Published: September 04, 2008 10:07 am         

CCS football kicks-off season Friday

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier

The young Cooperstown football team took some lumps during a 1-7 campaign a year ago.

They hope to give some this year. The Redskins will open the season on the road at Center State East conference foe Herkimer Friday night at 7 p.m.

``It figures to be a tough game for us, but a win would really set a good tone for the season,’’ said Cooperstown head coach Steve Pugliese. It would also be a big improvement over last season, when the Redskins went winless during the regular season, winning their only game in a crossover contest against New York Mills to conclude the year.

Pugliese said he is hoping for a better record this season, maybe even contending for a postseason berth.

``We’re very good at the skill positions,’’ he said. ``My big worry is injuries because we don’t have a lot of depth.’’

Tanner Niedzialkowksi, R.J. Alton and Alec Silvera do give the Redskins depth at running back, and junior Tyler Hoke, who completed 45 of 121 pass attempts for 372 yards and six touchdowns last season, returns for his second season as quarterback.

Hoke has a talented receiver to throw the ball to in senior Brad Ashford (20 receptions, 347 yards), and junior Luke Folts has returned from a broken leg and will be a big part of the offense as well, both running and receiving, said assistant coach Jay Baldo.

``One thing I’d say about this team is they’ve had a tremendous work ethic in practice and have been a great group to work with,’’ Baldo said.

Center and nose tackle Dan Senif anchors the offensive and defensive lines, and Pugliese said he lost just two starters from last year’s defensive unit.

Six of Cooperstown’s seven regular season games are league contests, with the top two in the division qualifying for the Section Three Class C tournament. Cooperstown will host Ilion on Saturday, Sept. 13 in the home opener at 2 p.m., for one of just three home games on the season. The Redskins will host Adirondack Oct. 3 and Little Falls Oct. 18 in the regular season finale.

``I think the league is wide open and we have as good a chance as anyone to win it,’’ Pugliese said.