<\/p>\n
Outside of his family life and his role as a principal within the Riverside Junior-Senior High School system, football is Vito Quaglia\u2019s passion.<\/p>\n
From his time as a player at Bishop Hoban from, where he graduated in 1988, to coaching at Wilkes University, Delaware Valley, Wyoming Area and Pittston Area, the game always held a special place in Quaglia\u2019s heart. So when the opportunity to return to the sidelines and lead a program he can call his own, he didn\u2019t hesitate to become the eighth coach in the program\u2019s history, which began in 2007.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is coming home for me a bit,\u201d Quaglia said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen how other programs have been built and developed. I\u2019ve always loved football. This is me giving back to the place that did a lot of good for me. The kids have bought in from the beginning. There are some fantastic athletes here at Holy Redeemer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Now, it is Quaglia\u2019s opportunity to take those athletes, find the right spots to put them in and attempt to put a quality product on the field, though he knows it won\u2019t happen in the first week, or maybe not even the first season.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur job is to take those rough diamonds and polish them up a bit and get them in the right spots,\u201d Quaglia said. \u201cWhen we looked at a lot of stuff on tape, there were some lopsided games. There were also glimpses of kids that could be mismatch problems for their opponents. We just have to get them to believe in the program and put the commitment in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of that commitment began in the weight room soon after Quaglia was hired April 1. From there, he watched film, held offseason conditioning and carried it through the summer up until the beginning of camp. One main focus the coaching staff will emphasize is the necessity to run the football, a phase of the game the Royals have struggled with since their inception.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to be able to run the ball,\u201d Quaglia said. \u201cYou can\u2019t take anything for granted. Whether how good you think you are or how poor you think you are, you have to run the ball. You have to control the clock. In some way, shape or form, we have to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
If that means lining up behind a strong, physical offensive line, then that is what the Royals are going to do. If it means running to the tight end side, the Royals will try that. They also could run out of the I-formation or spread the defense out. Quaglia is intent on not making the Royals a one-dimensional offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to figure out what works,\u201d Quaglia said. \u201cYou have to commit to the run game. You can\u2019t just run it once or twice and if it doesn\u2019t work just give up. For us starting off, we want to get one win. That one win I can guarantee will come because we had success running the ball. If we don\u2019t have the linemen to do it, but have the tight ends and H-backs become guards with higher numbers, that\u2019s what we will do. You have to run to have success.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophomore Brady McDermott took over as the starter midway through last season. In seven games, he threw for 693 yards and four touchdowns while completing 56.8% of his passes. Josh Grochowski, Wyoming Valley West transfer Noah Council and freshman Mike DeFrancesco will provide depth.<\/p>\n
This is a trouble spot for the Royals as they have a difficult time establishing any sort of run game. Wildy Rodriguez returns and led the team in rushing last season with 70 yards. Nathan Orlando, who ran for 46 yards, also returns. Ryan Zelinka and Anthony Falcon also will be counted on.<\/p>\n
Quaglia will play a fullback\/H-back combination featuring Mike Zbierski, Falcon, Kyle Ly, Alex Snyder, Kaden Sepkoski and Connor Pribula. Zbierski led the team in receptions last season with 37 for 346 yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Kyaire McClean, Kevin Arroyo, Lucas Shrader, Zbierski, Grochowski and Connor Pribula will see time at receiver, depending on personnel packages. McClean had 12 catches for 134 yards last season. Pribula averaged 22.0 yards per reception while Grochowski had 17 catches for 190 yards. Arroyo caught two passes.<\/p>\n
The offensive line will continue to be a point of emphasis for the Royals as Quaglia is intent on establishing a running game. Chase Swoboda and Cole Lisowski are back. Amir Zaghout-Pierce and Xavier Fernandez are also in the mix. Also, Quaglia is looking at Anthony Ruzzano and Patrick Martin as key components up front.<\/p>\n
The Royals will go with a 3-4 scheme. Quaglia is looking at a combination of Swoboda, Lisowski, Zaghout-Pierce, Fernandez, Ruzzano and Martin.<\/p>\n
Zbierski will play outside linebacker while Falcon can flip between inside and outside. Snyder, Ly, Zelinka and Sepkoski are also in the mix, and Quaglia experimented all through camp to determine who fits the best. He likes the athleticism of this group.<\/p>\n
Pribula, if he is not at linebacker, is a returning starter at corner. Grochowski, McClean, Zbierski, Colton Handley and Shrader also return. Arroyo and David Jackiel provide quality options, as well.<\/p>\n
Max Mohutsky will be the kicker. As for the punter, Quaglia said the competition was open throughout the offseason and will use training camp to pick the starter. Snyder had the early edge heading into the beginning of camp.<\/p>\n
Head coach:<\/strong> Vito Quaglia (First season)<\/p>\n Division:<\/strong> Independent<\/p>\n Last season:<\/strong> 0-10<\/p>\n Male enrollment:<\/strong> 163<\/p>\n Class:<\/strong> 2A<\/p>\n Home field:<\/strong> Spartan Stadium<\/p>\n Aug. 23:<\/strong> Nativity BVM, 7 p.m.<\/p>\n Aug. 29:<\/strong> at Tunkhannock, 7<\/p>\n Sept. 6:<\/strong> Carbondale Area, 7<\/p>\n Sept. 12:<\/strong> at Susquehanna, 7<\/p>\n Sept. 20:<\/strong> Lake-Lehman, 7<\/p>\n Sept. 27:<\/strong> at Holy Cross, 1<\/p>\n Oct. 4:<\/strong> Montrose, 7<\/p>\n Oct. 10:<\/strong> at Montgomery, 7<\/p>\n Oct. 18:<\/strong> at CMVT, 1<\/p>\n Oct. 24:<\/strong> at Midd West, 7<\/p>\n Originally Published: Schedule<\/h3>\n