The Golden Hawks roared onto the radar last season with a punishing triple-option offensive attack and a staunch defense which was barely bent, that is, until Abington hung a 45-spot in Week 9, Council Rock North dented the unit for 25 points one week later, Central Bucks West scored 41 points in the District 1 quarterfinals and North Penn dropped 28 points in the D1 semis. In those four games, the Hawks allowed 139 of their 198 points on the season.
Even though CRS lost its top two rushers from last season, they still figure to be in good hands with five experienced offensive linemen and several key defensive pieces back. The CRS line, fronted by Andrew Cohen, Anthony Miller, Justin Flor, Mike Hirthler and Tom Trampe, helped to pave the way for an offensive unit which averaged 313.3 yards (278.1 rush, 35.2 pass) and 31 points per game, scoring 55 total offensive touchdowns (49 rushing, six passing). Two of the Golden Hawks’ top five rushers return in Brian Donnelly and Ryan Whitely, who combined for 941 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 152 carries. Tight end P.J. Gallo, a Maryland recruit, also returns to help both as a blocker and as a receiver. Gallo caught nine passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Defensively, Gallo (83 tackles, 1.5 sacks); Hickey (77 tackles, 3 INT); Anthony Alimenti (44 tackles, 5 INT); Whitely (45 tackles); Jake Presley (25 tackles, 1 sack); Miller (20 tackles, 1 sack); and Cohen (65 tackles, 3.5 sacks) all return. Kicker Ben Solis nailed 47 PATs and six field goals, accounting for 65 of the team’s 403 points on the season. Can CRS make it two consecutive years of reaching the District 1 AAAA semifinals?
