DERRY SEEKS RECOVERY
FROM PAIR OF RB INJURIES
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
Derry football coach Tim Sweeney
wasn’t in a good mood back
in July during the Westmoreland
County Coaches’ Association
seven-on-seven tournament.
He wasn’t pleased with the commitment
of the team.
He also was still reeling after
his top two running backs – senior
Colton Nemcheck and junior Justin
Huss — suffered leg injuries
during workouts the week before.
Nemcheck scored 10 touchdowns
in 2017 to lead the team, and Huss
scored seven times.
“I’m not sure if they’ll play this
season for us,” Sweeney said. “I
expect they will eventually. Both
are big losses.
“This is nothing unique. Kids
get hurt.This is an opportunity for
someone else to get on the field and
help out our team.”
Two players Sweeney will be
counting on at running back are
seniors Onreey Stewart and Justin
Flack. Both carried the ball
last season as Derry used multiple
runners.
Shawn Broadway was another
running back, but he graduated.
Derryiscomingoff animpressive
two-year stretchwhere itwent 20-3,
won consecutive WPIAL Class 3A
Interstate Conference titles and
reached the postseason, winning
a playoff game in 2016.
The Trojans return numerous
starters from the 2017 squad that
finished 9-2 and was tri-champion
with Elizabeth Forward and South
Park.
TANNER NICELY
The Trojans lost to eventual
WPIALandPIAA champion Quaker
Valley in the first round of the
playoffs.
Headlining that returning group
is senior tight end/linebackerDom
DeLuca. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound
three-sport star (wrestling and
volleyball) will be counted on to
be a leader.
“We’ll be all right,” DeLuca said.
“It’s hard to replace Colton and
Justin, but we have some younger
guys getting some reps, and they’ll
come around. Justin (Flack) is
someone who isn’t a vocal leader,
but someone who has worked
hard.”
Sweeney added: “Dom needs to
man up and be the leader of the
team. He needs to set that example
for the younger guys and show
them this is how we do business
at Derry.”
One of the biggest tasks facing
the Trojans is finding someone to
replace quarterback Ryan Polinsky,
who was a two-year starter.
Sweeney said “Little Po” was a
coach on the field.
Four players Sweeney is looking
to take on the role are sophomore
Paul Koontz, senior Nate
Angus, Flack and sophomoreMatt
McDowell.
“They’re all similar-type kids,”
Sweeney said. “We’re looking for
someone who can craft more offense,
get us in the right formations
and do the things we need to
do to have a field general. Replacing
Little Po will be tough.”
Sweeney said the team must get
better in every aspect of the game.
He doesn’t want his team to live
in the past because the previous
teamsworked hard to achievewhat
they achieved.
“The offensive line needs to get
better, and we’re not catching the
ball well,” Sweeney said. “Defensively,
we have to go back to what
we did well in 2014. Some guys are
resting on their laurels, and that’s
upsetting.”
22 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 19, 2018 • TRIBUNE-REVIEW
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GOOD
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Fully Staffed Bar • Internet Access
Seating for Up To 300 • Dancing Area • Outdoor Deck
SCHEDULE
Coach: Tim Sweeney
2017 record: 9-2, 6-1
All-time record: 244-340-14
Date Opponent Time
8.24 at Latrobe 7
8.31 at Freeport* 7
9.7 South Park 7
9.14 at Mt. Pleasant* 7
9.21 CW North Catholic* 7
9.28 at Elizabeth Forward* 7
10.5 Uniontown* 7
10.12 at Yough* 7
10.19 Deer Lakes* 7
10.26 Burrell* 7
*CLASS 3A BIG EAST CONFERENCE GAME
Name Pos. Ht/Wt. Cl.
Gavin Adams OL/DL 6-4/260 Jr.
Bastien Anderson RB/LB 5-10/160 Sr.
Emmett Anderson OL/LB 6-1/175 Jr.
Seanan Barca WR/DL 5-9/140 Jr.
Jon Bauer WR/DB 5-11/160 Sr.
Jordan Baum WR/LB 6-2/180 Sr.
Dakotah Beeman WR/DL 6-4/160 So.
Eric Catone RB/LB 5-7/160 Fr.
Lucas Ciocco OL/DL 5-11/230 Jr.
Noah Cymmerman OL/DL 5-8/170 Fr.
Dominic DeLuca RB/LB 6-5/225 Sr.
Pryce Donovan RB/DB 5-8/160 So.
Justin Fallat OL/DL 6-4/255 Jr.
Justin Flack QB/DB 5-8/160 Sr.
Jason Geary WR/LB 6-4/180 Sr.
Amari Graham RB/DB 5-8/150 So.
Dacoda Hafer QB/DB 5-7/155 Fr.
Hunter Hebenthal OL/LB 6-1/180 Sr.
Justin Huss RB/DB 5-9/155 Jr.
Mike Kelly RB/LB 5-8/165 So.
Paul Koontz Jr. QB/DB 5-10/155 So.
Cain Latta OL/DL 6-1/185 So.
Garrett Lenhart WR/LB 5-10/160 Jr.
Seth Loughner OL/LB 5-11/210 Jr.
Max Malis OL/DL 6-2/240 Jr.
Matthew McDowell WR/DB 5-9/160 So.
Brayden Mickinac OL/DL 5-8/175 Fr.
Colton Nemcheck RB/LB 6-0/185 Sr.
Tanner Nicely WR/LB 6-0/165 Jr.
Zachary Revoir RB/DB 5-8/165 Fr.
Dylan Rhoades RB/DB 5-7/150 Fr.
Cullen Shawley OL/LB 6-1/250 Sr.
David Smith OL/DL 5-7/200 Sr.
Gregory Smith OL/DL 5-8/155 Fr.
Onreey Stewart RB/DB 5-8/155 Sr.
Lucas Taylor WR/DB 5-7/145 Jr.
Hunter Wack WR/LB 6-2/165 So.
Elijah Ward RB/DL 5-6/190 So.
Isaiah Ward RB/DL 5-6/170 So.
Jordan Webb WR/DB 6-0/165 Jr.
ROSTER
JUSTIN FLACK
BIG EAST