outstanding basketball players.
And right now, Riverside is in a run of tremendous basketball run.
(32:38):
They won the district title. They've returned everybody.
They have some good kids, young kids in the program as well.
And there's been an interest with those kids and some baseball players,
you know, playing football.
And when you have a small school, like I said, only graduating 100,
sometimes under 100 kids in a class, you have to have those kids that play other sports.
You can't have kids that just play one. So, like I said, the tight end plays basketball.
(33:02):
Two of the receivers, three of the receivers play basketball.
So he has kids out there that are athletes.
You know what I mean? And his style offense, he loves to sling it around the yard.
So, you know, he's going to open it up. And if you're not, you know,
you might think, yeah, I don't want to be in there and, you know,
sticking my nose inside tackle to tackle and getting beat up.
But so if you're an athlete there at Riverside, you know you can be on the edge.
(33:23):
You can be out there one-on-one, you know, go get the ball and have some fun.
So he's done a nice job of really getting some athletes to play for him. Yeah, great.
And that's what he's really effective at. He's going to poke around in a couple
different formations early in the game and see where he can find some chunk
plays to one of those athletes.
And when the situation's right, they're going to start unloading it,
and they can really pour it on. Again, great job up there. Yeah, he's done a nice job.
(33:44):
As we get close to wrap it up, is there any programs that I didn't ask you about
that you wanted to bring up?
Well, you know, the first thing I want to say with this Riverside,
a lot of rumor on the street is that success has to do with the principal up
there. I don't know if it's true or not.
I'm just saying. I don't say that, but I've heard it. People say it out loud.
(34:04):
Well, you know, that's fake news, as someone would say.
No, Coach Armstrong. And I will say this. That's another place that has that.
If you ever saw a game up there in the stadium, it's fun. The town is there. It's a small stadium.
That it's very similar to an old forge kind of situation even
like a berwick back in the day you walk around the
(34:26):
neighborhood everybody has signs in their yard you know the the kids
walk they walk down from the from the school
to the to the stadium when the neat thing about the the rivalry is they'll walk
to old forge old forge walks to them when they come up and it's it's really
cool to have that you know the whole sense of the community is there and and
you go to the game go to the games on friday and you know there's 60 70 80 year
(34:49):
old guys there that have been watching games forever,
and they'll tell you the stories of things they saw over the decades.
It's fun. It's what high school football should be about.
So it's really cool for me to be part of that atmosphere.
It's fun. For anybody who didn't get a chance to ever get there,
it's a small little stadium on Main Street and Taylor. But if you like high
school football, it's the place to be.
(35:11):
Well, real quickly here, just to mention, I know we've mentioned Dallas,
but I'd like to mention the type of season that Zapaticki's having at quarterback.
Sure. because he leads the team in rushing
he leads dallas in rushing right now he
leads the wyoming valley conference in passing so i
i haven't seen them in person but i gotta believe i know that coach manella
(35:32):
talked about having a young offensive line and you know they're growing into
the job and it would appear to me that they have some more quarterback designed
runs possibly some zone reads and maybe even into rpos at this point because
just based on his numbers and what's going
on and that's and that's a little bit of a stretch but i'm just i
i have that feeling and the other team to mention real quick
(35:52):
and another tremendous athlete that we didn't get to jayden shedlock
at crestwood oh yeah and coach arcangeli and
and don't count them out in in division one yet in the wyoming valley conference
they just played a really tough western wing team i mean they opened up with
wyoming area they they didn't have any favors early in their season either And
now they're going to settle in And they run that single wing It's unique,
(36:16):
you don't see it You almost have to go online to look up.
Some things about it and you know coach archangeli and
his staff do a great job and they have one of the best athletes in
the league so keep an eye on crescent a couple big games coming
up with them the game i like this week is dallas at pittston area i think that's
the game in a week i think you find out something about each of those teams
absolutely and and it's gonna it's gonna be a war of attrition i mean it won
(36:40):
and lost in the trenches i mean coach coach manello anybody who ever had the
opportunity to see him speak at a clinic i mean the guy he can be up there in a
suit and tie and then 10 minutes he's dripping sweat talking about
all different kind of like you know the right footwork uh
you know on the skip pole i mean the guy he just he's an intense dude
loves what he does love you know fully committed
to you know the 12 month throwing that iron around and
(37:03):
that you know championships are won in the weight room you know he he lives
and breathes football and does things the right way and like you said about
arc as well i mean those guys you know crestwood always has really tough kids
who again strong kids you know the I think the Biblican's still up there, good athletes.
And Coach Myers must still be on the staff there if they're running that single wing.
(37:25):
I think he's remotely involved.
I don't know if he's full-time, but he's around.
They'll be someone to contend with. But I agree, Pittston-Dallas this week would be a fun game to see.
Dallas isn't going to run around and do that kind of offense of the week kind of stuff.
They are who they are. and you know when they're good they they're going to
(37:48):
beat people up and pittson has some firepower you know with some skill guys
so it'll be a fun a fun like chess game between those guys and see what happens
i think in any kind of situation like that the team that makes the least amount
of mistakes is going to win,
so uh that that'll be cool to check out and just
to mention about coach arc too played for coach manello at kings so
you know a lot of the stuff that he's ingraining into the program that
(38:10):
he's building up there is built around that weight room as well i know that those
guys are in there year round and and he believes in
some of those same things too so uh you know again coach
arc doing a great job and and shedlock kid who i got to
meet over the summer what an outstanding kid just an outstanding young
man he's the kind of kid that you root for and you know even if you're not a
crestwood fan you root for him he's just a great kid all american did you did
(38:33):
you mention that i think he was he's a track kid too right he's fast as all
heck i believe well he and speaking Speaking to him, he's been recruited for football.
A lot of Ivy League interest. He's that type of student as well.
And it's 50-50 football on track and field.
I think he's a two-time district 200-meter champion. If not,
he's the one-time 200 as a young kid.
(38:55):
This is a heck of a look. This kid is a weight room kid.
He's a book kid. He's a gym rat. Like, I seriously can't say enough about him.
Like, just an outstanding young man.
And, you know, look out, Crestwood. it. And here's another X factor in this
Dallas-Pitston area game.
Charlie Trippi Stadium is one of the few grass fields around here anymore.
(39:16):
And when you're a turf team and you used to play it on turf, that's footwear.
There's some different stuff going on. You show up in the wrong stuff or a little
bit of rain, like you're just not used to it anymore.
And as funny as that may sound, you know, that's a great home field advantage
for Coach DeLuca and the Patriots.
Well, and you Coughlin people, you know, you have your situations with Pitson.
(39:37):
You know, sometimes when there's – I won't sleep on that, But,
you know, there's been situations where you guys have come out on the right
side when some trickeration happens.
So we'll talk about that at the next installment.
Well, maybe we should just sleep on it. I'd rather not discuss some of those things.
That's great. All right. Well, listen, Coach Baranski, again, tremendous.
(40:00):
Thanks for coming on. I'll definitely get you back in a couple weeks.
We'll see how that Dallas-Pittsing game holds up. And actually,
we'll see how all these programs are going as we get closer to the postseason.
And so I just want to thank coach for, for being here again.
This has been another episode of a matter of principle, a football Friday episode. Thanks for listening.
Hello, everyone. My name is Vito Qualia, and this is another episode of A Matter of Principle.
This is a special Football Friday episode, and once again, we have our favorite
guest, Coach Jack Baranski, on with us, and we're going to talk a little bit
about where we are right now in high school football.
It's nearing the halfway point, Week 5 games coming up, and we just want to
(00:22):
talk a little bit about maybe some of the teams and how they're going so far, Maybe some surprises,
some traditional powerhouses maybe aren't what they used to be,
or maybe they're just on their way to be what they traditionally have been.
So without further ado, let's welcome Coach Baranski to the podcast. Hey, Coach, how are you?
Hey, thanks for having me, Vito. Glad to be back.
(00:43):
Excellent. Well, first off, as somebody who coached, usually at this point in
the season, you have four games under your belt, you're going into the fifth great game.
Do you think these head coaches out there know what they have,
or do you think there's some questions still have to be answered?
You know, it's real interesting. You know, it's a great question.
(01:04):
People make their greatest growth between weeks one and two,
and then you start getting to midseason, and you kind of have a feel for who you are.
But there's some uniqueness this year in the strength of schedule.
You know, take Dallas, for instance. They opened up with a very front-heavy schedule.
Schedule and you know if they're lacking confidence
that's a young team coach manolo has out there and you
(01:24):
know confidence can mean a lot to a young football team and
it doesn't seem like they're shaking they bounced back last week with a nice
win over wooks bear but their schedule for all intents and purposes seems to
ease up here down this stretch and you can't be shocked dallas doesn't go on
a great run and some other people are still searching for who they are i think
some Some of the top dogs have sorted out, but who's the middle of the pack?
(01:48):
There's some big games coming up over the next couple of weeks.
They're going to really align where people are.
Is there anybody right now that is a surprise to you?
Is there anybody that stands out, maybe a team that hasn't been successful that
is, or a team that you expected more from and they're on the snide a little
bit? Anything out there yet?
Well, you know, I hate to view it from the snide part of things,
(02:09):
but Hazleton, you know, lost a ton of kids.
And, you know, they're playing competitive football up there right now. Low-scoring games.
I know Coach Bookman is an offensive-minded head football coach and would prefer
to have high-scoring games.
But as of right now, they've let up 78 points in the first four games and they've scored 53.
So they're playing these low-scoring grinders and hanging around.
(02:31):
And, you know, hats off to him with that young football team.
I'd say Hazleton right now in Division I, still alive right in the middle of it.
And the thing about Hazleton, as we all know, I mean, there's so many,
you know, kids up there that you can draw from, but trying to get,
you know, it's kind of a transient community more so than a place where,
you know, the kids have been there K through 12.
So trying to get some kids maybe to come out for football, you know,
(02:54):
you might see some guys move into the district that look athletic,
and you're always trying to get some more numbers.
And then the fact that, you know, trying to get kids to gel together. together
hazleton's always been one of those anomalies where if
they can just get get it rolling you know
to establish a tradition they might be it's like somebody's gonna
wake the sleeping giant up there because of how many athletes they
can draw from yeah there's no doubt i
(03:16):
mean it's a big school they graduate a ton of kids i last check they
were top five in the state in in population but like
you said you have you have a transient population and you
might see a good looking kid in the hallway you talk to him about coming out he may
never put a helmet on before and that's that that's
that's a lot of work to do as opposed to a kid that came up through the
many football programs junior high program understands the
(03:38):
system you know some of the basic techniques and fundamentals and
you know you it's a it's a much better build that way a much easier build yeah
and i think i mean look at you contrast that you know humongous school district
with with the district that's also pretty darn big but maybe a little bit smaller
than years past delaware valley you know i was there for a little bit my younger
(03:58):
brother is a coach on that staff with Coach Ulsemer.
And I think that the reason that that, you know, that's a bedroom community
of New York and New Jersey.
There's a lot of transient things going on up there, people moving around.
But when you have the consistency of the same staff, you know,
for two decades, you know, Coach Ulsemer has been there since 99.
You know, and the majority of his assistants have been there as well,
(04:20):
if not guys who came through the program.
So when you have the same voices, the same mindset, the same kind of philosophy
and tradition there, I think it's easier to deal with maybe the student-athletes
that come and go a little bit, you know, so I think they, DelVal has an advantage.
Now, right now, people might look at their record, and I know you're more of
a Wyoming Valley Conference guy, but, you know, having my brother up there and
(04:41):
being in the Lackawanna Conference right now, you know, working,
you know, they're not off to a start that you'd want to be at,
you know, they just lost a tough game against Prep,
who's a powerhouse up there, but I think as DelVal gets into their regular league schedule,
things will even up for them a little bit and you'll probably see them,
you know, knocking on the door at some postseason accolades,
you know, so don't sleep on DelVal.
(05:02):
Oh, under no circumstances. That's been over the last couple of years.
It seems like Coach Olsamer likes to open up with some really tough competition,
set this team, win, lose, or draw.
They're better for it come week six.
And now they're going to settle into a conference schedule here,
and they're going to be just fine. And you're exactly right with the longevity of that staff.
(05:25):
I was lucky enough in my career through the years here to coach in some really
big games against Delaware Valley and playoff games and championship type regular
season games with the huge crowds. And it was the same guys.
And we had some consistency here at Valley West in the Keating era too.
And we kind of, as staffs, we kind of got to know each other.
And you're right, that consistent voice, you get a new player in the system,
(05:49):
that player is getting the same message from all the coaches that are on the
same page. And that means a lot and they do a great job.
And and you know i i think talking you
know you say consistency helps you know with a shot in the
arm and kind of building confidence with guys who can kind
of see things you know as they come into the system they see the the the
records you know the the success of the wins and losses and you know
(06:10):
kind of try to fit into there but also when there's when there's some new blood
you know some new coaches younger coaches that also inject some enthusiasm and
and pittsson area is a place that has a brand new head coach and joe deluca
you know they had they had a couple rough goes the first couple weeks but last
couple weeks you know they turn things around a little bit and i know they have
some players there what do you think about pitts and aries so far.
(06:30):
Well, I'll tell you what, I got to see them up close and personal last week,
and I'm very impressed with the job that Coach DeLuca's doing.
And he's assembled a really nice staff up there.
Lenny Baczynski, Dwayne Downing, he has his sons, Johnny and Joey, are on the staff.
I mean, you're talking about a real quality coaching staff there.
(06:51):
And it really appears as if they're on the build. I liked what they were doing offensively.
They looked fundamentally sound defensively. and
you know they have some young guys in some key spots right now
but i'll tell you what the lapresto kid is as talented
as i've seen this year in some limited game
this this kid's explosive and they do a nice job getting on the ball they're
(07:13):
creative and again a veteran coaching staff they've been around they're patient
they're building and hats off to coach to luke and the job that he's done up
there yeah no they they're doing a really nice job and and i think if they If
they get some things right,
I think you might have some early season jitters when you're kind of doing things for the first time.
But when you have the athletes, they have it. It's a little bit easier.
(07:34):
Loprestos was outstanding, only a sophomore.
Last year he came on like gangbusters as a freshman.
And their quarterback is a kid who's a tremendous athlete, Matt Walter,
who I believe just came out last year, first time playing football,
was a receiver and a D-back and then slid into the QB role.
But, again, just a tremendous athlete and can get things going.
(07:56):
I believe Coach Ken White is on that staff. Did you say that?
He's a Wilkes-Barre alum. Oh, yeah, that's right. I saw Coach White. Yes, sir.
Yes, another veteran guy has been around the Myers, Wilkes-Barre area,
Coughlin. He's been to a lot of places, a lot of stops.
And to speak to the young man, Walter,
They're doing a lot of straight Q run game with him right now,
and you can see he's not a quarterback running the ball.
(08:17):
He's an athlete playing quarterback, and his delivery was pretty good. He missed on a couple.
They had some big plays early that he missed on, but they were good-looking
balls, and he runs the ball nicely, and that's a big advantage when you can run your quarterback.
Absolutely. And any time, because the defense has to account for that person, right?
A lot of times if you have those guys, especially coming out of the seven-on-sevens
(08:40):
where some people just stand on a spot and zing it around like a Tom Brady kind
of thing, if they're not going to be a running threat defensively,
you scheme completely different.
But if you have a kid over there that's really just almost another running back
who can throw the ball, then you really got to prepare a whole lot differently.
I mean, as a defense coordinator for so long, you definitely must agree with that. Absolutely.
(09:02):
That's a headache when you have a kid that's going to run around, create.
There's designed cue run game. The biggest advantage for an offense in a Q run game is this.
If a quarterback turns around and hands the ball off to a tailback and carries
out a good fake, you have nine blockers, a ball carrier, and a person who's
trying to hold people's eyes with a fake.
If you run the quarterback, it's just a numbers game. Now you have 10 blockers
(09:25):
and a ball carrier. You're plus one in the blocking game.
And like you said, from a defensive standpoint, when you're scheming this out,
you better round in your rush lanes.
If people are going to leave rush lanes and somebody's he's going to take advantage
of them and start ripping off 10, 15, 20-yard runs. It's a headache.
It's a major, major headache. So, yeah, they got a little something going there
with Mr. Walter. I like what's going on.
(09:47):
Well, and to jump across the river to their rival, Pinson area's rival,
Wyoming area, you know, that's another place very similar to a Delaware Valley
that's had the same coaches around for decades, same philosophies and things
like that. What do you see with the Warriors? Yeah.
Well, I got to see them in person week one up at Crestwood.
I'm going to talk about a couple of their athletes here quickly,
(10:10):
but I was very impressed with the physicality of their offensive and defensive line.
I thought that they were very physical because I thought Crestwood was pretty
physical too, and they kind of negated each other in week one.
But WA has playmakers.
Make no mistake about it. Otway Kellum, special teams, receiving,
(10:30):
running the ball. The kid is, I mean, he went for over 300 against the Dallas team.
You do that against any Dallas team, you know you're doing something.
So Otway Kellum, I'm sorry, Lidge Kellum. I'm sorry, I have the wrong,
Lidge Kellum at Wyoming. I apologize.
Otway Kellum's at Hanover. Lidge Kellum having a big year, and the young receiver,
(10:50):
Kopechny, I mean, some people ease into conference play.
He comes out and goes for over 150 yards receiving in his first start ever.
I mean, you know, he welcomed himself to the league. He didn't wait for an introduction.
He just went and did it. And, you know, good for him.
DeLuca at quarterback, good athlete.
Week one, he looked a little rusty up at Crestwood, but it looks like he's starting
(11:13):
to settle in and get the ball where it needs to be.
As far as division two, Wyoming Valley Conference, it's Wyoming area.
And then it appears like it's everybody else sorting out for your other spots.
Yeah, they're clearly headed above everyone else. and possibly,
bar none, Division I or II, possibly the best team in the conference.
Well, and it all starts up front for those of us who played in the trenches.
(11:37):
As much as the line doesn't get the accolades in the paper, guys who coach understand that.
And Coach Fonte, a long-time line coach there, does a great job.
And what I like most about the Wyoming area is...
Those coaches, they'll get an average or a sub-average kid maybe to be really good.
You know, anybody can get a really good athlete and make them themselves,
(12:01):
right? Just let them go play.
But when you truly, you know, you're a teacher slash coach, when you could really
get your mentality, you know, get the kids to be physical like you said,
but also understand the game, understand, you know, that their technique has
to be really good if you're undersized.
But they've had a stretch now where they've had some really physical.
Dominating big guys up front with maybe the 5'10", 5'11", guys as well who do a real nice job.
(12:24):
So I know Coach Fondy wanted to give him a little shout-out.
He does a really nice job with those guys.
Michael deserves that. Michael deserves a nice little shout-out.
And Randy does a nice job with, like all the great ones do, build your offensive
scheme around the talent you have.
If you have a kid who could run around back in the day with Nick O'Brien and
things like that, that was a tailback back there that could sling it.
(12:45):
Or if you have, you know, DeLuca, who's more of a quarterback,
quarterback, you know, it doesn't hurt to have a, you know, Kenny Cappuccini's
little boy out there. You know, Kenny himself was an outstanding receiver.
So, you know, you have these athletes littered all over the field.
You know, they do a really nice job.
And, you know, a couple weeks ago I had Coach Marenka on there,
and he's, you know, really sitting out in Arizona retired, but really pleased
(13:06):
with, you know, how those guys on that staff have really just kept that tradition rolling.
So, you know, hats off to those guys to still – It's almost like when they have
a down year, they're 5-5, right?
They don't really seem like they ever suffer one of those 1-9,
0-10 kind of things. So they seem like they're rolling again.
Yeah, it definitely looks definitely trending upwards. Like I said,
(13:27):
I thought they were a very physical football team in week one.
They came out with intent.
And you're right, again, with the consistency part. I mean, Wyoming area football
years ago, coaching against them, I don't want to say tendency-wise they're
the same, but schematically, defensively, they don't change. They're a 5-2 defense.
(13:47):
If you spread them out, you might get them into a forefront.
They have a program, and it's been that way for a long time.
And here's what we do, and we're not going to make excuses, and everybody understands it.
And I think that there's something really to be said for that.
Well, and it goes back for the dinosaurs like you and me talking about stuff.
When you had Coach Jackson involved in Coughlin, you know what I mean,
(14:10):
and the defensive kind of stuff that came out that you guys did at Coughlin,
and then when Coach Jackson was at Dallas all those years, you know what you're going to get.
You're going to get a very fundamentally sound team that was just going to keep
doing the same kind of stuff.
They weren't going to get into that, you know, offense of the week,
defense of the week kind of stuff. They just believe in this is what we do.
And, you know, and we're going to wear you down like Novocaine sometimes when
(14:34):
it comes to like some deliberate stuff offensively.
But hey, if you can instill that and you get a little bit of some confidence
with some wins and you get, you know, you go from 35 to 42 guys to almost 50
guys on your roster, things like that, that's when you get a successful consistency in your program.
And I think some of those programs we talked about so far, they have those things.
(14:54):
Yeah, definitely. You know, just like in education, the scaffolded learning,
if you have a basic structure for your program, you could always,
as the season goes on, build into it and add in some nuances or maybe take things
in a different direction,
but not run a different offensive scheme every week, but just have some things.
Be so good at what you do within the structure of your program that you're able
(15:15):
to add on and have a couple change-ups along along the way and then you really
got something going what about some of these schools i mean i i i haven't seen
berwick live i've seen you know some clips and read some things i know.
They're kind of struggling right now you know new new new coach down there probably
a new staff younger guy in coach curry what have you heard anything about the
(15:37):
program are they are they starting to make some improvements there they just
having a tough time to start out it appears Pierce, you know,
first of all, Coach Curry,
you know, just taking over, stepping in there.
You know, I think he was at Ceilings Grove. He did a short stint at Berwick
a couple years ago. I think he was at Ceilings Grove for a year or two.
So now he's back to home, for lack of a better term.
(16:00):
And it's going to take him some time to get this together the way that he wants
it. But they are playing impressive defense.
103 they're giving about 25 points a
game but right now they're struggling offensively they've only scored 24
points they're only averaging six points a game right now
so i know they're going to want to get that going they're
(16:20):
going to have some tough matchups because i know there's still a whelming area coming
up down the road they got a couple big games coming up but i
think coach curry's going to be looking for growth let's keep moving
forward let's run the ball a little bit better let's let's be
a little more consistent in our passing game let's start putting points on the
board and it's it's going to take some time and i
think coach curry's the right guy for the job down there and you know
(16:40):
he's gonna he's gonna get it going well and
i hope like you said it's going to take time
it isn't the berwick demographic it isn't the berwick community of the 70s and
80s and 90s and early 2000s you know just it's it's different now and and for
anybody out there who who thinks well this is you know another curry who he
(17:00):
must have all the the the X's and O's genius of his grandfather and things like that.
And it's going to take time. You know, and I hope the people down there,
you know, the fans and the community and the administration alike,
you know, give the young man time to build his program the right way,
to have that consistency,
you know, that all these other programs we've talked about a little bit so far have.
(17:21):
And I think you're right. I think he's the right guy for the job.
I think he could do a really nice job of maybe, you know, bringing back a lot
of those traditional things.
But, again, it's not going to be an overnight success. there's gonna
there's gonna be growing pains and i just hope that
uh everybody who has the the power down there does the right
thing by them yeah yeah i i happen to agree
with that he's a young guy he's he's only in his late 20s
(17:42):
i mean cj was a quarterback under his grandfather for
he was a two-year starter he understands the old
coach curry offense then he went on to east stroudsburg which
is a whole different style of offense and he finished up his in at
kings as a in a playing career so he's seen some
different things and i'm sure he he i know
that he has the utmost respect for his grandfather like we all do
(18:04):
and i'm sure he has some elements of that
but i'm sure it's it's gonna it's different he's not just gonna run his grandfather's
program he's gonna do it his way as he should and yeah patience patience is
the thing hopefully and i know that he's teaching the right things he's holding
holding the team to high expectations and that again that consistency consistency,
(18:26):
keeps putting that message in, get back in the weight room and,
you know, he'll get it going, I believe.
Well, definitely. I think that's like, hopefully, you know, down the road,
you know, we can talk back, you know, talk about that program,
you know, a couple of years down the road and say, Hey, I remember when they
started off and, you know, he's really got them in the right direction.
So, you know, we're all rooting for you, kiddo. So coach Curry,
you know, get after it and keep doing, you know, what you need to do.
(18:49):
How about some other, other programs, Rams, you know, in the area where I grew
up, grew up in the sprawling metropolis of Ashley Newtown, but Hanover area,
Nanticoke area, they're kind of, you know, going through some growing pains themselves,
you know, struggling right now. What do you see out of them?
Coach Majeros over at Hanover, they have a nice staff. I haven't seen them play
(19:13):
at all this year, but they're another team.
When you look at their statistics, they've struggled offensively.
So they've scored 40 points on the season.
They do have a young playmaker. I misstated him from Wyoming area earlier,
Jonathan Otway-Killam at Hanover area.
Statistically, he's the second leading receiver in Division II in the Wyoming Valley Conference.
(19:38):
So they have a playmaker, and I know they have a couple of them,
and their quarterback statistically is playing pretty well.
Last name of Richardson has some statistics throwing the ball.
But they've struggled consistently putting points up, and defensively they've
given up way too much right now with 163 in four games.
They're averaging 40.8 points a game allowed.
So they're going to have to get that straightened out. And I've known Coach Majeros a long time.
(20:02):
Jay's a great guy and a great football coach.
And he he again needs time he
he patience let him build a program let's
stay with it and i have faith that coach maduro's before
long especially with a couple of these young athletes he has we'll be making
some noise in that division too and nanny coke you know unfortunately suffered
(20:24):
such a you know tremendous loss of that program that community at the beginning
of the year so i know that they're struggling and not just x's and o's but really
just trying to rally rally behind you know, a lot of some,
you know, tragic stuff that happened to them.
Sad. I mean, you know, Coach Dennis took over for a long time.
Coach Bruza moved into administration, you know, for years, Nanny Cook,
(20:45):
you knew wing T, Coach Bruza, you don't see a lot of wing T's anymore, but man, he stuck to it.
And it can't be that bad. Southern runs it and they've been a little successful.
So, you know, Coach Bruza did a great job.
He stepped away, stepped into new administration, Coach Dennis came down,
took on a massive challenge because Nanny Cook graduated a ton of kids last
(21:07):
year, talented football players.
And it was going to be a build no matter what. Young team, some kids never even
had played football before and reading some of the articles,
quotes from Coach Bruza.
And Coach Dennis was positive all summer.
What a great leader for that young team. And to have that happen was...
(21:28):
My, you know, wow. I, I, I can't even imagine, you know, but hats off to them
picked up their first win this past week is just something to mention.
I'm sure that that was a celebration from Tunkhannock right straight back to
Nanny Coke. I'm sure that was a noisy bus and, and, and good for them. They deserved it.
Absolutely. And hopefully, you know, maybe the football season can be a rallying
(21:50):
point for them, you know, and,
and kind of lean on each other when you're trying to go through some,
some, you know, times of,
you know, loss, but you just, just it's another
life lesson like you're going to have situations where we lose
people close to us in life and you have to find you know ways
to persevere so luckily you know those that community that
that those guys can kind of rally around each other and hopefully
uh make it just a little bit better as they go forward yeah more
(22:13):
so than the game lifelong lesson here lifelong lesson
you know adversity how do you face it you know
you know that you need people to support you and and that's teammates
are there for and you know you know hats off to
coach bruza just to step back in there temporarily just
to you know hold things together but he had stayed in the paper again last week
(22:33):
this is coach dennis's team and uh you know he doesn't they won he would not
accept even one kudo for it you know and that's the kind of stand-up guy he
is and lifelong that he played Played at Nanticoke.
Coach Bruza lives and breathes Nanticoke football.
And he stepped in there to help hold it together. And, you know,
(22:55):
they play for the late Coach Dennis right now.
And, you know, again, great win last week.
Hopefully that's the start of some, you know, hopefully they can keep that going
and pick up a couple more here.
Now, how about Wilkes-Barre area? What's going on with the Wolfpack?
I'll tell you what. Watch week one on television.
They beat a tremendous District 11 school in Whitehall, who's consistent in the playoffs.
(23:20):
You can pencil their name in before the season starts every year.
Outstanding program. They come out. Jake Howe throws for big yards.
They win the football game.
Then they go up to Stroudsburg. Again, it was on television.
So I happened to watch some of it. They didn't play as well.
They faced a little adversity, and things didn't go their way.
(23:42):
They gave up some big plays. that rolled into a valley view team
you know again one of these programs valley view
set your watch to it they're going to show up they're going to be fundamentally sound
they're going to play physical and wooks bear struggled with it and then dallas
and so that i mean wooks bear starts out by beating whitehall and you think
(24:02):
okay here we go we're looking at eight and two nine and one and they're sitting
one and three so who's the real wooks bear area i guess that's It's yet to be sorted out.
And that, you know, this week, I'm sorry, week six, they go up to Hazleton.
Week seven, they have Pittston area. So they have some games going up.
They're going to say, where do we fall in this thing?
Are we still at the top of the food chain? Are we more middle of the pack?
(24:25):
You know, they have to find their footing. And to speak about the Howe kid,
you know, he started as a freshman, started at least 10 games.
I forget if they had a playoff.
At the very least right now, he is quarterbacked in 24 high school football
games. Most people don't play in 24, and he's only a junior.
He's a junior that's quarterbacked the team.
They have some leadership and stability at that quarterback spot and some playmakers.
(24:49):
They're really young. I was talking to Coach Sinti and Coach Michaels,
really young team. They almost have everybody back next year.
So they knew that they were going to hit some speed bumps along the way,
but they really liked this group.
And they think if they can get a go in the second half of the year,
which they should, you're no longer, you know, when you're playing in your sophomore
year, midway through the season, you're really not a sophomore anymore.
(25:10):
You got to start considering yourself a little bit. You've been around the block.
And, you know, late in this year, look out for Wilkes-Barre.
And then going into next year, pencil it in now.
One of the better teams in the area next year, the Wolfpack.
Well, and I think that's another place where once they hit their stride,
I mean, you're talking about kids coming from three different areas where there
(25:31):
used to be three different football programs back in the day.
You know, when you played and before that, you had, you know,
the Plains Yankees and the Mini Mohawks and the Heights Packers.
You had tremendous youth programs for decades.
You know, so there's been a lot of pride in those three Wilkes-Barre schools.
Schools and now for everybody to be together, I think there's,
there's probably just, just like any place where there's a jointure,
(25:53):
you know, there's a feeling out period trying to see it.
It's everybody coming out that would have played if they were in the three,
you know, separate high schools, things like that.
So there's, there's going to be a little bit of that, but once,
like you said, I think that's another place just like a, you know,
like, like a Hazleton, you know, a sleeping giant kind of thing.
If it comes together and they get a little confidence lookout because it could
(26:15):
be very contagious in what they're doing, but they have tremendous athletes.
My, my brother, Nick up at DV.
And when they play in the playoffs, those guys, you know, we're not thrilled
to see the caliber of athletes across the field.
You know, they knew they were going to be matchup problems are really athletic.
So yeah, they, they definitely have kids in that program. And I,
and I, I think it's just going to be a matter of time before they're consistently a winner.
(26:37):
So, and now just, and just to throw this out there, coach to you,
and this is something that should probably going to make some people mad who are listening.
If people even listen to us, But I had no idea why the schedule makers don't
have Delaware Valley playing the big schools.
I mean, they don't play Wilkes-Barre. They don't play Hazleton.
They don't play Williamsport.
I just don't understand that those guys up there have to go all over Creation
(27:02):
and New York to find games when there are quality programs here in and around District 2.
So it doesn't make sense to me, and I know as a person who sat on those committees,
it's not the easiest thing in the world to get those things
to happen but you you can and you should and
and district two teams should all play each other and not
have to you know run around every county and get on the bus for two and three
(27:23):
hours and go play games really hopefully hopefully next time around you know
after this cycle that they can get that right and make sure that delaware valley
is playing some more d2 teams that's just my own personal commercial not to
uh i didn't mean to speak for you if you feel that way or not but.
Yeah. Here's what I always thought as a coach. And, you know, a lot of the P.I.A.A.
(27:44):
In District two is about the playoff games and fill in the seats for a playoff game.
I always I think back to again, back to the 80s before district playoff games
when there was Eastern Conference and you were one Valley Conference champion.
You played somebody from Lackawanna County.
You didn't see each other all year. You don't even have common opponents and
those places would be jammed.
(28:06):
So I think there's something to be said about not playing everybody of the same
size in the area. So it brings a little intrigue to a playoff game.
Who's what? When you show up, you know, a couple years ago, I don't know,
Dallas Valley View. They played in the regular season.
I forget who came on. And the playoff game was just a repeat of what you saw in the regular season.
I think sometimes there's some real intrigue if teams did not play each other.
(28:30):
And here they are in the playoffs. They had two successful seasons.
Maybe they had a couple common opponents. You know, I'm not saying that Del
Valle should have to travel all over the world.
I think they like going to Florida to start the year.
Because they've been doing that for a little while. No, absolutely.
But I mean, but the fact that, I mean, they're sitting at 5A right now.
So I don't think they're playing any of the 6A. I mean, I don't know.
(28:54):
So that's what I'm saying. I understand you're not going to play everybody,
but the fact that I think they have to have four out of their 10 games against,
non-Northeast PA people, I mean, to me, that's a little bit of a stretch.
Yeah, and that's actually news to me. That's actually news to me because I just
know years ago at Valley West when we were playing all the other four A's, let's say. Yeah.
(29:14):
It wasn't much intrigue. Come play out. It's a lot more intriguing sometimes
when people didn't play.
Oh, sure. No, I agree with that 100%. Absolutely. Absolutely.
But they actually have to go out to Long Island to play a team.
Oh, okay. Yeah, so stuff like that.
I didn't understand that. But,
again, not to ruffle any feathers of D2 officials, but, hey, guess what?
(29:35):
They have thick skin. They can handle it. But a school that I do know a little
bit about who's having a great year so far, Riverside.
A small school, only graduates 100 kids per year, not a monster powerhouse population-wise.
But Coach Armstrong putting together another really good offensive team.
(29:57):
There's some quality kids there.
I'll give a shout-out to the offensive line up front that protects Chase,
the quarterback, and gives him time to sling it around to all those receivers.
Receivers but you know tavian branch who's a junior you know
getting looked at getting offers i think 11 or 12 officers at this point uh
penn state has been there a couple times to talk to him great
(30:19):
kid you know he's 6'4 290 only a
junior only gonna get bigger and and they have a they have
a 6'5 tackle they're tight end 6'2 230
uh richie kostoff he's he's you know got
offered by bucknell real real good kid so there's
they have some weapons they're playing really you know
really strongly now they're they're not you know
(30:39):
it's hard sometimes when you when you're a good team and you
know you're going to have a stretch of maybe you're playing some teams that
you might overmatch at one phase of the game it's it's easy to look past them
right coach you've all been in situations where you lose a game sometimes that
you shouldn't lose so i think there's some some games on the schedule for them
that they that they don't want to look past as they look towards the end of
the season and their rivalry with old forge and you know trail and and then
(31:01):
in the postseason, things like that.
But I think Coach Armstrong is doing a really good job, and he's got some quality kids up there.
Great, great. He's done a great job. He's been at it for a while up there now.
We were lucky enough when I was the head coach, they came down for some seven-on-seven
work in the summertime, maybe like three trips they came down.
And so I got to see him coach in a much more quiet and personal setting.
(31:27):
Outstanding football coach, great offensive mind. he was really
getting involved defensively at that point too and really
working him as as we were throwing the ball
and working the coverages just an excellent football coach
great guy you know and i wish him all the success in the world and yeah they
seem to really have it going and you know i have a question because i'm not
even sure if you know are they as far as district playoffs go are they a double
(31:51):
a school single a school 2a 2a yep so 2a will be i believe the five 2a schools are Susquehanna,
Redeemer, Riverside, Lakeland, and Dunmore, I think, are the 5-2A.
Because Mid-Valley, I believe, is 3-A.
Yes, I'm pretty sure they're the ones for a District 2 playoffs.
And they played Lakeland and Dunmore earlier in the year and beat them both.
(32:14):
You know, they have Trail, they have Old Forge. There are going to be some tough teams there.
And the thing about it, what Coach Armstrong has done, and I think it's what
the smaller schools have to do, is, you know, open the door to his program,
to the athletes that play other sports.
And, you know, the Rose Brothers, two outstanding basketball players.
And right now, Riverside is in a run of tremendous basketball run.
(32:38):
They won the district title. They've returned everybody.
They have some good kids, young kids in the program as well.
And there's been an interest with those kids and some baseball players,
you know, playing football.
And when you have a small school, like I said, only graduating 100,
sometimes under 100 kids in a class, you have to have those kids that play other sports.
You can't have kids that just play one. So, like I said, the tight end plays basketball.
(33:02):
Two of the receivers, three of the receivers play basketball.
So he has kids out there that are athletes.
You know what I mean? And his style offense, he loves to sling it around the yard.
So, you know, he's going to open it up. And if you're not, you know,
you might think, yeah, I don't want to be in there and, you know,
sticking my nose inside tackle to tackle and getting beat up.
But so if you're an athlete there at Riverside, you know you can be on the edge.
(33:23):
You can be out there one-on-one, you know, go get the ball and have some fun.
So he's done a nice job of really getting some athletes to play for him. Yeah, great.
And that's what he's really effective at. He's going to poke around in a couple
different formations early in the game and see where he can find some chunk
plays to one of those athletes.
And when the situation's right, they're going to start unloading it,
and they can really pour it on. Again, great job up there. Yeah, he's done a nice job.
(33:44):
As we get close to wrap it up, is there any programs that I didn't ask you about
that you wanted to bring up?
Well, you know, the first thing I want to say with this Riverside,
a lot of rumor on the street is that success has to do with the principal up
there. I don't know if it's true or not.
I'm just saying. I don't say that, but I've heard it. People say it out loud.
(34:04):
Well, you know, that's fake news, as someone would say.
No, Coach Armstrong. And I will say this. That's another place that has that.
If you ever saw a game up there in the stadium, it's fun. The town is there. It's a small stadium.
That it's very similar to an old forge kind of situation even
like a berwick back in the day you walk around the
(34:26):
neighborhood everybody has signs in their yard you know the the kids
walk they walk down from the from the school
to the to the stadium when the neat thing about the the rivalry is they'll walk
to old forge old forge walks to them when they come up and it's it's really
cool to have that you know the whole sense of the community is there and and
you go to the game go to the games on friday and you know there's 60 70 80 year
(34:49):
old guys there that have been watching games forever,
and they'll tell you the stories of things they saw over the decades.
It's fun. It's what high school football should be about.
So it's really cool for me to be part of that atmosphere.
It's fun. For anybody who didn't get a chance to ever get there,
it's a small little stadium on Main Street and Taylor. But if you like high
school football, it's the place to be.
(35:11):
Well, real quickly here, just to mention, I know we've mentioned Dallas,
but I'd like to mention the type of season that Zapaticki's having at quarterback.
Sure. because he leads the team in rushing
he leads dallas in rushing right now he
leads the wyoming valley conference in passing so i
i haven't seen them in person but i gotta believe i know that coach manella
(35:32):
talked about having a young offensive line and you know they're growing into
the job and it would appear to me that they have some more quarterback designed
runs possibly some zone reads and maybe even into rpos at this point because
just based on his numbers and what's going
on and that's and that's a little bit of a stretch but i'm just i
i have that feeling and the other team to mention real quick
(35:52):
and another tremendous athlete that we didn't get to jayden shedlock
at crestwood oh yeah and coach arcangeli and
and don't count them out in in division one yet in the wyoming valley conference
they just played a really tough western wing team i mean they opened up with
wyoming area they they didn't have any favors early in their season either And
now they're going to settle in And they run that single wing It's unique,
(36:16):
you don't see it You almost have to go online to look up.
Some things about it and you know coach archangeli and
his staff do a great job and they have one of the best athletes in
the league so keep an eye on crescent a couple big games coming
up with them the game i like this week is dallas at pittston area i think that's
the game in a week i think you find out something about each of those teams
absolutely and and it's gonna it's gonna be a war of attrition i mean it won
(36:40):
and lost in the trenches i mean coach coach manello anybody who ever had the
opportunity to see him speak at a clinic i mean the guy he can be up there in a
suit and tie and then 10 minutes he's dripping sweat talking about
all different kind of like you know the right footwork uh
you know on the skip pole i mean the guy he just he's an intense dude
loves what he does love you know fully committed
to you know the 12 month throwing that iron around and
(37:03):
that you know championships are won in the weight room you know he he lives
and breathes football and does things the right way and like you said about
arc as well i mean those guys you know crestwood always has really tough kids
who again strong kids you know the I think the Biblican's still up there, good athletes.
And Coach Myers must still be on the staff there if they're running that single wing.
(37:25):
I think he's remotely involved.
I don't know if he's full-time, but he's around.
They'll be someone to contend with. But I agree, Pittston-Dallas this week would be a fun game to see.
Dallas isn't going to run around and do that kind of offense of the week kind of stuff.
They are who they are. and you know when they're good they they're going to
(37:48):
beat people up and pittson has some firepower you know with some skill guys
so it'll be a fun a fun like chess game between those guys and see what happens
i think in any kind of situation like that the team that makes the least amount
of mistakes is going to win,
so uh that that'll be cool to check out and just
to mention about coach arc too played for coach manello at kings so
you know a lot of the stuff that he's ingraining into the program that
(38:10):
he's building up there is built around that weight room as well i know that those
guys are in there year round and and he believes in
some of those same things too so uh you know again coach
arc doing a great job and and shedlock kid who i got to
meet over the summer what an outstanding kid just an outstanding young
man he's the kind of kid that you root for and you know even if you're not a
crestwood fan you root for him he's just a great kid all american did you did
(38:33):
you mention that i think he was he's a track kid too right he's fast as all
heck i believe well he and speaking Speaking to him, he's been recruited for football.
A lot of Ivy League interest. He's that type of student as well.
And it's 50-50 football on track and field.
I think he's a two-time district 200-meter champion. If not,
he's the one-time 200 as a young kid.
(38:55):
This is a heck of a look. This kid is a weight room kid.
He's a book kid. He's a gym rat. Like, I seriously can't say enough about him.
Like, just an outstanding young man.
And, you know, look out, Crestwood. it. And here's another X factor in this
Dallas-Pitston area game.
Charlie Trippi Stadium is one of the few grass fields around here anymore.
(39:16):
And when you're a turf team and you used to play it on turf, that's footwear.
There's some different stuff going on. You show up in the wrong stuff or a little
bit of rain, like you're just not used to it anymore.
And as funny as that may sound, you know, that's a great home field advantage
for Coach DeLuca and the Patriots.
Well, and you Coughlin people, you know, you have your situations with Pitson.
(39:37):
You know, sometimes when there's – I won't sleep on that, But,
you know, there's been situations where you guys have come out on the right
side when some trickeration happens.
So we'll talk about that at the next installment.
Well, maybe we should just sleep on it. I'd rather not discuss some of those things.
That's great. All right. Well, listen, Coach Baranski, again, tremendous.
(40:00):
Thanks for coming on. I'll definitely get you back in a couple weeks.
We'll see how that Dallas-Pittsing game holds up. And actually,
we'll see how all these programs are going as we get closer to the postseason.
And so I just want to thank coach for, for being here again.
This has been another episode of a matter of principle, a football Friday episode. Thanks for listening.
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