Touching down

South Philly’s two public high-school football teams are about to start their seasons, but this time, they’re playing in a whole new league.

City teams are now official members of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association’s District XII. Participation gives the top squads a chance to represent the city in state tournament action.

In addition, the Public League’s four-division system has been replaced with three seven-team divisions. The restructuring will spare Bok and Southern from facing bigger schools, like Northeast Philadelphia-based Frankford and Washington.

The Bok Wildcats will host Martin Luther King in a non-league game today at 3 p.m., while the Southern Rams will host William Penn in non-league action tomorrow at 3 p.m. Both contests will be played at 11th and Bigler streets.

Things can only improve for the Rams after a winless 2003 campaign. Bok, meanwhile, is an early favorite to win the new Public South Division.

Team: Bok Wildcats

Coach: Tom DeFelice

2003 record: 7-2 overall, 5-0 Division D

New division: Public South

When the Wildcats started practicing three weeks ago, DeFelice was looking for players to step up and become leaders. The veterans responded, knowing the winning tradition of the blue and white rests on their shoulder pads.

"I think early on, we were worried about the inexperience," said the coach, now in his 12th season at Bok. "We’ve found great leadership from our linemen, especially [senior] Rasheed Fleming."

Key players: Joe "Pepe" DeSalis, senior quarterback; Shon Thompkins, junior tackle; Cory Moultrie, senior safety-halfback; Amir Nuriddin, senior halfback-safety; Nafis Edwards, senior safety-split end; Joe Campagna, senior nose guard-offensive tackle; Fleming, senior guard-defensive end; Cossim Turner, senior fullback-defensive-end; Gregory Thomas, senior guard; and Sean Jessup, senior defensive end-tight end.

Key losses: The Wildcats must find new ways to rack up rushing yards and touchdowns after losing Cedric Green and twin brothers Allen and Kenny Major to graduation. The trio combined for more than 1,400 yards and 100 points last season, helping lead Bok to the Division D title.

The numbers game: It’s all about defense. The local squad held teams to 6.7 points per game in 2003. Moultrie was a key weapon, leading the team with six interceptions.

"We try to take advantage of the other team’s miscues," DeFelice said.

New division: Bok will maintain its old rivalries with Southern and Bartram, while establishing new traditions with Ben Franklin and Overbrook. The Wildcats are considered the early favorites in the Public South Division, since Bartram has just one returning starter and the other squads are coming off losing seasons. But the veteran DeFelice expects every game to be a tough battle.

Goal: Make the playoffs.

Coach’s outlook: "Every game is going to be a dogfight for us."

Team: Southern Rams

Coach: Bill Edger

2003 record: 0-10 overall,0-5 Division D

New division: Public South

The Rams will have a trial run tomorrow afternoon when they host William Penn in a non-league game. For the visitors, this is a huge game, as it marks their official return to varsity competition after finishing 6-0 on the junior-varsity level last season. Southern, who went winless in 2003, wants an early victory to build momentum for next week’s league opener against Bartram.

"We need to score some touchdowns and win a game to get the kids some confidence," Edger said.

Key players: Jalil Harris, senior quarterback; Lamone Fox, junior tailback-linebacker; Mike McClain, senior receiver-defensive back; Nick Moody, junior tight end-linebacker; Ricky Nguyen, junior linebacker-center; Mark Pizo, senior fullback-linebacker; William Peterson, sophomore offensive-defensive lineman; Harry Walker, senior offensive-defensive lineman; Demetrius Tillman, junior offensive-defensive lineman; Derek Williams, junior defensive end; Brandon Johnson, senior guard.

The numbers game: Fox should provide an offensive spark to the Rams’ offense after leading his team in rushing yards (548) and rushing touchdowns (four) as a sophomore. Against Bartram, the running back racked up a career-best 173 yards and two touchdowns.

Harris, who threw for 607 yards last season, can draw on his experience.

Key to success: The combination of Peterson, 6-foot-4, 305 pounds; Walker, 6-foot-3, 260 pounds; and Johnson, 6 feet, 290 pounds, gives the Rams some much-needed size to create running room for Fox and protection for Harris to throw the ball.

New division: Bok (five wins) and Bartram (four wins) were the only Public South Division members to win more than two league games last season. The new setup should be much more manageable for the Rams.

Goals: Make the playoffs and finish the season with a winning record.

Coach’s outlook: "If you look at the division from top to bottom, we should be competitive with all the teams."

Big Games

Sept. 25, Southern at Bok, 10:30 a.m.
The Southern-Neumann Thanksgiving game has always been considered the local high-school football rivalry, but the Rams and Wildcats share a long-standing history of their own. This game typically serves as Bok’s homecoming game, when the senior players are introduced with their parents. Sure, the winners get an edge in the division standing, but, even better, they get to gloat to their friends on the opposing team.

Oct. 21, Bartram at Bok, 3 p.m.
The teams might be members of the new South Division, but the yearly meeting between the Braves and Wildcats will still play a role in determining the division winner. In past seasons, the winner of this game would go on to claim the old Division D title. Bartram has a new coach in Damond Warren and a roster full of varsity starters, while DeFelice will rely on his core of returning juniors and seniors to lead the way.

Nov. 25, Neumann-Goretti at Southern, 10:30 a.m.
It doesn’t matter how many times one of these schools changes names — this yearly Thanksgiving Day tradition lives on. Although the crowds are no longer standing room only as they were in the Southeast Catholic and Bishop Neumann days, the teams still consider the game the biggest of the year. Neumann — make that Neumann-Goretti — heads into the season looking to score its 14th straight win over Southern.

2004 Bok schedule
Today King Home 3 p.m. *
Sept. 18 University City Home 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 25 Southern Home 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 1 Overbrook Away 3 p.m.
Oct. 7 Ben Franklin Home 3 p.m.
Oct. 16 Dobbins Away 11 a.m.*
Oct. 21 Bartram Home 3 p.m.
Oct. 29 West Philadelphia Away 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 Quarterfinals
Nov. 13 Semifinals
Nov. 20 Championship

2004 Southern schedule
Tomorrow William Penn Home 3 p.m.*
Sept. 16 Bartram Home 3 p.m.
Sept. 25 Bok Away 10:30 a.m.
Oct. 1 West Philadelphia Away 3 p.m.
Oct. 7 Bye
Oct. 15 Overbrook Away 3 p.m.
Oct. 22 Ben Franklin Home 3 p.m.
Oct. 28 University City Home 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 6 Quarterfinals
Nov. 13 Semifinals
Nov. 20 Championship
Nov. 25 Neumann-Goretti Home 10:30 a.m.

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*Denotes non-league game. Home games are played at 11th and Bigler streets.

Public South Division
Bartram
Ben Franklin
Bok
Overbrook
Southern
University City
West Philadelphia

2003 Division D standings
Bok 5-0
Bartram 4-1
West Philadelphia 2-3
University City 1-4
Southern 0-5