Vikings look to bounce back in 2007

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, August 31, 2007

Alex Neutz will play in the defensive secondary and at wide receiver for the Grand Island Vikings. (photo by Larry Austin)

The 2006 football campaign was a down season, especially by Grand Island standards, and after a long off-season, the Vikings are ready to get back out on the field and take out their frustrations on the rest of the league. Inexperience and injuries were enough to slow the Vikings in a tough Class A North last season. Grand Island wound up 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the division, but the Vikes struggled down the stretch, losing four straight and five of their last six games. “When you’re not successful, you try and figure out why,” said Grand Island coach Dean Santorio. “I think maybe with all of the injuries we had, along with the bad weather in the second half of the season, we lost our focus a little bit. But now we have our goals firmly in mind and we’re going to play good, hard-nosed football. The rest will take care of itself.” The Vikings have two experienced varsity quarterbacks coming back. Senior Matt Klock started last season and passed for 265 yards and one touchdown before suffering a broken leg halfway through the campaign. Junior Joe Oliverio stepped in and threw for 636 yards and three scores. Santorio loves the depth and says that both will play, although Klock is the starter. There’s a good mix of youth and experience at running back. Seniors Alex Webb and Mike Martinic return at the tailback, joined by junior Eddie Weiser from last year’s 6-2 junior varsity team. Senior Justin Raiser returns at fullback, and junior Paul Chiaravalle moves up to join him.

At receiver, junior Alex Neutz returns, as does senior Joe Tanbakuchi, although the latter missed most of last season with an injury. Junior Lance Robinson is another graduate of the JV team, and he also figures heavily in the passing game

The key is the offensive line, and the Vikings welcome back four returning players, including a pair of starters in seniors Christian Nestark and Tim Boorady. Fellow seniors Justin Vanderbrook and Shawn Vanderbrook were reserves last year but saw plenty of time on a unit that was ravaged by injuries. Junior Greg Feathers moves up from the JV to round out the line.

At tight end, senior Greg Stephan is back and junior Chris Podlucky also will play.

On defense, ends Nick Tomkins and Ryan Harnden both return, and some combination of Feathers, Podlucky, Stephan and Adam Helman round out the line.

Nestark and Webb are returning starters at linebacker, joined by Weiser. The secondary features Neutz, Robinson, Martinic, Tanbakuchi and senior Ed Mallwitz.

The schedule-makers did the Vikings no favors this year. Grand Island opens the season at Clarence, a Class AA finalist last season. The Vikes then go to division rival Sweet Home, one of the favorites to win A North this season.

“Clarence and Sweet Home are two excellent teams, so we should see pretty early where we’re at,” Santorio said. “The season is only eight games, so it’s really important to get off to a good start. And we feel like we’re capable of winning some games.”

Grand Island Vikings 2007 Varsity Football Schedule

•Saturday, Sept. 1, Grand Island at Clarence, 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Sept. 8, Grand Island at Sweet Home, 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Sept. 15, Kenmore East at Grand Island, 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Sept. 22, Lewiston-Porter at Grand Island, 2 p.m.
•Friday, Sept. 28, Grand Island at Albion, 7:30 p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 6, Williamsville South at Grand Island, 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 13, Starpoint at Grand Island, 2 p.m.
•Saturday, Oct. 20, Grand Island at Williamsville East, 2 p.m.