Verducci looks for big things from Ireton football in 2009

The Bishop Ireton 2009 Football Team completed its preseason under the lights at Thomas Jefferson on Friday, August 28, 2009. The final scrimmage marked the end of three weeks of practice that included six days of team training camp at Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia from August 16 to 21, 2009. “The coaches like this team’s speed and aggressiveness on all three sides of the ball and we hope this contributes to a return to the Virginia Independent School Football Association playoffs.” commented Coach Tony Verducci, who enters his third campaign at the helm of the Alexandria school’s football program.

This years squad figures to be more explosive than the 2008 team as senior quarterbacks Oliver Noon and Michael Larrabee both return for a second year in the Cardinals spread offense. Things clicked for both players during the final weeks of last season when Ireton scored a total of 80+ points in the final two games. In addition to the quarterbacks, Coach Tony Verducci returns his leading rusher from 2008, Doug Vines, and a trio of talented receivers in Conlan McCallister, Dom Puglise, and Tommy Gallinaro. Each of these four players had a big play against the Colonials that covered more than 25 yards from scrimmage. Senior right tackle Ed Harmon anchors a line that includes first-time starters John Sullivan, Eddie Busch, Brad Thomas, and Jacob Manley. Sophomores Patrick OConnell and Eddie DAntuono figure to see plenty of time backing up this talented group.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals will look to inside linebackers Kevin Galloway and Andrew Denny to set a physical tone. They willl prowl the middle behind Busch and talented defensive ends Richard Walker and Jay Green. The edge of the defense is in good hands thanks to McCallister and Theo Daubresse. Senior Tommy Kestermann did not play against Thomas Jefferson, but he is a critical part of the offensive and defensive schemes this year as a fullback and linebacker. The secondary has looked solid heading into fall, thanks to Puglises leadership and the experience Anthony Rivers and Robert Chastain gained in 2008. Moses Webb, Ricky Baier, and Kyle Brooks give the Cardinals quality depth behind the linebackers.

Ireton special teams figure to be quite special this year, thanks to a creative return specialist in Vines, a thundering punter in Galloway, and battle-tested kickers in Larrabee and Daubresse. These teams will get an added shot of adrenaline when senior receiver/kicker Mark Holmes is cleared to play within the next two weeks

The Cards open the season with a rare Friday afternoon contest when they host the Lions of Archbishop Carroll. Carroll opened with an impressive 32-7 win over St Mary Ryken at Maus Collins field in Washington, DC last Saturday.