All kinds of new things going on at Conestoga Valley this season. For starters, a new head coach, longtime Buckskins’ assistant Mark Pieters, who takes over the reins. His first order of business as the Buckskins’ leader: Install a new offensive scheme and a new defensive scheme. So it’s been a busy camp season for Pieters, his staff and his players. How will the new schemes pan out? Below is the Bucks’ Countdown to Kickoff preview.
SCHOOL NAME: Conestoga Valley Buckskins
COACH: Mark Pieters
LAST YEAR: 3-7 overall, 3-4 in L-L Section 2
LAST 5 YEARS: 20-33
RETURNING STARTERS: 5 on offense; 5 on defense
KEY PLAYERS: RB-DB Addison Hurst; RB-DB Jamaar Parker; RB-DB Justus Norman; RB-DB Vincent Maldonado; TE-LB Jake Heikenen; TE-DT Orland Lopez; RB-DT John Cardina; FB-LB Joel Lopez; QB Brendon Martin; OL-LB Colin Hunt.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: Big changes in Buckskin Country, where Pieters, a longtime CV assistant and defensive specialist in his first season as head coach, installed a “Wing-T” set this summer, he said during camp, because it fits his returning personnel best. Looks like the triggerman will be QB Martin, who took some snaps last year, throwing for 114 yards in the Bucks’ one-back, ground-and-pound set under former coach Tom Nichols. Not a ton back in the trenches — Hunt should anchor that group, plus TEs Heikenen and Jake Lopez — so scatbacks Norman (318 yards, 2 TD last year), Parker and Hurst will be running behind some inexperienced kids at the outset.
{% embed_image 'http://hssn-media.advance.net/PennLive.com/news/76733d9398dd872d426c31878a5fee62/13234736-standard.jpg' %}DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: As mentioned, Pieters is a D guru, so the Bucks should be ahead of the game on this side of the ball. One change: Pieters junked his “4-3” scheme and he’ll go with a “4-2-5” or “3-3-5 Stack” look, depending which personnel are on the field. The Bucks will always have a nickel back on the field, with Dalton Martin spearheading that group from his free safety spot. Cover-men Parker (26 tackles, 3 pass break-ups) and Norman (31 tackles, 2 pass break-ups) are steady, and DT Orlando Lopez is the team’s returning leading tackler (12 stops, 4 ½ sacks).
BIGGEST GAME: August 30 vs. Cedar Cliff. Pieters and his new offensive and defensive schemes make their debut against former Bucks’ coach Jim Cantafio, who will be making a homecoming with his Colts to Witmer. Cantafio and his powerhouse 1985 CV team will be honored on that night.
MORE CONESTOGA VALLEY BUCKSKINS: 2013 SCHEDULE
PHOTOS: OPENING DAY OF CAMP AROUND THE L-L LEAGUE
L-L LEAGUE SCRIMMAGE SCHEDULES
REINHART’S CRYSTAL BALL: The Bucks, making their last Section 2 run before heading up to Section 1 in 2014, had a ton to digest during summer drills and the start of camp. Learning a new offense is never easy, especially the intricacies of blocking and making reads in the “Wing-T”. Same for the defense, which is also adjusting to a new look. The positive is that the Bucks are getting plenty of good one-on-one teaching. The trick now is getting the new schemes down pat and making plays under the lights on a Friday night. A lot of new kids here so I’m sensing some baby steps for the Bucks, with the D ahead of the O at the outset. But when all this new stuff clicks, CV could be a handful.
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