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Countdown to Kickoff: Garnet Valley

    by Rick O'Brien
    Published 

Garnet Valley

Coach: Mark Ricci (27th year; 168-108-1).

Last season: 8-3 overall; 7-2 Central League; lost to Spring-Ford, 43-27, in first round of PIAA District 1 Class AAAA playoffs.

Offense: Triple option.

Defense: 4-4

Top 10: Jake Irving, RB, 5-8, 185; Christian Portale, QB, 6-4, 210; Connor Walsh, OL, 6-0, 225; David Bertone, OL, 6-0, 225; Vince Razzano, RB, 5-11, 200; Brandon Dowd, LB-PK, 5-10, 185; Tyler Shankle, LB, 6-0, 210; Joey Granahan, DE, 6-1, 200; Aaron Parenti, WR, 6-0, 180; Brandon Hitner, OL, 6-6, 250.

Others to watch: Jude DiGiacomo, WR, 6-0, 195; OL, Teddy Field, OL, 6-6, 310; Shane Stabinski, OL, 5-11, 230; Martin Faith, LB, 5-9, 185.

The skinny: Irving carried 166 times for 1,015 yards and 15 TDs last season; Shankle, an inside linebacker; was involved in 67 tackles (16 solos); the Jaguars were hit hard by graduation, but numbers aren't a problem: the squad has 47 seniors; Ricci said Portale, a first-year starter, "knows our offense inside and out."

Biggest games: Aug. 30 vs. Unionville, 7; Sept. 12 at Ridley, 7; Oct. 25 at Haverford High, 7.