Eric Frantz
07-12-2011, 08:40 AM
Aurora (8-3, D-II R5 Quarterfinalist)
* Players to Watch – OL/DE Troy Watson (6-6, 280, sr.), WR/CB Anthony Melchiori (5-11, 185, sr.), OL/DL Matt Stepanek (6-3, 245, sr.), TE/LB J.T. Haughey (6-1, 195, sr.), QB/DB Blake Calcei (6-0, 190, sr.), FB/DL Anthony Opet (5-11, 225, sr.), RB/DB Johnny Opet (5-10, 170, sr.), TE/LB Zach Smierciak (6-3, 215, jr.), OL/DL Patrick Dougherty (6-4, 225, jr.)
* Outlook – The Greenmen and head coach Bob Mihalik (78-36 in 10 years) have made the playoffs six straight years and have won the Chagrin Valley Conference five of the last six years. This year Mihalik said: “We are cautiously optimistic. We have seven starters returning on both sides of the ball and defense should be a strength as well as offensive line. The key will be finding a workhorse running back and we may have to run the ball by committee. We think we have the potential to win our league, make a deep playoff run and compete for a state title this year.” A tough schedule awaits that includes five playoff teams from a year ago. The opener against Twinsburg is a doozey. In Northeast Ohio, only Glenville’s current streak of 10 straight playoff berths is longer than Aurora’s. Watson (Ohio commit) and Melchiori are D-I prospects.
* Players to Watch – OL/DE Troy Watson (6-6, 280, sr.), WR/CB Anthony Melchiori (5-11, 185, sr.), OL/DL Matt Stepanek (6-3, 245, sr.), TE/LB J.T. Haughey (6-1, 195, sr.), QB/DB Blake Calcei (6-0, 190, sr.), FB/DL Anthony Opet (5-11, 225, sr.), RB/DB Johnny Opet (5-10, 170, sr.), TE/LB Zach Smierciak (6-3, 215, jr.), OL/DL Patrick Dougherty (6-4, 225, jr.)
* Outlook – The Greenmen and head coach Bob Mihalik (78-36 in 10 years) have made the playoffs six straight years and have won the Chagrin Valley Conference five of the last six years. This year Mihalik said: “We are cautiously optimistic. We have seven starters returning on both sides of the ball and defense should be a strength as well as offensive line. The key will be finding a workhorse running back and we may have to run the ball by committee. We think we have the potential to win our league, make a deep playoff run and compete for a state title this year.” A tough schedule awaits that includes five playoff teams from a year ago. The opener against Twinsburg is a doozey. In Northeast Ohio, only Glenville’s current streak of 10 straight playoff berths is longer than Aurora’s. Watson (Ohio commit) and Melchiori are D-I prospects.