Fort Cherry finds its identity with spread
Fort Cherry High School sophomore running back and middle line backer, Zack Vincenti, rzigs and zags through the obstacles at practice for the Fort Cherry Rangers.
Fort Chery senior Joseph Chase, left (42) tries to push off Nick Candelore, center to get to the running back, Noan Babirad, right, during practice behind the high school.
Fort CheryþÄôs Nick Rogers, right, takes a pass from quarterback, Scott Miller during practice.
A year ago, Fort Cherry football was lost on offense. So it often lost. In 2013, it had routinely put up 40 to 50 points on teams using a spread attack en route to a 8-2 finish and first-place tie in the Black Hills Conference.
“We went from that to almost anemic at times,” said head coach Jim Shiel. “We didn’t have an identity.”
The Rangers finished with a 10.7 points per game average and a 2-7 record. According to Shiel, that identity crisis began to recede toward the end of last season when the spread became the primary offense. Relying on the I-formation, the Rangers had realized, didn’t work after a starting fullback and tight end graduated.
Devon Brown, normally a tight end, operated as a Wildcat quarterback, rushing for 100 yards in each of the final three regular-season games alongside classmate and 1,000-yard rusher Nick Cook.
And though the entire starting offensive line, including the lone all-conference selection Brian Carnegie, have graduated, reasons for optimism still exist for Fort Cherry. Talented athlete Ryhan Culberson, a senior wide receiver/tight end for WPIAL Class AA runner-up South Fayette, has transferred back to Fort Cherry, where he grew up and attended middle school. Culberson, who caught 31 passes for 435 yards and 11 touchdowns, joins returning senior targets Brown, Cook and Scott Miller to create a big and fast offense.
“He’s a very good receiver,” Shiel said of Culberson. “We have receivers, but it wouldn’t hurt to have another one.”
After the two down years, the attention on Shiel’s program might be minimal, but that’s fine by him.
“I like flying under the radar. I don’t think anybody’s expecting to have too, too much,” Shiel said. “But I think we do.”
That’s for sure. While the coach described being “bogged down by certain offensive positions” a year ago, scoring points shouldn’t be a problem anymore. Sophomore Brady Whalen, along with Culberson, and Miller, who has started at receiver and cornerback since he was a freshman but never played quarterback, will compete to become the quarterback.
“We may even be a two-headed monster,” Shiel said.
Who wins the job will depend on their escapability and running ability, Shiel said, given the spread leanings of the offense and the uncertainty surrounding the line. He still plans to throw out of that look, though.
After a sixth-place, 2-5 performance in the Black Hills Conference, Fort Cherry has a young roster: 16 freshmen, 13 sophomores, five juniors and about 10 seniors. It is seemingly a recipe for another rebuild. “I still like the combination we have,” Shiel said. “We have a lot to prove.”
This uneven mix of young and old players isn’t concentrated in one position. The numbers are spread out, including in the skill positions. Shiel hopes this depth will create competition.
Though Fort Cherry has struggled the past two years, Shiel believes this team has what it takes to win a Tri-County South Conference title and make a deep playoff run and the players believe the same
Fueling his belief is the revamp of classes and conferences across the WPIAL that has aided those toward the bottom of the enrollment ladder through simple math. “All of 1-A is smaller than what it was,” Shiel said, “which increases your odds of getting in (the playoffs).”
While the offensive line is rebuilding, senior center Josh Kumer returns and likely will move to guard. He suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3 last fall.
One thing Shiel believes will help offset the inexperience up front is using the spread offense, which, through spacing, will reduce interior defensive pressure.
“If we were more conventional … three yards and a cloud of dust,” Shiel said, “it may be a little harder to gel early on. We’ve tried to simplify the offense.”
Most starters return on the edge of the defense but the middle is “wide-open.” Sophomore Zach Vincenti has shown potential to step into a starting middle linebacker spot. “He played wherever we could get him on the field defensively last year,” Shiel said.
Beyond Vincenti, FC has a group of young defenders through the middle who lack experience.
Such a mix of known and unknown factors left Shiel eager for the training camp to see what the team has.
“I’m looking at it very optimistically,” Shiel said. “I have a good feel for this group.”