Iroquois Braves
Coach (season, record): Gerard Drozdowski (4th season, 11-19)
2011 overall record: 2-8
2011 region record (place): 2-6 (tied for sixth)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: Parrish Brown, Matt Desin, John Drozdowski, Elliot Davison
Top returning players: Alex Williams, Justyn Roda, Michael Hasberry, Jaydon Cagnoli, Joey Robinson, Anthony Visalle, Brandon Oswalt
Assistant coaches: Jim Vogt, Mike Whitney, Jeff McShane, John Campbell, Brian Martin, Mark Cadden
Outlook: Iroquois struggled in 2011 and it won’t get any easier this fall. The Braves were hit hard by graduation at the skill positions and will be young at key positions. Parrish Brown, Matt Desin, John Drozdowski and Elliot Davison are gone, leaving huge holes at quarterback, running back and on the line. Desin threw for 213 yard and four touchdowns and he ran for 178 yards and three TDs. Brown was an all-region first-team selection at both running back and defensive back. He ran for 854 yards and nine touchdowns while collecting four catches for 93 yards and one touchdown. He also led the Braves with 101 tackles. Drozdowski, a second-team defensive lineman, had two sacks as a senior. Elliot Davison helped Drozdowski hold down the d-line but he has graduated after finishing 2011 with 96 tackles.
With everything Iroquois lost to graduation, the Braves will have some experience back. Justyn Roda and Alex Williams saw plenty of playing time in the backfield last fall. Roda, a second-team kicker, ran for 192 yards and three touchdowns on 37 carries, while Williams carried the ball 45 times for 158 yards. Williams also led the Braves in receiving with five catches for 47 yards and Roda had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Zach Cassidy could take over at quarterback. As a junior, he completed 4-of-19 passes for 38 yards in a backup role to Desin. Cassidy will have another target in Michael Hasberry as the senior is back at wide receiver and defensive back. Jaydon Cagnoli, Anthony Visalle, Joey Robinson and Brandon Oswalt are back on the offensive line and each will have an important role on defense.
Iroquois has a solid line back but will be inexperienced at the skill positions. With a relatively new backfield, including a new quarterback, the Braves will need to come together quickly. Iroquois opens the season at rival Harbor Creek before heading to defending Region 2 champion Youngsville. The ensuing four games could determine where the Braves finish to end the season. Iroquois gets Eisenhower, Cambridge Springs, Maplewood and Cochranton before a brutal non-region game against Fairview. The Braves have a tough schedule and will need to build chemistry in training camp to survive it.
Schedule
August
31 at Harbor Creek 7
September
7 at Youngsville* 7
14 Eisenhower* 7
21 at Cambridge Springs* 7
28 Maplewood* 7
October
5 at Cochranton* 7
12 Fairview 7
18 at Mercyhurst Prep* 7
26 Union City* 7
November
2 Lakeview 7
*Region 2 games
Monday: Kennedy Catholic
– Tom Reisenweber
