(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a four-part series on the units for Saturday’s 45th annual Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic at Bradford’s Parkway Field. Today, the New York offense.)
By SHAWN CAMPBELL
Special to the Era
Coaching an offense of all-stars may not feel that strange for Chad Bartoszek.
Just last fall, his Franklinville/Ellicottville Titans used their skill to put up 40 points per game in a 9-1 season that culminated at New Era Field in the Section 6 Class D final.
The hope for Bartoszek is that his New York unit can be similarly potent in Saturday night’s Big 30 All-Star Charities Classic.
“We have a lot of weapons — just like we did this past season — so we’re going to try to utilize everybody, spread the ball a little bit,” said Bartoszek, 36-12 in five years as a head coach. “It’ll be more of a shotgun spread-type set-up — not a huge change of pace for us.”
Even better for Bartoszek, he will have his regular F/E signal-caller, All-State and All-Western New York quarterback Brock Blecha, a dual threat. The Utica College commit will also likely see time with fellow Titans Griffin Chudy (running back) and Austin Grinols (wide receiver).
“That’s one group that’s really got the whole background of the offense already set up,” Bartoszek said. “They kind of know what’s going on. We’re just working on getting the language down for everyone else and trying to make it easy. That’s pretty much the challenge of playing in an all-star game, but these guys are all talented and smart guys.”
Frewsburg’s Trent Gray will alternate with Blecha under center.
Joining Chudy in the backfield are Brian Burns (Southwestern), Jacob Lippert (Allegany-Limestone) and Caleb Riordan (Pioneer).
In addition to Grinols, the wide receivers and tight ends are Austin Baker (Cattaraugus-Little Valley), Nick Johnson (Salamanca), Derek Miller (Southwestern), Kyle Murray (Portville) and Michael Nye (Allegany-Limestone).
New York’s offensive linemen are Derek Biscaro (Pioneer), Jacob Giardini (Allegany-Limestone), Nicholas Giardini (Allegany-Limestone), Emery Marsh (Pioneer), Colin Melquist (Southwestern), Jiyah Mentley-Peters (Gowanda) and Andrew Minnekine (Cattaraugus-Little Valley).
“Our backfield’s pretty stacked,” Bartoszek said. “We’ve got some good kids there. Our tight ends and our receiving corps we’ve been moving around a little bit just to find the right positioning, and they’re going to be targeted out there, for sure, so one of them’s going to have to step up and make some plays for us.”
He added: “It’s a solid group. I would say we’re not overly fast, but we’re more skilled and athletic. It’s just good kids. I mean, they’re the best players from their respective programs, so it’s a lot of fun just having those weapons.”
It isn’t Bartoszek’s first experience coaching in the Big 30 game. In the 2009 contest, won by Pennsylvania 13-6, he assisted Allegany-Limestone’s Paul Furlong on defense. This time, however, Bartoszek is on the other side.
“As you get older, you want to be on the offensive side of the ball,” he said. “It’s what I played. But it’s just 50 percent of the game. The defensive side of the ball is interesting to me, but most of my time as a football guy has been offensive. It’s easier for me now. Maybe down the road, I don’t know, I might change it up. They can’t really criticize your play calls when you’re coaching on D.”
Bartoszek’s No. 1 goal for Saturday? An exciting game. Even at the first of 11 practices, he beamed about the players’ chance to show off their speed on the new Parkway Field turf.
“I’m expecting us and them to make plays,” he said. “I think there’s a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. I’m approaching it as it’s an entertaining game, it’s for a good cause. We’re definitely in it to win it, but it is going to be important to me and our coaching staff that we’re exciting, we’re aggressive, we’re making plays. I’m hopeful that the product on the field gives the crowd something they want to stick around for.”
