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Countdown to kickoff: Cherry Hill West

By Phil Anastasia

Inquirer Staff Writer

Countdown to kickoff: Cherry Hill West

Last season: 4-5 (3-2 and tied with Triton for second in the WJFL Constitution behind Paul VI).

Coach: Brian Wright (13-16 in three seasons).

Outlook: The Lions lost some talented players through graduation but there's an air of optimism on Chapel Avenue. The team has a strong junior class with athletes who could be on the verge of making a major impact at the varsity level.

The senior leadership should come from players such as WR/DB Quincy Jenkins (511, 175), a playmaker on the outside, and LB James Potts (6-0, 220), a top wrestler who brings hard-nosed toughness to the program.

Senior RB/LB Henry Ensley (5-10, 195) is another veteran to watch.
The program has a loaded junior class with as many as five players who could be college scholarship athletes, according to Wright.

Among the team's top 11th graders are WR/RB/DB Harrison Hand (6-0, 195), two-way lineman George Vyzaniaris (6-2, 255), TE/DE Sameer Parks (6-1, 215), all of whom were regulars as sophomores.

One big addition is junior two-way lineman Lorenzo Hernandez (6-1, 235), a transfer from Georgia. Wright regards Hernandez as an impact player, especially on the defensive side.

Another young player to watch is sophomore RB/LB Nick DiVitro (5-11, 190), who should split time with Ensley at running back and could emerge as a top player on both sides of the football, according to Wright.

Senior QB Andrew Valentin (6-1, 180), junior QB/DB Nick Alberto (5-8, 170), junior two-way lineman Mateusz Sawicki (6-1, 280), senior OL/LB Jamall Guillespi (6-0, 235), junior WR/DB Drew Lipford (5-10, 185), senior WR/DB Rene Rosario (5-10, 170), junior RB/LB Chase Williams (5-10, 185) and junior RB/LB McCay Cobb (5-11, 195) also should be in the mix as the Lions try to push into the middle of what should be a wide-open Constutition Divison race.

Spotlight: Hand (pictured) spent his freshman year at Cherry Hill East, then transferred to Cherry Hill West and made an immediate impact as a sophomore.

He is a top athlete who impressed at college camps during the spring and summer, earning scholarship offers from Rutgers, Temple and Old Dominion.

"That did a lot for my confidence," Hand said of the offers from those NCAA Divison I programs. "It made me want to work even harder."

Hand projects as a cornerback at the collegiate level. He will play on defense for the Lions but also could see action in a variety of spots on offense -- wide receiver, running back, maybe even quarterback.

He also could be an impact player on special teams.

"Whatever the team needs me to do," Hand said. "I want the ball in my hands. I feel like I can be a playmaker. But if I don't have the ball, we have other guys who are playmakers."

Hand said the Lions are motivated by a perceived lack of respect for the program.

"Every year, teams doubt us," Hand said. "That's OK. That motivates us."

By the numbers: Three of Cherry Hill West's losses last season -- to Triton, Paul VI and Clearview -- were by a total of 12 points.

Schedule:

9/11: at Triton
9/18: Shawnee
9/25: at Paul VI
10/2: Hammonton
10/9: Seneca
10/23: at Moorestown
10/30: at Clearview
11/6: Winslow Twp.
11/25: Cherry Hill East

The last word: "It's all the little things that cost us in some of those close games last year," senior LB James Potts said. "This year, we're going to do that little extra make a difference."

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter