web1_MoveInMiseri.jpg

Our Opinion: College students, take seriously your safety on campus and in community

web1_TTL082516uofs.shakespeare.jpg

Scranton University celebrates Shakespeare’s 400th Anniversary

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; That close. Two words that summed up Coughlin&#8217;s season in 2015.</p><p>The Crusaders dominated Berwick in the District 2 Class 3A semifinals last year everywhere but the scoreboard. Final &#8212; Berwick 7, Coughlin 6.</p><p>The disappointing ending obscured the fact that Coughlin was making its ninth consecutive appearance in the postseason.</p><p>&#8220;What are you going to do?&#8221; Coughlin coach Ciro Cinti said. &#8220;You hold Berwick to no touchdowns offensively and you lose the game. Our defense by the end of the season played very well. They scored on an interception for a touchdown and that was the difference. Hopefully, we can take some of that momentum with us.&#8221;</p><p>A 10th trip to the postseason looks promising despite some key losses to graduation.</p><p>Coughlin is among 11 teams now in Class 4A under the PIAA&#8217;s new six classifications. Eight teams make the D2-4A playoffs, so it&#8217;s hard to imagine the Crusaders falling so far off the table that they don&#8217;t make the postseason.</p><p>Still, Coughlin is going to need several new faces to step up to make a realistic run at a district championship.</p><p><strong>ON OFFENSE</strong></p><p>Gone is quarterback Jacob Soller, a two-year starter and a Times Leader All-WVC selection. He was able to beat defenses with his legs and arm.</p><p>Senior Kevin Kozerski and juniors Josh Brown and Matt Zalaffi are the candidates to take over behind center. None of them has thrown a varsity pass.</p><p>The offense, though, will get a big boost by the return of a healthy Jacob Cole at running back. Cole was on his way to a 1,000-yard rushing season with 474 yards through four games. He missed the fifth game with an injury and then was sidelined for the season in Week 6 when he broke his collarbone returning an interception against Williamsport.</p><p>Jervone Young, who started as a freshman, is back at fullback.</p><p>The line has a veteran presence starting with guard Ryan Solt, the son of former NFL lineman Ron Solt and a Division I recruit. The tackle spots are strong as well with P.J. Marinko and Nyheem Kenzakoski back. Devon Ortolani is penciled in at the other guard position with the center job up for grabs.</p><p>Junior wide receiver Vincent Todd earned more playing time as the 2015 season wore on. He showed big-play ability, especially in the return game with two kickoff returns for touchdowns.</p><p>&#8220;He&#8217;s a great overall athlete,&#8221; Cinti said. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to be one of the best in the league. Great kid.&#8221;</p><p>The rest of the receiving group &#8212; wideouts Melvin Robinson and Umar Hollis and tight ends Malik Diop and Dom Flippen &#8212; will need some seasoning.</p><p>&#8220;This year with our skill kids we still feel we can have a spread offense,&#8221; Cinti said. &#8220;We might not get the same production from the quarterback position. &#8230; But I think we have enough power up front to go to a power-type offense, too.&#8221;</p><p><strong>ON DEFENSE</strong></p><p>Coughlin graduated its five top tacklers and that&#8217;s left the linebacking group a little barren of experience.</p><p>Cole was starting until the injury. Young, Diop, Taylor Chronowski and Eric Sovan saw the field a bit last season.</p><p>&#8220;Last year as a sophomore he was our best linebacker until he got hurt,&#8221; Cinti said of Cole. &#8220;The kid just has a nose for the football.&#8221;</p><p>The front should be strong with all four starters returning in Solt, Kenzakoski, Ortolani and Marinko. Solt had 23 tackles for loss in 2015 to pace the team. Marinko had 49 tackles, most of anybody back. Flippen and Vance Cullen will rotate in.</p><p>The secondary was up in the air entering camp, but Todd, Robinson, Kozerski, Jordan Austin and Pat Strouse all figured to get playing time.</p><p><strong>OUTLOOK</strong></p><p>Coughlin will need to mature quickly &#8212; like in Week 1 &#8212; to set the tone for the season. That will be a difficult task.</p><p>&#8220;The season is hellish to start,&#8221; Cinti said. &#8220;You open up with Dallas away and then you have your defending district champ Scranton Prep.&#8221;</p><p>Then after playing Crestwood, a team expected to be improved after an injury-plagued season, the Crusaders are on the road for three consecutive games that include long rides to Berwick and Honesdale.</p><p>This group, though, appears capable of overcoming most obstacles and should be playing Week 11.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL081616FallSportsOpen_spt_1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Coughlin lineman Devon Ortolani runs through a blocking drill during football practice in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL081616FallSportsOpen_spt_1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Coughlin lineman Devon Ortolani runs through a blocking drill during football practice in Plains Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL081616FallSportsOpen_spt_3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Coughlin&#8217;s Jake Cole, right, goes through a running drill during practice in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL081616FallSportsOpen_spt_3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Coughlin&#8217;s Jake Cole, right, goes through a running drill during practice in Plains Township. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_6-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ciro Cinti </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_6-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Ciro Cinti </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ryan Solt </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_1-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Ryan Solt </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">P.J. Marinko </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_2-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>P.J. Marinko </caption4><photoCredit4>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Devon Ortolani </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_3-1.jpg</photo5><caption5>Devon Ortolani </caption5><photoCredit5>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Vincent Todd </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_4-1.jpg</photo6><caption6>Vincent Todd </caption6><photoCredit6>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jake Cole </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_WVCMediaDay-Coughlin_5-1.jpg</photo7><caption7>Jake Cole </caption7><photoCredit7>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit7></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</p></shirttailMeta></div>

2016 WVC Football Preview: Coughlin eyes 10th consecutive playoff appearance