During five years at the helm of Bradford High School’s football
program, Steve Ackerman has experienced both the highs and lows of
coaching.

Last fall the Owls found their way into the win column only
three times for a disappointing 3-6 record. But it was more than
just a losing season, it was one that’s been eating away at
Ackerman for a whole year.

“We started the season with those two overtime losses and I
don’t think we ever really got over it,” he explained last week
while preparing for his 6th season. “We were young, starting a lot
of inexperienced juniors and sophomores and it really got into
their psyche.”

The Owls lost to Clearfield in the opener, which put them in a
hole right off the bat in the District 9 League and then to
long-time rival Olean in the second game. Both were winnable
contests.

“Those were crushing losses,” Ackerman continued. “They got into
our kids’ heads and we struggled all season. If we had won those
two games it would have given us confidence and probably turned our
season around.”

Ackerman is hopeful that the scenario won’t repeat itself this
fall, but if it should, his team is ready to handle it.

The Owls have 16 returning lettermen with experience on both
sides of the ball so mentally they will be able to take on that
type of challenge.

“If that (overtimes) should happen this year and hopefully it
won’t, our kids will be able to overcome it. Now they’ll know how
to react because of the experience they’ve gained and that should
help tremendously,” he explained.

When you break down the list of veteran players coming back,
there are nine who started throughtout the season in 2005.

“We’re pretty evenly balanced on both sides of the ball –
offense and defense – and our special teams should be strong with
Butler (Steve, 6-0, 175-pound senior) back there,” Ackerman pointed
out. “He’s a heck of a kicker.”

Offensively, the Owls will stick with the Wing-T which has
worked well for them during Ackerman’s tenure.

“We’ll run some different formations, but it’s still the
Wing-T,” Ackerman grinned.

Calling the signals in the formation will be junior quarterback
Ben Walter. He started there last year and at 6-0, 168-pounds,
isn’t likely to give up the position.

Pushing him is returning letterman Jim Milbrandt (5-10,
170-pound senior) and Tyler Grandy (5-9, 150-pound sophomore).

Also in the backfield, the fullback position is pretty well set
with returning starter Taylor O’Brien (5-6, 195-pound junior), but
pushing him are Steve Hill (5-6, 168-pound junior) and Vince
Schiappa (5-9, 160-pound sophomore).

Running out of the two halfback positions will be E.J. Moore
(6-1, 200-pound senior) on the right side and Nick Johnson (5-10,
165-pound junior) on the left side. Both are the returning starters
at that position.

Challenging Moore are Dan Wichensky (5-10, 165-pound junior),
Ryan Marshall (6-0, 172-pound sophomore) and Rob Munday (6-1,
190-pound junior), while Johnson is being pushed by Dan McMurtrie
(5-10, 150-pound junior) and Andy Skaggs (5-7, 140-pound
sophomore).

Snapping the ball will be Josh Britton (5-9, 200-pound senior)
who played center last season. Pushing him for the job are Chris
Johnston (5-9, 176-pound junior) and Casey Graffius (5-10,
168-pound sophomore).

At the guard positions, Mike Johnston (5-10, 198-pound junior)
has the job pretty well wrapped up on the right side of the line,
while the left side has developed into a battle between Alex
Faucher (5-11, 185-pound senior), a returning letterman, and Joe
Hardy (5-11, 191-pound junior).

Also looking for playing time the guard spots are Steve
Cavagnaro (6-0, 170-pound sophomore), Austin Laroche (5-11,
170-pound sophomore), Mike Sloan (5-7, 190-pound senior) and Rob
Pire (6-0, 202-pound junior), who is a returning letterman.

The top candidates at tackle right now are Steven Reinhardt
(6-3, 260-pound sophomore) and Cody Godding (6-3, 200-pound
junior). Reinhardt, a returning letterman, will work on the left
side, while Godding is on the right side.

Pushing Godding are Jake Pude (5-11, 225-pound senior) and Devon
Swatt (6-0, 220-pound sophomore).

Chasing that foursome, are Chris Arnett (6-0, 222-pound
sophomore), Ethan Peterson (5-2, 173-pound sophomore), Aaron Darr
(5-8, 225-pound junior), Jim Kan (5-1, 163-pound sophomore), Doug
Dixon (6-2, 250-pound junior), Vinnie Pascarella (6-1, 220-pound
junior), Drew Shreve (6-0, 215-pound sophomore) and Sam Scanlon
(5-4, 220-pound sophomore).

Alternating at tight end will be two returning lettermen, Alex
Goodman (6-2, 187-pound junior) and Tyler Hopkins (6-1, 185-pound
senior).

Hoping to get playing time there as well, are Josh Yaworsky
(6-0, 170-pound junior), Shawn Guthrie (6-1, 210-pound sophomore),
returning letterman Britt Bookhamer ( 6-0, 165-pound junior) and
Austin Reams (5-10, 130-pound sophomore).

Running in plays will be the split end, and right now Tom Morris
(6-1, 178-pound senior) and Nick Foster (5-10, 165-pound senior)
are the top contenders. Both are returning lettermen and were
starters last season.

Pushing them are Matt Teribery (5-9, 145-pound junior), Tyler
Yohe (5-10, 144-pound junior), Shane Speaker (5-6, 136-pound
sophomore), Garrett DeCasper (6-1, 160-pound junior), Craig Kloss
(5-9, 120-pound sophomore) and Jeff Bradford (6-0, 180-pound
sophomore).

Butler will be the starting kicker and punter, with freshman
Cody Nuzzo (5-7, 145 pounds) waiting in the wings as his
backup.

Defensively, the Owls will stick with the four-man front that
has worked well for them.

“It’s a split four, with a little different look, but basically
the same as what we’ve used in the past,” Ackerman noted.

At the ends, Goodman will be on the left side, while Bookhamer
and Godding battle for playing time on the right side. Bookhamer
started at the position last season.

Looking for playing time on either side are Sloan, Laroche,
Cavagnaro, Guthrie, Yaworsky and Reams.

The tackles will be Reinhardt on the left and either Pire or
Swatt on the right side.

Pushing the trio are Pude, Dixon, Pascarella, Darr, Arnett,
Shreve, Peterson, Kan and Scanlon.

Behind the line on the outside is Moore, the bull backer.
Britton, C. Johnston and Wichensky are all looking for playing time
there as well. The “cat backer” will be Johnson, with backup from
McMurtrie, Schiappa and Munday.

O’Brien, who started there last year, will be one of the two
inside linebackers, with the other spot to be filled by Faucher, M.
Johnston, Hardy, Marshall or Graffius.

At the safety position, Milbrandt returns as the starter, with
Hopkins, Grandy and Hill looking for playing time.

Foster returns as one of the starting corner backs, with the
other spot to be filled by Morris, Walter, Teribery, DeCasper,
Yohe, Skaggs, Speaker, Kloss or Bradford.

“The key this season will be our experience, and I’m comfortable
with the people we have,” Ackerman noted.

“We have more depth this year, which means there has been more
competition for positions. No one has been able to sit back and
relax because there’s someone waiting to take their job. It’s all
helped us,” he added.

The Owls open the season Sept. 1 at Clearfield in a key District
9 League game.

“Clearfield and DuBois are the teams to beat,” said Ackerman.
“St. Marys has also moved up the ladder and Brookville is always
strong. There’s Punxsy, too. All the teams are competitive.”

Bradford will host Olean in its home opener on Sept. 8, and will
celebrate homecoming with Brookville on Oct. 6.

New teams on the schedule this year are Central Mountain, which
filled the 7th date where Bradford had a bye last season, and East
Allegheny, from the WPIAL, which closes the Owls’ regular season on
Oct. 28.

Ackerman’s staff this year is made up of Jerry Pattison,
defensive coordinator; Tim Burris, special teams coach; Jim
Yurkewicz, quarterbacks and corner backs coach; Steve Kloss, split
ends and defensive backs coach, and Paul Picciolo, runningbacks and
defensive line coach.