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Northwest returns plenty of talent from last year
Majer
Steve Merth returns at wide receiver for the Rangers. He was the team’s leading pass catcher last season.
PETE G. WILCOX/The Times Leader
Tailback Bret Rutkoski rushed more than 1,300 yards last season as a sophomore at Northwest.
PETE G. WILCOX/The Times Leader
SHICKSHINNY – Carl Majer knows there are people who will think he’s arrogant or overconfident for saying nothing short of a District 2 Class A championship is acceptable for the Northwest football team this season.
But the Rangers head coach issued a challenge to those people.
“All I ask is that you take a look at us once, watch us play, and then make your opinion,” said Majer, who enters his second year as head coach.
The Rangers return almost all of their starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s team, which finished 8-3 and lost to Old Forge in the opening round of the D2 Class A playoffs.
“Our goal is nothing less than a district title,” said Majer. “I said that when I took the job.”
Northwest will be competing in the All-American Conference for the last season. The Rangers are expected to rejoin the Wyoming Valley Conference next season.
Northwest has won several AAC championships, including last year, and are the heavy favorite to win this year’s title. Majer doesn’t expect anything to change next season.
“We expect to win our conference every year, no matter what conference we play in,” he said. “Some people think I’m arrogant or overconfident. But this isn’t badminton. Football is a violent game and you have to be ready to play.”
OFFENSE
Injuries a year ago forced Majer into playing at least three different quarterbacks, including standout running back Bret Rutkoski. Senior Jeff Moss moves from receiver to the starting quarterback position, where he will run the multi-set, spread offense.
“We’ve really come a long way,” said Majer. “We put in a whole new offense and it seems to be clicking. We’ve been moving the ball really well in our scrimmages. Jeff (Moss) is doing a very good job. He’s getting better each week.”
Rutkoski rushed more than 1,300 yards last season as a sophomore. Versatile senior Steve Merth – the team’s leading receiver last year – also returns to the starting lineup, giving Northwest a potent 1-2 punch with the two skill players.
“When Steve Merth is in his mode, he’s one of toughest players in the state,” said Majer, referring to the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder. “He’s phenomenal. With his size, speed, and ability, he’s head and tails above everyone else. (Rutkoski) was really under the radar last year. People are going to know who he is this season.”
Sophomore Matt Swartz will be on the field when the Rangers use a fullback. Junior Dave Drozdowski will start at tight end, while seniors Brett Sikora, John Voyton and Albert Gensel give the Rangers a lot of depth at receiver.
Northwest has a big, experienced offensive line in senior Anthony Swain (6-5, 240) and junior Ryan Kondrosky (6-3, 235) at tackle; senior center Eric Bonk (6-1, 215); and junior guards Tim Race (6-6, 340) and Garrett Hakanson (6-3, 265).
The Rangers could get a big lift midway through the season with the possible return of 6-5, 255-pound senior tackle Tom Noss. The two-year starter was seriously injured in a car accident several months ago and is “far ahead of schedule,” said Majer.
“We have a big offensive line,” said the coach. “We were averaging 265 (pounds) across the front before (Noss) got hurt. These guys are really strong and they’re working hard.”
DEFENSE
The Rangers return almost all of the starters from the unconventional 5-3 triangle defense, which was developed by Majer.
Senior Issac Stugart will join either Bonk or Swain at the two starting defensive tackle positions. Junior Corey Kittle will start at nose guard, while Merth and Kondrosky are the defensive ends.
The linebacking corps includes senior Melvin Meyers in the middle, with Sikora and junior Doug Rupp on the outside. In the secondary, senior Jesse Sterowski will start at safety while Voyton and Moss are the starting cornerbacks.
“Our defense is very, very fast,” said Majer. “It’s not a conventional defense. It took me a lot of years to put it together. It took a while for the kids to understand it. But now, they know it works.”
OUTLOOK
The Rangers have a legitimate chance of running the table during the regular season and entering the district playoffs unbeaten. In addition to competing in the weak AAC, the rest of the Northwest schedule includes games against Nanticoke Area, Holy Redeemer, GAR and Lake-Lehman.
Majer and the Rangers will know where they stand by the midway point of the season. The GAR game takes place in Week 2, followed by the game against Lake-Lehman. Northwest plays Holy Redeemer in Week 5.
With championship aspirations, the Rangers were busy during the offseason competing in several “strongman” and seven-on-seven events.
“We have great expectations of what we can be,” said Majer. “We know what kind of team we could have this season. That’s why we went to the strongman competitions and played in the seven-on-sevens. We had success. All of this stuff builds respect.”