Football prepares for “exciting” 2012 campaign
Senior linebacker Larry DelViscio will be the leader of the Bullets’ defense in 2012. (Photo by David Sinclair)
By Pete Barrett, Staff Writer
Barry Streeter, head coach of the Bullets football team, said the word: “excited” 17 times at the podium at the Centennial Conference Media Day in early August – and with his fast paced offense and improved defense he expects big things from his team in 2012.
“On the offensive side, we return all our skilled position players besides one of our inside receivers,” Streeter said at the press conference.
That includes QB Kody Smith, RB Ted Delia and WR’s Kyle Davis and Aiden Twer, who were among the statistical top performers in the conference in each of their respective positions.
Last season, the Bullets uptempo spread-wing offense led the conference in rushing yards per game (223.9), and yards per rush (4.7), and ranked 2nd in points-per-game (33.6) and yards per game (461.)
“Our kids believe in the offense. They think we are going to score every time we have possession of the football,” Streeter said.
The other side of the ball has been the extreme opposite. “From a defensive standpoint, we have been maligned for the last several years,” Streeter said.
Gettysburg allowed 56 points to Susquehanna, 57 to Lebanon Valley, and 83 to Johns Hopkins. The Bullets let up an average of 35.3 points-per-game, the worst in the conference.
But Streeter and his staff are confident the returning defensive players like DL Joe Ventresca, DE Chris Nolan, LB Larry DelViscio, and SS Mark Covington will lead a strong defensive effort this fall.
“I am extremely excited about our defense and the production we are going to have,” Streeter said.
The path to the playoff push has already begun. Streeter called the Bullets spring program the most productive ever during his tenure at Gettysburg. Training camp is now underway and the team now includes 45 new recruits, who will be expected to compete right away.
The Bullets open their season on Sept. 1 as they host Misericordia University, who will be playing their first ever Varsity football game. The Bullets first conference game is at Ursinus College the following Saturday.
“No one is safe in the conference, every game is a battle,” Streeter said. The Bullets won six of those battles last season. This year, they have been ranked 4th in the pre-season conference poll.
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