By all accounts, the 2013 Bishop Ireton Football Team is one that has truly embraced its INAM motto. “It’s not about me” is the challenge that the team’s seniors and leadership council adopted last winter as they began their off-season preparation. Many members wear wristband reminding them that it takes hard work and selflessness to build a team. Head Coach Tony Verducci has been impressed, “We’ve been diligent about remaining focused on the team and developed greater depth as a result of excellent participation in the speed and strength training programs this year.” The Cardinals intend to display this depth and unity when they open the season on Friday, August 30 with a home game against Park View High School at 4:00 PM; the first of four consecutive home games to start the season.
The team is expected to take an aggressive approach to both defense and offense. New defensive coordinator Jerton Evans has spent the preseason making sure that his players “fly to the football” on each and every play. The former University of Virginia All-American is an outstanding teacher and his fellow coaches and players have embraced the new scheme with confidence. Offensive coordinator Joe Blaszkow knows he will continue to direct the Cardinals’ spread offense; he’s just not sure which player will be at quarterback when the season begins. The contenders are returning letterman Andrew Latrash, junior transfer Michael McGregor and freshman Chandler Wilder. Coach Verducci noted that, “Each of these three young men are outstanding leaders who know they can rely on the rest of their teammates to get the job done.” Seniors Taylor Dean and Dylan Espinosa anchor a physical offensive line with juniors Andre Robinson and Michael Commeree. A running back by committee approach will likely feature sophomores Alex Duke and John Spadafore as well as seniors Hudson Sullivan and Francesco Chichizola. The wide receivers include talented returning players Drew Smith, Max Sanasack and Brenden Peifer as well as junior transfer Josh Ammon.
The Cardinals defense will be led by linebackers Sullivan, Ammon and Espinosa. Verducci touts the group as, “One of the most physical and talented groups that I have seen in my 12 years at Bishop Ireton.” They will be joined by linemen Commeree and Robinson as well as senior Daniel Baskin and junior Karl Reed. The defensive backs are a young and aggressive group that is expected to include senior Sam Nelson, junior Cairan Lewis and Jairdan Walker, as well as sophomore Corey Johnson. QB Latrash is expected to double as the team’s punter and senior Matt Bocchi has an edge over junior Ben Zegada-Hurley for the placekicking duties.
Coach Verducci, entering his seventh season as Ireton’s all time football victories leader says, “We’ll know a lot more about our team after the first couple of games. We need to trust in each other to reap the full benefits of all the hard work guys put in this last spring and summer.” He see’s Hudson Sullivan as a great example for others to follow, “Hudson is as hard-working a player as I can remember. He’s in a unique position because he has scholarship offers from great schools like Richmond, James Madison, Delaware and New Hampshire; yet his focus is on our team and our season. This is a fun group to coach because they will not be out-worked by any opponent.”
2013 Varsity Schedule (Home games in CAPS)
A 30 PARK VIEW 4pm
S7 BISHOP O’CONNELL 2pm
S14 ST STEPHENS/ST AGNES 2pm
S21 EPISCOPAL 2pm
S27 St Mary’s Ryken 7pm
O5 Flint Hill 3pm
O12 Benedictine 1pm
O19 PAUL VI 1pm (homecoming)
O26 Potomac School 1pm
N3 JOHN PAUL the GREAT 1pm (Senior Day)