Excitement is building this fall in Var-den as the 2010 high school football season begins.
After four years of utter futility (and a total of zero wins) Western Wayne asked Hall of Fame Coach Allen “Butch” Keller to re-build a doormat program.
What followed has been nothing short of amazing. The Wildcats put an end to the losing streak in Keller’s first year, then christened a newly-renovated facility in 2008.
Last fall, Wayne County grid fans packed Sharkey Rosetti Memorial Stadium to watch the ‘Cats return to relevance.
Coach Keller’s lads posted a respectable 4-6 regular season record and came within a whisker of dealing Paupack what would have been a fatal blow to its D-2 play-off aspirations.
At the conclusion of the season, Western Wayne was rewarded with an all-time high six berths in the Lions Club Dream Game.
Joey Siclari, Billy Gillette, Joey Vonderhey, Brad Van Leuven, Trevor Boguski and Josh Boandl each played a key role for the County in this 76th annual contest.
“We did some pretty nice things last year,” Coach Keller told TWI Sports. “We probably should have won one or two more games, but it was definitely a step in the right direction.”
On the Horizon
Now, though, it’s time to begin looking ahead.
Western Wayne opened its exhibition slate Saturday at home against Wilkes Barre Meyers and turned in an impressive performance.
“We’re definitely not as big as we were last year, but we’re faster and quicker,” Coach Keller said. “You’re going to see a couple of young kids out there who are very good athletes.”
Johnny Rhodes opened this scrimmage under center for the Wildcats.
A sophomore who directed Western Wayne’s wildly successful freshman team a year ago, Rhodes got off to a shaky start by fumbling his first snap. However, he bounced back and enjoyed a solid scrimmage.
As might be expected, Josh Harrison led the offensive charge. A junior tailback who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year, Harrison pounded away at Meyers’ front seven all morning long.
Harrison set up the first TD of the day with a spectacular one-handed catch of a Rhodes play-action pass.
The toss covered 40 yards and gave Western Wayne a first down just inside the 30. Moments later, Josh broke loose on a 15-yard rumble to the Mohawks’ six.
Matt Rosensweet capped the drive, scoring Western Wayne’s first TD of the entire ‘10 campaign.
