JASON VOSHESKI is seeing tangible proof of the goals he envisioned for the Academy Park football program when he took over in 2005. For one, the Knights, who experienced their first winning season since 2001 last year when they went 7-5, have a feeder program, something they have not had since 1999. Another is that the success of the football program is generating more interest in the sport at Academy Park, which had 66 kids come out this year.

It has led to another good start, at 2-0, and a foundation that coach Vosheski is building with sophomores A.J. Hyatt, Jeremiah Lowery, Matt Ruggear and Mark Doe. They're all starters on offense, and more significantly, they're part of the first class of Southeast Delco School District middle-school players arriving at Academy Park with football experience.

"It is a bonus that they already know football, but our whole take as a coaching staff is we'll win more games with good, solid kids than we will with just talent," said Vosheski, who knows what being part of a winning program is like as a 2-year starter for Ridley in the early 1990s. "It hasn't been easy here. I've had my ups and downs. I thought I'd brave through the tough years, and each year the kids and the teams have been a lot better.

"The kids are buying into the system. There was a time when it was a hard sell. It has become easier. We've had more kids out this year than we've had in the 10 years I've been here. We have some things going forward, a lot of positives."

Beginning with center Hyatt, right tackle Lowery and left guard Ruggear, with running back and receiver Doe.

"I've seen the commitment put in by these kids on an everyday basis, and it's the reason why I've committed to them," Vosheski said. "We're playing the best 11 kids. We may give a senior or a junior a first crack, but we're playing the best 11. It makes us more competitive and it makes the kids work harder. No one gets complacent with anything."

It's why Academy Park has reached respectability.

Growing up

This time last year, Marple Newtown coach Ray Gionta started tinkering. He went with a youth movement, partly out of necessity, looking to replace some key players who were injured, and partly out of curiosity, to see what some of his younger players were capable of doing.

The Tigers got off to an 0-5 start, before surging to win six of their last seven games. Marple Newtown finished 6-6 and it appears to be carrying last season's surge into this year. The Tigers are 2-0, outscoring their first two opponents, 55-6 - a 31-0 victory over Archbishop Ryan and a 24-6 victory over Springfield.

Gionta credits the emergence of senior quarterback Kevin Johnson and senior linebacker/tight end Carl Casarsky, who had six tackles against Springfield, along with a stingy defense led by junior linebacker Brian Kelly, who had a team-high 10 tackles against Springfield; senior outside linebacker Vince Christiana; 6-3, 250-pound junior defensive tackle Christian Whiteside; and junior defensive back Ryan White.

On special teams, Gionta feels he has two reliable kickers in senior place kicker Adam Fender and junior punter Billy Weaverling.

"I like a lot of things we're doing, and I really like how well we're playing on defense," said Gionta, who logged his 100th coaching victory against Springfield. "I like how we've started, but we still have a long way to go, the offense and defense has to improve."

That improvement will have to show quickly. The Tigers' undefeated season will be in serious jeopardy when they visit powerful Penncrest tomorrow at 7 p.m.

"In high school football, a lot is relative to who you play," Gionta said. "We didn't open with Downingtown West, like Penncrest did, and we know Penncrest is a very good team. Our kids know they're going to have their hands full, but they're looking forward to going against a real quality football team and how we stack up against them. We'll find out a lot of things about ourselves."

Two-sport star
 
Maurice isn't about to trade in his sneakers for spikes, but felt a need to get back on the field and play football this season, after 2 years off from the sport.

"I just wanted to help the team win and have some fun," said Nelson, who returns as Chester's leading scorer from last season in basketball. "I played football all my life, I just stopped. I asked my mom this year and she let me play, but there was a lot of arm twisting. She just gave me the OK a week before the first game, so I missed the summer camp."

Nelson came off the bench against Sun Valley, but he could get his first varsity start against Downingtown West on Friday night and possibly see some time at running back, too.

"The last time I was a running back was back in weight-league football," Nelson said. "I'm just having fun with it. I'm really enjoying myself."

Delco 7

1. Garnet Valley ( 2-0) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 1

2. Ridley ( 2-0) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 2

3. Penncrest (1-1) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 3

4. Strath Haven ( 2-0) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 4

5. Penn Wood : (2-0) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 5

6. Interboro ( 2-0) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 6

7. Glen Mills ( 1-1) Weeks rated: 2. Last week: No. 7

Ranking the top Delaware County football teams playing in the Delco leagues.

Maurice Nelson is an established star already on the basketball court for Chester, and so far, the 6-foot junior has embarked on what seems to be a successful football season. Nelson, the brother of NBA All-Star Jameer Nelson, intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve Chester's 36-0 shutout of Sun Valley.