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By Scott Huff
QUAKERTOWN – Smile!
It was Picture Day at Alumni Field for the 2009 edition of the Quakertown Panthers on Friday. And the five senior captains had plenty to grin about.
The 2008 version of the Panthers finished with a splendid 9-3 record that included a visit to the PIAA District One AAAA Playoffs and a resounding win over rival Pennridge on Thanksgiving morning.
However, those five seniors - quarterback Ryan Tincknell, fullback Mike Olimpo, tailback Tony Latronica, lineman Randy Jorgenson, and tight end Rob Basile – also remember the 2007 Black Cats that finished 1-11.
There were no smiles back then.
“We all remember that season,” said Latronica who is the featured back in the wide-open Q-town offense. “We worked very hard last season to prove that we were a better football team.
“We moved to a new (Continental) conference last season and played against some bigger schools,” added Latronica. “We might only have numbers in the 60’s, but we proved last season that we can win games.”
“We are just a blue collar team,” said Olimpo. “We got to work in January in the weight room. We realize that we might have to work twice as hard to get back where we were last year.
“We can’t rest,” continued Olimpo. “We have to use what we did last year as motivation for what we want to get done this year.”
“We know what it takes to be a good football team,” said Tincknell who directs the Panther offense. “But we have to be to show it on the field.
“We have a motto of plus-two on this team,” added Tincknell. “We have to do double the effort if we want to be successful.”
Quakertown will have its first scrimmage at Abington High School against a highly touted Ghost team from the SOL National Conference.
“This will give us a chance to hit someone other than someone wearing a blue or white shirt,” said Jorgenson, who anchors the offensive line. “And it will give us a chance to get ready for the big games on Friday night.”
“We hope to use this game to make a statement,” said Basile, who excels as both a blocker and pass receiver. “It is a good opportunity for us.”
“We have high expectations for this team,” said Latronica. “We have a lot of experience back, and we have good skill players. We’re looking pretty good.”
Quakertown coach John Donnelly also remembers the thrill of the 2008 season and the agony of the 2007 season.
“I still feel that we are the hunters, and we have to be hungry,” said Donnelly. “We want to be able to establish consistency in the program, and that only comes with working hard all during the off season and during the regular season.
“Our captains have done a great job getting this team ready for the season,” continued Donnelly. “Ryan is like a second coach on the field, Rob can be very analytical, Mike leads by example, and Tony is a fiery leader on the field. And Randy provides leadership along the line.”
Donnelly also has his eyes focused on the Panther performance against Abington.
“We have a lot of competition for starting positions on this team,” said Donnelly. “I will be excited to see who can emerge. There always seems to be some unknown candidate who shows you something in a scrimmage that you might not see in practice.
“I want to see how we do in the trenches,” added Donnelly. “I know what my seniors can do, but it will be a great opportunity to see what my sophomores are going to do.”
This is the beginning of the 2009 season. Only time will tell how wide those smiles will be for the 2010 Quakertown Panther football team on Picture Day.
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