Troy's Fighting Irish Adult Amateur Football Team: Fighting Irish News: 2011 Big blue meanies: Troy Fighting Irish offensive line a talented, intimidating group

By Mike Cioffi
The Record

TROY— Cliff Labelle knows what it takes to build a winning semi-professional football team, so when Pete Porcelli took over the full time head coaching duties of the Troy Fighting Irish to start this season, the 2001 Lansingburgh High graduate knew where he was headed to play his third semi-pro season.

He’s one of the reasons I came here,” Labelle said. “I’ve played offensive line for 15 plus years, being coached by guys who’ve played for the (Dallas) Cowboys and there’s still O-lineman stuff that he shows me today, that I’m like, ‘I’ve never heard that before but it totally makes sense.”

Labelle joined the Fighting Irish at the beginning of the season, but he isn’t newcomer to the semi-pro ranks. He had brief stints with the Albany Metro Mallers in 2009 and the Glove Cities Colonials in 2010.

Labelle, an offensive lineman like Porcelli once was, also played in the Arena Football League with the Albany Conquest.

Porcelli is the head coach at Green Tech after stints at Albany and Lansingburgh. Porcelli, was a key component of the Albany Firebirds offensive line from 1990-93.

“Just the drills he runs and his intensity, he knows how it is to be a lineman. Whenever we run individuals (in practice) he’s with us saying ‘this is what you need to do’, he’s made me a better player, too,” Labelle said.

Troy veteran offensive lineman Allen Preston has also noticed a difference since Porcelli took the reigns toward the end of last season.

“There’s definitely been a huge turnaround (with Porcelli) if not the main factor of the team’s success. His offensive scheme, bringing that in and his enthusiasm and professionalism, he definitely made me turn up my game,” said Preston, who’s in his fifth season with Troy.

Another reason Labelle decided to return home to Troy was to reconnect with a former teammate at the University of Rochester in Carmine Casale, the team’s defensive coordinator.

“The team’s success is reflective in the dedication of the players and coaching staff. A couple things brought me here, the coaches are awesome and there’s dedication at practice every week,” Labelle said. “Guys have jobs, kids and a family but they still show up every Tuesday and Thursday for two hours and games.”

Former Bishop Gibbons standout Sean Maille is another member of the six-man front line that was drawn in by both the coaching staff and the recommendation of a friend, linebacker Joshiah Quinn. The offensive line has been crucial over Troy’s past two breakout seasons, creating holes in opposing defenses for a dynamic backfield to parade through.

The Irish have scored 577 points this season in leading the team to a perfect 9-0 record. The Irish run a double-wing offense featuring five running backs, who do the bulk of the scoring.

“We just make the blocks, that’s all they need,” Maille said. “Our running backs are so skilled at their position if we can just get a hand on the lineman they do the rest for us.”

“The playmakers make the plays but at the same time we make the holes that make it happen,” Labelle echoed.

The 12 offensive lineman on the Fighting Irish roster line up at a position that never takes a play off, is in regular contact with the opposition and protects the quarterback.

“It’s overlooked quite a bit,” Labelle said of his position. In the NFL, they always say the O-lineman have to be the smartest on the field. Those who know football real well will tell you that we dictate what the offense does.”

Their hard work in the trenches doesn’t go unnoticed by the rest of the team. “We get enough accolades from our running backs and quarterback, they recognize we make it happen too so it’s a team effort,” Labelle said.

Troy is coming off their most competitive game of the season last week, defeating the Utica Yard Dogs 25-13 in Utica, prior to that game the Irish won every game this season by three or more touchdowns. Collectively, they’ve outscored their opponents 577-84 this season.

“That was probably our most satisfying win, both offense and defense fought so hard. It was a true team effort and I think that was more memorable than the games we won 72-0,” said Maille, a graduate and four-year player at Hartwick College.

The Fighting Irish, who are ranked No. 6 in the latest American Football News AAA poll, host their final regular season contest against the 5-5 Cortland Bulldogs tonight at 7 p.m. at Schenectady High. After earning a first round bye, the unbeaten Irish will be off until Aug. 27 when they host the Northeastern Football Alliance semifinals.

Northeastern Football Alliance East Standings
Team W L PF PA
Troy’s Fighting Irish 9 0 394 65
Utica Yard Dogs 7 2 169 137
Cortland Bulldogs 5 5 135 170
Glove-Cities Colonials 3 7 140 240
New York Stallions 2 7 110 285
Watertown Revolution 1 13 81 132

Troy’s Fighting Irish 2011 Results
Jun. 4 at New York Stallions 55-7
Jun. 11 at Glove-Cities Colonials 48-0
Jun. 18 at Watertown Revolution 66-0
Jun. 25 Utica Yard Dogs 56-7
Jul. 2 Bye
Jul. 9 at Cortland Bulldogs 63-21
Jul. 16 New York Stallions 70-3
Jul. 23 Glove-Cities Colonials 73-14
Jul. 30 Watertown Revolution 48-19
Aug. 6 at Utica Yard Dogs 25-13
Aug. 13 Cortland Bulldogs
Aug. 27 NFA semifinals
Sep. 3 Bye
Sep. 10 NFA championship
Sep. 24 NFA all-star game

Troy’s Fighting Irish Offensive Line Roster
No. Name
47 Scott Bennett

53 Anthony Buchanan

55 Jeremy Hatter

58 Chris Raymond

62 Sean Maille

64 Mike Chura

66 Allen Preston

76 Andrew Hanley
79 Cliff Labelle

90 Jeremy Tryon
91 Billy Rios

99 Francisco Cordero