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In search of the perfect season

FOLLOWING THE FORGE

It’s been 22 years since an Old Forge football team has been in position to complete the regular-season with a perfect record. And in that 22-year span, no Blue Devils squad has been so eerily similar to the last one to achieve a 10-0 mark.

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Mark Rutkowski hugs Mark Zambetti after Zambetti recovered a fumble against Mid Valley on Friday night. The Blue Devils are 9-0 and in search of a perfect season.

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Mark Rutkowski hugs Mark Zambetti after Zambetti recovered a fumble against Mid Valley on Friday night. The Blue Devils are 9-0 and in search of a perfect season.

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The year was 1987 and Old Forge entered its first season in the Suburban Conference not knowing what to expect. Despite not knowing what exactly would happen over the course of the coming season, the Blue Devils did know one thing – they had an experienced group of talented athletes that would play tough, hard-nosed football.

So when Old Forge steamrolled the competition on its way to a 10-0 record and a Suburban title, fans and team members alike were not shocked, but pleasantly surprised by what transpired along the way.

Much like they have been this season as the Blue Devils have made quick work of most of its opponents to date.

In 1987, the Blue Devils used strong line play to allow its athletes to make plays on offense, and stifle opponents with a suffocating defense.

The offensive line featured strong, nasty blockers in Ron Zaykowski, Brian Olivieri, Willie Wozniak , Dave Kaneski and Gary Swartz. The defensive line mixed in with that foursome, athletic players such as Dean Nalaschi, John Telesz, Jeff Reed and Mike Schuback.

Yes THAT same Mike Schuback that now coaches the Blue Devils.

That core in the trenches is a familiar staple that Schuback builds his teams upon as a coach. This year it’s been around the likes of Kyle Holland, Mark Zambetti, AJ Grasso, Brandon Souryavong and Joey Mascaro on offense, mixed in with Mark Rutkowski and Mike Matisko on defense.

The similarities to the 1987 team do not end there though.

The quarterback was and is today a dynamic playmaker that made plays with both his feet and arm.

In 1987 in was Mando Sallavanti who was an electric running threat from the QB position much like Malkolm Blackshear is today.

The running backs back were very similar as well in that the superstars shared the wealth.

There was not a 1,000-yard rusher on the team in ‘87. Instead leading rusher and tailback Brian Farrell shared carries with Dan Zaykowski, Jim Tricarico, and Nalaschi much like Brian Morris - who is a 1,000-yard back and does carry more of a workload then Farrell - shares carries with Klaus Woodeshick, Lou Febbo and Mike Tagliaferri.

On special teams this year, sophomores standouts Colin Carey, Dave Argust and Cory Stuart mirror the 1987 group of Tom Colburn, Dan Churla and Anthony Terruso.

And the similarities are not just on an individual level.

As a team, the 1987 defense may have been slightly better, allowing just 51 points in 10 league games compared to the 65 points Old Forge has allowed so far in nine games this season. But – and it’s a big but – the current Blue Devils offense has already scored 365 points while the ’87 offense scored just 281 in 10 league games.

The current edition of the Blue Devils has one more game to win before the overall comparisons can begin with the last undefeated regular-season team can commence. And while most expect it to happen, there is one more similarity that will have fate shining down on next week’s game.

In 1987 the Blue Devils run began with a win over Susquehanna at home in the opening week of the season.

This year’s run to perfection can finish with a win over Susquehanna this week at home.

The Rick’s D2 Top 10

A shakeup in the poll this week almost affected the No. 1 team, but the Dunmore Bucks survived a scare on the road against Hanover to retain its top spot in The Rick District 2 Top 10 football poll.

No. 2 North Pocono and No. 3 Abington Heights won big to stay in the Top 10, and Valley West and Berwick each moved up three spots to No. 4 and No. 5 with big, big wins over Wyoming Area and No. 6 Dallas.

The Spartans pummeled the Warriors 58-13, and the Dawgs slipped by the Mounties, 14-13, when Dallas failed to convert a two-point conversion after a touchdown in the last minute of action.

Hazleton dropped three spots to No. 7 after a 35-3 loss to East Stroudsburg South, and Wallenpaupack dropped four spots to No. 9 after its 34-20 loss to West Scranton.

Old Forge moved up a spot to No. 8 after its ninth win of the season and GAR remained at No. 10 after its 35-0 win over Lake Lehman.

Here is the Top 10

1. Dunmore…9-0(1)

2. North Pocono…8-1(2)

3. Abington Heights…8-1(3)

4. Valley West…6-3(7)

5. Berwick…7-2(8)

6. Dallas…8-1(6)

7. Hazleton…6-3(4)

8. Old Forge…9-0(9)

9. Wallenpaupack…6-3(5)

10. GAR…7-2(10)

Honorable Mention: Lakeland (6-3); Delaware Valley (5-4); Mid Valley (6-3).