Connellsville Preview
As a rule, it’s not a good idea to look back on what was accomplished a time ago, whether the results be good, bad or indifferent. But maybe a look backward could be the starting point for Connellsville’s football program this year and the thought came from a retired Falcon coach.
As he looked at his roster and planned ahead for the coming season, coach Dan Spanish observed, “Tom Dolde said we will have to start this season by picking up where we left off last season.”
A year ago, the Falcons had a rare losing run, finishing 4-6, but three of those wins came in their last four games, including the season finale, 14-13 over Shaler, the 500th win in the school’s long and historic football program.
Musing on Dolde’s thought, Spanish said, “In those last four games, we played ‘Connellsville defense’ and now we have to pick it up from there. But overall, we have to play sound defense at all times.”
Dolde retired last spring after 42 years with the Connellsville programs and was regarded as one of the district’s top defensive coordinators. He is now a volunteer assistant in the program and will again be working with the defense.
Others on the Falcon staff include Tom D. Dolde, defensive coordinator; Ron Marciante, defensive and tight ends; Dick Witt, secondary and running backs; Ron Smith, offensive and defensive lines, and Jeff Immel, linebackers and defensive line.
Junior High coaches are Kevin Harrison, East head coach, with Robbie Butts and Derek Petrone assisting, and Don Dolde, West head coach with Eric Witt assisting.
The Falcons have 11 returning lettermen – seniors Justin Marsinko (QB-DB), B.J. Straughters (RB-DB), Joshua Rhodes (RB-LB), Stephen Stouffer (OT-DE), Cory Hixson (OG-DL), Dwaine Berger (SE-DB), Brent Wilson (TE-DE), Lee Ritenour (TE-DE) and David Show (WR-DB), and juniors Ryan Work (OT-DL) and Bradley Firestone (C-DE).
Spanish, starting his 29th season as head coach (193-104-8), added, “It has been burning hot, humid and hazy, but the players didn’t let it bother them. Their work ethic this week has been, in some respects, better than the last two years, which in turn has made us farther along in trying to accomplish what we want to do on offense and defense.
“We have a mixture of players and the seniors have been leaders. They know they have to play above their level and, at the same time, there are some juniors and seniors who know they have to mature into the game. We have had to shift some linemen around to offset losses from last year, with Cory Hixson (senior) being our most experienced player up front.”
Offensively, Marsinko is the most experienced quarterback and, Spanish noted, “We are cramming two weeks work into him to get him ready for the season. The tight end is going to be more important to our offense this year and Brent Wilson has the experience there. Show and Berger got time last year at wide receiver.
“Straughters is our only experienced back returning and we will have to develop a fullback and two more running backs.”
The Falcons have what Spanish called “a lack of returning senior lettermen. We like to have 15 to 17 senior lettermen back, but this year we have only nine, so the others are going to have to pick up their game. Overall experience on the line isn’t there, so we will have to mature into football as we go along.”
The Quad-South race is going to be a tough one again, with Woodland Hills, Penn Hills and Pittsburgh Central Catholic looming as the powers. But Spanish also feels Connellsville “can make progress if we get a positive outlook, develop our game, especially on defense, as we go along. We have to pick up the defense early and go from there.”
And pick up overall where last year left off.