Red Raiders Head To Smethport Friday

Red Raider Head Coach Tony Defilippi worked with the backs and receivers earlier this week. The varsity football team was at Brockway at press time (Friday night). They will travel to Smethport this Friday and then entertain Coudersport the following Friday.

When Cameron County High School heads to Smethport next Friday night (7:00) for week two of the varsity football season, the Red Raiders will go up against another rebuilding squad looking to improve on a disappointing 2005 campaign.

Then comes the home opener on Sept. 15 (7:00) against Coudersport, a team that's fresh off a state playoff odyssey that

finally ended with a loss in the Final Four. Results of the Raiders' season opener at Brockway weren't available by press time.

Smethport was once the dominant team from the Allegheny Mountain League, but the pendulum has swung the other way in recent years. Like Cameron County, Smethport struggled through a 3-6 campaign in 2005.

The Red Raiders of secondyear head coach Tony Defilippi have been anxious to get going. Preseason scrimmages have shown a versatile running attack that could keep enemy defenses guessing.

Running backs Cash Grimone, Abram Zoschg, Nick Malize, Stephen McFall, Cameron Clingan and Darrick Mason, along with quarterback Jordan Crane, have all carried the ball well in the preseason.

Meanwhile, the Raider defense has adapted well to the 3- 5 formation and looked very strong against scrimmage foes Kane and Ridgway.

Injuries have struck during the preseason. During last week's scrimmage with Ridgway, John Malizia was sidelined with a groin injury, while J.D. Sestina, Shawn Ellenberger, Andrew Kesterholt and Donovan McCurley were also held out.

Defilippi, former standout running back and later head coach at St. Marys Public, is assisted this year by former head coach Brian Lovett (wide receivers/ linebackers), Steve Zoschg (running backs/defensive line) and John Barnhart (defensive coordinator/quarterbacks).