The numbers are a little staggering. Highland’s football program started camp last week with about 70 players on the varsity and JV squads.  And that comes after the Huskies lost 27 seniors from last year’s team.

Graduation decimated the Huskies, with only one returning starter from last year coming back to the offense and a defense suffering from the same deficit.

“We are going to be a little inexperienced,” said Carl Relyea, as the varsity team ran some sprints.
One of the first ones out of the pack during those sprints was Mike Forte, a senior who helped bolster the Huskies last year as injuries made their way through the line-up.

The Huskies were 8-0 last year, but lost to O’Neill in the Section 9, Class B final as the injuries finally took their toll while Highland tried to defend its 2008 sectional title.

Highland’s last stand at Dietz came after the Huskies brutalized their opponents in 2008 – while coming up just short last year.

Forte helped cover the absence of Mike Fallatik, who was injured early last season, but the biggest loss came when Josh Duggan, an aggressive linebacker, suffered a knee injury and spent the end of the season rooting for his teammates from a wheelchair.

Dan Chenery, a senior who played defense last year, is expected to start at quarterback in place of the departed Matt Relyea. Mike Zuppan will join Forte in the backfield as Relyea and his coaches work to rebuild an offensive to open holes for them and protect Chenery.

Ryan Birchall, Pete Behnke, Rocky Perry, Chris Pflaum and Ethan Pcolar all graduated from the offensive line and need to be replaced, and Ben Smith is expected to help there this year.

Cody Weaver, a talented defensive back, also graduated and needs to be replaced. Duggan’s absence will be sorely felt, but Travis Dutka, Zuppan and Dylan Ose, all seniors, Anthony Pavese, Dan Gerieke, both juniors, and Brandon Baccia, a sophomore, are expected to play linebacker.

Geriecke, Nick Benzie and Anthony Runza, are all expected to play on the defensive line.

“I am happily surprised,” said Relyea, as he watched his team. “They seem to be working hard.”

By Bond Brungard
sports@tcnewspapers.com