Item Football 2009: Classical is looking for a little offensive punch

The Classical High football team will be looking to add a little offensive punch this season as it tried to improve on last year’s 5-5 record.The Rams, under second-year coach Tim Phelps, have quite a few returning players although they will be looking to fill the holes left by the graduation of captains Cameron Smith (running back, defensive back), Gary Sisson (running back, defensive back) and Brian Kolodziej (center, linebacker). All three were Northeastern Conference All Stars.On the offensive side of the ball, Phelps has seniors Casey Johnson and Jasper Grassa running the ball and playing receiver. Grassa can play quarterback in a pinch, although the job at this point belongs to his younger brother, junior Nick Grassa. The younger Grassa played quarterback at the freshman and junior varsity level.”He understands what we’re asking of him,” Phelps said about his quarterback. “He plays within himself and makes good decisions. He does everything well.”Phelps said with the exception of the Gloucester and English games, the Rams hung in there defensively.”Those two games got away from us,” he said, adding that the defense “kind of carried us.”The good news there is that Phelps returns six players on defense and the “newcomers” who will fill in the holes do have experience.”Phelps said he’s looking for the defense to be a key factor this season in keeping the Rams in every game. He’s also hoping the offense will come around.”Offensively we struggled most of the year. I think we only averaged 17 or 18 points per game, a drop from previous years ? We’re trying to get that offense back, be more productive,” he said.Senior Jaquan Huston, who shares the captains’ duties along with Jasper Grassa, Kashawn Avery, Robbie Nelson and Chevere Archer, will be returning a fullback. He split the job with Buddy Ford last year, but Ford will be on the offensive line and play middle linebacker this year.Phelps returns two starters on the offensive line, seniors Will Kusch and Billy Albright, but final configuration is still up in the air.”I think we’re pretty deep at offensive line. We have eight, nine, 10 guys who play there. We’re probably deeper there than we have been for a while,” Phelps said.Classical has been known for its running game in the past and Phelps isn’t looking to change it.”We’re going to stick to what we’ve done in the past. We heavily rely on the running game – get athletes the ball. It’s worked in the past and we’re looking to keep it going this year,” Phelps said.On defense, Phelps has six starters returning including defensive ends Ricky Bigwood and Danny Omoregie and outside linebackers Archer and Johnson. Jasper Grassa will be at safety and Avery whill be on one of the corners.Phelps did get in a transfer who he expects will help out. Josh Cheever, a football and basketball player at Tech the last two years, is now at Classical.”He’s a smart, hard worker and a big kid,” Phelps said. “He should be a pretty good pick up for us.”