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After losing seven starters on both sides of the ball, including two-way backfield standout Ryan Womack, the GAR Grenadiers are in a rebuilding year of sorts, but still plan on playing some very competitive football this season.
“Well I think we have a lot of potential in a lot of young kids,” said head coach Tony Khalife, whose team went 10-2 last year before losing to Dunmore in the District 2 Class 2A playoffs. “They need to get on the field and get some game-time experience so we can see what they have and how they react to the varsity level.”
ON OFFENSE
While the growing trend in the Wyoming Valley Conference is of teams opening up their game plans and spreading the field with multiple receivers and formations, GAR’s offense will stick to what was successful last year — grinding it out behind a strong offensive line.
“I think up front, we’ve worked very hard to get better and the kids have really shown that the strong point of our team is going to be our offensive line,” said Khalife. “That’s going to help our backs because they’re going to have a good line to work with and that’s going to build their confidence.”
Center Kyle Paul and guards Justin Charles and Joe Oldziejewski are three returning starters. Mark Glowinski and Dane Dudeck saw time at the tackle positions last year and are going to be this year’s starters at those spots. Backing up Dudeck and Glowinksi will be a familiar name to Grenadier fans in Christian Skrepenak, whose dad Greg starred at GAR and Michigan and later played in the NFL.
The freshman checks in at 6-foot-8 and 350 pounds, but according to Khalife, is a very raw talent and will be worked into the line as the season progresses.
“Christian has a ton of potential with his size and ability,” said Khalife. “He’s very coachable and very committed to what he’s doing here.”
Rounding out the line at the tight end position is Mark Benjamin, who blocks well and will factor into the passing game with his athleticism, according to Khalife.
When it comes to the running backs and receivers, it appears Kurtis Thomas is the only lock at his position so far. Thomas, a junior, will get the bulk of the carries at the tailback position, with Darian Twyman and Mykel Dempsi seeing time there as well. The fullback position will be split between Rich Ivonov and Cody Welgosh.
At split end, Billy Gates, along with sophomore Shaliek Powell, will be the primary targets in the passing game for either Lance Letteer or Darrell Crawford who, according to Khalife, are neck and neck in the competition for starting quarterback. Thomas, Gates, Powell and Crawford also will be used to return kicks on special teams.
ON DEFENSE
With a 4-4 formation that will give multiple looks at the line, the strength of GAR’s defense will be up front this season, with many members of its offensive line pulling double duty as the front eight.
Rotating at the end position will be Paul, Oldziejewski and Benjamin. The rotation at tackle is set among Dudeck, Mark Lewinski, Charles and John Grimes. The crew of linebackers will be led by Ivonov, a three-year starter in the middle, and Welgosh. Pat Smith and Thomas will man the outside linebacker spots, with Letteerr factoring into that mix.
That hard work GAR put in during the offseason is going to have to come through in the secondary, which is missing four of five starters from last year because of graduation.
“We lost a couple good people in our secondary, we lost four of our five defensive starters from back there,” said Khalife, “but we have some good athletes who are very capable of filling in this year.”
Gates will start as the middle safety, Joe Ashford and Crawford and Powell are ready to step in and play the outside.
“The defense is a bend-don’t-break style,” said Khalife. “We’re going to try and pressure teams into mistakes out there.”
OUTLOOK
Replacing seven starters on both sides of the ball is never easy, especially if one of those players is running back/safety standout Womack. However, if GAR plays to its strengths and develops its young talent, the Grenadiers should make some noise this season.