Friday, August 26, 2011

Campus confidential: Amherst High School

By: Mike Pidanick, Metro Source

The Amherst High School football team opened some eyes last season in the ultra-talented Class A. With many of the same names on the roster this season, the Tigers hope to be even better.

“We’re really picking up where we left off last year,” said linebacker Baba Cole, one of seven returning starters on defense. “We feel like we’re going to be a force to be reckoned with. We want to improve on last year and make another run for it.”

After a 6-1 regular season last season, Amherst seems poised for another strong season in 2011. Speed will be the name of the game for the Tigers, who plan on using that turf field to their advantage.

“We’re going to be a spread on offense and an eight-man front on defense that comes at you from all angles. So we’re going to try to use that speed and athleticism for us.

“We should be fun to watch. Win, lose or draw, we should be fun to watch.”

The speed will have to be the strength because there is a lack of size on Amherst ‘s roster. But the effort is there and the Tigers hope the skill guys will find the room to make things happen.

“We’re thin up front,” Murphy said. “We just don’t have a lot of big guys right now at our school that are out playing. So we have to piece that together a bit.

“But we’re going to be fine - the kids we have are working hard and getting better.”

Junior quarterback Justin Twarog is back to lead the offense and he’ll have some weapons in senior receiver Brandon Borden as well as Jonathan Belton, who Murphy said “is a real threat down the field.

The Tigers lost all-star running back Keeon Colvin to graduation, but they’ve got a talented new back to replace him. Senior Justin Burke transferred to Amherst after running for 1,800 yards last season at St. Mary’s of Lancaster .

Defensively, the Tigers will be led by senior linebacker Marquis Artis, who topped 100 tackles last season. Senior Matt Gallineau, a four-year starter, and senior Baba Cole are also back at linebacker.

“We have a good core of guys coming back,” Murphy said. “They know how to practice and they know what it takes.”

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