Enthusiasm and Effort – Cardinal Football Team Prepares for 2012 Season

Bishop Ireton football players, coaches and family members began their voluntary summer workouts during the week of June 11th with aspirations of building on the 2011 team’s 8 – 3 record. Head Coach Tony Verducci and new head JV coach Ed Garrett welcomed a record number of incoming freshmen; many of whom began taking part in strength and agility training more than a month before the June clinic.

The June clinic sets the stage for the teams’ summer training by re-establishing an identity at the varsity level and welcoming new members at the same time. Record-setting senior QB P.J. Zingler returns for his third season behind the center with returning all state performers Brandon Williams-Price (running back) and Jimmy Keegan (left tackle) on offense. All state linebacker Hudson Sullivan is back to anchor a defense that is expected to benefit from the addition of standout defensive back Geno Miller (who arrived at Bishop Ireton in January). This core group is joined by a host of returning starters and experienced players on both sides of the ball.

The Cardinals capped of their June Clinic by traveling to Charlottesville on June 16 where they competed in a 7 on 7 passing tournament at the University of
Virginia. Coach Verducci was impressed by the team’s growth in the course of one very long day of touch football games, “We have a nice mix of veteran leaders in Justin Paige and Austin Carter as well as a number of very talented younger players who displayed a great desire to compete. Our fans will enjoy
watching young men like Drew Smith and Jairdan Walker making plays this fall.” Defensive coordinator Matthew Shea expressed excitement about the play of several players who are new to the varsity as well, “This was an important first step for guys like Nick Rinaldi, Andrew Latrash, Daniel Frazier and Mike Sampson to take as linebackers and defensive backs. We play an aggressive style of defense and I was pleased to see improvement at the individual and group level while we are at the University of Virginia.”

The Cardinal football team has been taking part in weekly 7 on 7 sessions at Wakefield High School on Monday evenings through July 23^rd. In addition to these competitions, more than 30 players are taking part in Explosive Performance Training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Bishop Ireton. Team
coaches supervise strength and speed training for those who are not enrolled in the Explosive Performance program on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at Bishop Ireton as well.

The varsity team will begin the fall season with gear issue and conditioning tests on Tuesday, August 7, 2012. The junior varsity team (freshmen and those sophomores who are not on the varsity team) will follow suit with gear issue and training on Wednesday, August 8, 2012. Both teams will make their annual
training camp visit to Randolph-Macon Academy in Front Royal, Virginia from Sunday, August 12 until Friday, August 17.
Those with questions about the Bishop Ireton football program are invited to contact Coach Verducci at Verducca@bishopireton.org. Players and parents are reminded that they must have the following documents on file when practice begins in August:

VHSL Physical Form (available on BIwebsite)
Parent Concussion Information Form(available from Coach Verducci)

RMA Permission Slip (available from Coach Verducci)

2012 Bishop Ireton Cardinals Varsity Football Schedule

Aug 31 @Bishop O’Connell 3pm

Sep 8 Bullis 2pm

Sep 15 @ St Stephens/St Agnes 1:30pm

Sep 22 @ Episcopal 1:30pm

Sep 29 St Mary’s Ryken 2pm

Oct 6 Flint Hill 2pm

Oct 13 Benedictine 1pm Homecoming 2102

Oct 19 @ Paul VI 7:30pm

Oct 27 Potomac School 2pm Senior Day