The Warriors were hit very hard by graduation. Among their losses were nine players who are now playing college football.

“We’ll be in the hunt, though. We lost a lot of size but still have very good skill players,” Gallagher added. “This year we’ll have to rely on team speed and good defense. Our offensive line should be solid after they get more reps.”

Minisink will look for a good week of practice. On Friday the Warriors jump-start their season with a non-league opener at - guess where - Newburgh. What a way to open the ‘09 campaign.

The Minisink offense returns multi-talented senior all-star Kevin Freeman (5-11, 170) at quarterback. He’ll hand the ball and occasionally pass it to seniors Andrew Haelen (6, 190), an also an all-star, and John Beheler (5-11, 185), each of whom saw much offensive playing time after James Ferrier’s injury in ‘08. The main wide receiver will be senior Jess Valenti (6, 165) who’s also a backup quarterback. Other wideouts are seniors Vinny Mauro (5-10, 170) and Dan Maier (6, 180) plus junior Gary Roeber. The tight end is senior Joe Dawson who returns to MV after a year at Don Bosco Prep.

The offensive line is led by returning seniors Ross Vucetaj (6, 220 all-star left tackle) and Ryan Nicholas (6-1, 180 center). Joining them are juniors Taylor Lake (LG), Miller Lake (LG) and Joe Wilson (RG).

The defensive three-man front is led by RDE Brandon Colon (6-4, 195 senior). Senior Steve Fairweather (6, 265) will play the nose while Vucetaj and Taylor Lake alternate at the LDE.

Like his brothers before him, Junior John Brain looks like a star on the rise. He’ll be one OLB while junior Tony Yovino is the other. Junior Kyle Diesel and senior Joe Tripodo will also see action there. Beheler and senior Steve Hayes will be inside with junior Nick Pesola in reserve.

The secondary will have Haelen and Mauro at the corners with Valenti and junior Sean Callaghan playing the safeties.

Gallagher is especially excited about his new kicker, Kyle Cassetta, who’s also a soccer player.

The coach reports that “all went well” in their Saturday scrimmage up at Maine-Endwell. Now he’s looking forward to getting rid of the bad taste left in his mouth from last year’s sectional semi-final loss.

AS FOR THE REST OF CLASS AA DIVISION 2

Last year the Warriors went 4-0 in their division, outscoring their opponents 133-39. Divisional runner-up Warwick gave them their closest league game before bowing, 28-21, to the mighty MV. Warwick might provide even stiffer opposition this year.

Bearing a young roster, the Wildcats started their 2008 season with a 1-3 record. Quarterback Rian White had been alternating with senior Greg Victor until White took over as the number one guy by week four. An ‘08 all-star he finished the season with 1,716 yards passing (the fourth highest total in the Section Nine record book) and 19 touchdowns.

“Rian has all of Kevin Arduino’s sectional records posted on his bedroom wall, and his plans are to top them this season,” said his coach, James Sciarra, during a lull in Saturday‘s scrimmage action at Middletown.

If he does, Warwick will go a long, long way.

White would be the first to tell you that a lot of his sudden success came courtesy of his big-time receiver and ‘08 all-star John Babin who caught 58 passes for 829 yards and eight TDs last year. Babin had missed his sophomore year with a back injury, so his success in 2008 was a big surprise. Last year the 6-3, 200-pounder set two sectional records: most receptions in a single season and most receptions (12) in a single game.

“John works hard and has great hands,” Sciarra said.

Now both players are seniors and function as the engine that drives Sciarra’s manic no-huddle, pass-happy, spread offense. Giving White’s arm an occasional play off is senior RB Jesse Testa (5-10, 170) who will wear Warwick’s honored jersey number 44 this season. White can also fake, tuck and run. Testa and senior all-star honorable mention WR Sam Careccia (5-9, 140) will again be additional targets for White’s aerials.

Also leading the offense will be seniors Kyle Barrett (5-11, 190 center) and Nick Clark (5-11, 220 tackle). On the defensive side look for tough Jared Komorowski (6-1, 210 LB), John Denmead (5-8, 140 DB) and Dan Marggraff (5-11, 160 LB). All are seniors.

While White and Babin are the heatbeat of the Wildcats, their head coach is the drummer. Young James Sciarra has quickly proven himself worthy of inclusion on the list of elite SNF coaches. His secret may be summed up in what he told his offensive unit during a time out at Saturday’s scrimmage in Middletown.

“I’m a perfectionist. If you’re not, you shouldn’t be playing.”

Warwick fans will have a fun team to watch in 2009. Meanwhile the rest of the division should beware the ‘Cats.

Warwick will face a tough opening game opponent this Friday when it travels to AA-1 Pine Bush. Bombs away!  White v. Przybocki.

Another team to take very seriously this season is Valley Central. Head coach Ron Introini and his staff are looking forward to a very promising season as their program begins to hit its full stride. Twenty-two underclassmen return from last year’s varsity roster while the rest of the squad consists of graduates from last season’s unbeaten jayvee team, the only squad to beat Newburgh’s annually powerful jayvees.

Senior QB Shane MacNamara (6-4, 220) leads the Viking offense. Dairis Simpson, an all-star LB last year, will operate as a RB in ‘09. Simpson is a six-foot, 190-pound senior. Up from the jayvees, junior Zac Adler will be a WR.

The O-line looks good, being built around a tough foursome. Guard Nick Kurisco (5-9 225 junior) returns along with big senior tackle Joe Dean (6-2, 300). Up from the jayvees are center Anthony Athanas and guard Pat Griffin. Meanwhile the defense will be led by LB Nick Osenni (5-8, 175 senior) and Adler, who will play safety.

The Vikings face a big non-league opening challenge this Friday night when rival Wallkill, which should be a powerhouse this year, takes the short trip to Montgomery. This game should be another dandy!

After losing its first four games in 2008, Washingtonville roared back to win four of its final five. During that run the Wizards defeated VC in overtime and topped larger AA-1 teams in Middletown and Kingston. But all that was done with a very veteran squad. Since then 34 have graduated, leaving new head coach Don Clark with some major rebuilding to do.

Clark really isn’t new. He coached the Wizards back in 2003 when he quickly turned the program around and led the team to its first-ever AA semi-finals. This year he’s counting heavily on stud junior tackle Jacob Sheafe, senior FB-LB Gerard Dubatowka and senior QB Shane Nolan. Other key performers are senior DE Nick Sherman, junior SS Spencer Jackson and junior FS Adam DeCicco.

Washingtonville opens its season at home Friday night against Middletown. Wizard fans are hoping for another ‘03-like season.

FDR opens its season with hope and some 20 players back from last year’s roster. The leading returners for coach Harry Harrington’s squad are senior TE/DE Brodie Moller (6-6, 248), junior RB/SS Errol Evans (6-1, 175), senior QB Chris Lewis (5-11, 157), junior FB Branden Reed (6-1, 185) and senior center Jeff Schneider (5-9, 230). One player not returning is gifted senior Devaughn Millington who has transfered to Ridgefield High in Connecticut.

The Presidents, who finished 2-7 last year, cross the river to open up at AA-1 Kingston on Friday night.