Knowing the score

Bill Edger spent the first couple weeks of football practice wondering when the players were going to show. Practicing with 14 athletes has a way of limiting what a team can do. The low numbers even forced the Rams to cancel a couple of scrimmages.

Last Thursday, the coach was pleasantly surprised when 30-plus students came to practice with completed medical forms. When practice got underway, the athletes were able to split into six different lines for stretching and jumping jacks.

Strong numbers are exactly what the Rams need to return to respectability on the PIAA District XII (Public League) scene. Talent and football skills are also essential, but in past seasons Edger struggled just to get enough players to form an offensive line.

Over the next three weeks, including tomorrow’s non-league home opener against Olney, Southern has the chance to show it’s a much different team than the one that compiled a two-win record last year. Several of the seniors are confident of the squad’s abilities.

"We’ve got a lot of things to prove," senior Anthony Desesso said prior to last week’s practice. "First of all, we just need to come together as a team. We’ve got to see who has heart and who doesn’t."

It was hard for the players to keep their hearts from sinking last season, when they were shut out six times and outscored by 20 or more points seven times. The Rams’ two wins over Edison and University City broke a 14-game winless streak, but the players know they still have a lot of work ahead.

Senior Gerald Terry, a four-year starter at fullback and linebacker, is ready to lead his teammates to success.

"It’s my senior year," he said, while taking a break from team warm-ups. "I’ve got to do big things this year."

Besides getting ready for the regular season, the Rams and their District XII foes are adjusting to the new PIAA rules. This transition year allows city schools to get used to the state organization’s guidelines. Next season, Southern and Bok will get the chance to compete for state titles.

One of the biggest differences for football teams is that athletes need to have a physical before they can even practice. That’s part of the reason Southern was struggling with numbers until players could have their forms back.

Athletes also are having their grades monitored on a weekly basis, and students with failing grades will be declared ineligible for the following week’s game.

Terry is one player lending his approval to the new system.

"I like how they are doing it now, it’s better," he said. "If you want to play the sport, you’ve got to pass your class."

Athletes also need to show up for practice so Edger can set his starting lineup.

So far, the Rams have two seniors splitting time at quarterback. Monir Nock is a returning starter, while Jalil Harris transferred in from West Philadelphia.

Any boost in scoring is sorely needed; Southern averaged a Public League-low 7.9 points per game last season. Other offensive contributions should come from seniors Ryan Williams, tight end; Desesso, tailback; Doran Tate, wingback; and Steven Rudd, wide receiver. Up front, junior Henry Walker and sophomore Demetrius Tillman will provide the blocking and pass protection.

The majority of the offensive starters are expected to play both ways, including sophomore Nick Moody, linebacker-tight end; and junior Michael McClain, wide receiver-safety.

Edger remains upbeat about the team’s future, especially if Southern is able to bring back its junior-varsity football program. The school district is in the process of expanding the athletic options for high-school students.

The players, especially the seniors, are focused on the present. The Rams could return to the Division D spotlight by beating Bartram on Oct. 9 or Bok on Oct. 18. It’s been a few years since Southern has scored a win over either team, but athletes like Desesso aren’t allowing themselves to feel intimidated.

"We are just trying to come together and bring our A-plus game to every game," he said.

Edger likes the optimism, but said his basic goal is for the Rams to improve on last year’s two-win mark.

"If we win more than that, it’s a successful year," he said.

The Bok Wildcats, by contrast, are thinking about winning another Division D championship. And why shouldn’t they? The squad has earned its reputation for being the team to beat after winning six Division D titles over the last 10 years, including one in 2002.

Bok again will depend on its stellar defense, which allowed just over seven points a game last season.

Offensively, the Wildcats’ biggest question is finding a replacement for single-season and career rushing leader Akeem "Feathers" Green, who tallied 1,009 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

So far, coach Tom DeFelice has been pleased with the team’s effort in its scrimmages against Ben Franklin and Northeast.

"They are very hard-working and are a very coachable group," he said prior to Monday’s rainy practice. "I think they are very focused on what they have to do."

It helps that the majority of the starters are seniors already familiar with the system. Marcelluas Barnes, a returning All-Public defensive lineman, will move to linebacker this season, and will play alongside fellow returning senior Cedric Green. Seniors Tyreef Henry, Navaree Archie and Aaron Hayes, along with juniors Rasheed Fleming and Cory Multrie, are expected to play key roles on the defensive line. Senior Hakim Leach, who tallied two interceptions last season, is back at safety. Senior Joe "Pepe" DiSalis is competing for a starting nod at defensive back.

Green expressed faith in his experienced teammates.

"We’ve got one of the best defenses in the Public League," he said. "We have a lot of veteran players back who have been here the last couple of years."

To address the questions on offense, DeFelice plans to open the season using a rotation of running backs. Fullback Green put up the strongest numbers of the returning group with 358 yards and five touchdowns, while senior quarterback Allen Major tallied 159 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Major is battling with DiSalis for the starting quarterback nod. Senior Kenny Major, who is Allen’s twin brother, and junior Amir Nuriddin also could see time at running back.

"Offensively, I am a little concerned about our inexperience," DeFelice said. "We don’t have a breakaway back or big back."

The players say they are ready to bring the ground game back to life.

"We’ve got a lot of people ready to step up to the plate," Green said. "Kenny [Major] is going to rack up the yards this year."

The team is counting on Barnes to make an impact at the flanker-split end spot, along with Leach and Henry.

Bok’s players had no concerns about the new PIAA rules in place this year, which link athletic participation to academics on a week-by-week basis.

"I like the new rules as far as academics go," Green said. "It keeps us on top of our game. Football comes second."

DeFelice, also a health and physical education teacher at Bok, will continue supporting his student-athletes.

"We feel as coaches and teachers that we can use athletics to motivate these students," the coach said.

The biggest changes will take place next season when the fall athletic teams open the preseason in early August as opposed to the end of the month. For now, these Wildcats are determined to pick up another championship title.

As in recent seasons, that nod could be decided Oct. 24 when Bok hosts Bartram. The two squads were the only Division D teams to finish with winning records last season. DeFelice, even with all the recent success, isn’t ready to make any predictions.

"I think we have to earn experience," the coach said. "That’s why we make practices as competitive as we can. We have to prepare for our first league game against West Philly [Oct. 10]."

Southern schedule

�

Bok schedule

2002 Division D Standings

Bok 5-0
Bartram 4-1
West Philadelphia 2-3
Southern 2-3
University City 0-5