A A ssbb sss | PAGE FOURTEEN an WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1985 By JOHN F. KILDUFF Staff Writer When the Lake-Lehman Black Knights dropped from Division I to Division II of the Wyoming Valley Football Conference last year, many loyal fans thought it was a mistake. Division II football was for the weaker teams of the Wyoming Valley Conference, not for Lake- Lehman. : Black Knight Coach Richard Gorgone, however, feels the move was a positive one and that this year will be the first time in many years that the football schedule is fair to Lake Lehman. “This year’s schedule is very fair to Lake-Lehman,” said Gorgone. “I think we can do very well in the Division II conference.” According to Gorgone, years past have pitted power- house Division I schools with large student bodies against smaller districts like Lake Lehman. The larger the district, the tougher for schools the size of Lake- Lehman to compete. “In years past, I had some great Lake-Lehman football teams with 4-5 and 5-7 losing records,” said Gorgone. “And that was simply because those teams played tough Division I teams. Year in and year out the conference (Division I) was not fair,” said Gorgone. “This year is a whole different story.” Gorgone said most of the Division II teams will be tough to handle, especially Meyers, Crestwood and Bishop Hoban, who reportedly have large player turn- outs. “Dallas should be a good game this year,” Gorgone said. “Ted Jackson (Dallas head coach) is a good coach and he will undoubtedly have his kids playing well.” Despite what appears to be a balanced Division II Conference, Gorgone said he cannot afford to look ahead. ‘ “We intend to take one game at a time,” said Gorgone. “We open with Carbondale on August 31 and we have to beat them. When we beat them (Carbondale) then we will be OK. “We cannot look forward to Dallas,” Gorgone said. “They are always a tough game and an exciting one but we cannot think about them now.” In order to finish near the top of the Division II Conference this year, Gorgone said his team will have to believe in themselves and try not to beat themselves with mistakes. “If our kids will believe in us (team) ,then we will be there (near the top),” said Gorgone. ‘“The talent is there, the team unity is there and combining these two we should be near the top.” “We also must try not to beat outselves,’’” Gorgone said. “If we can keep the mistakes to a minimum, then we will be tough.” Gorgone believes a major contributing factor to this season will be the production of his junior and sopho- Best Wishes To All The Area Teams For A Successful Season a. (NAPA) w— Dallas allas Post/Ed Campbell more players. “We have a great group of juniors and sophomores this season,” said Gorgone. “We definitely have a good crop of freshmen players, also. I really believe they (underclassmen) are going to be winners in the future,” Gorgone said. The underclassmen are very important, Gorgone said, because he believes that players should not be required to play both ways (offense and defense). “We look to play a lot of freshman ball-players,” Gorgone said. “What we (coaching staff) is that the kids cannot and should not go both ways.” Gorgone said by playing most of his underclassmen he gives his starters a much needed rest and affords the younger players valuable playing time. “It is good to give all your players a look,” said Gorgone. “That way everyone is happy and you do not lose ballplayers.”’ Regardless of the outcome of the 1985-86 Lake-Lehman Black Knight season, coach Gorgone feels the future looks bright and he hopes to finish well this season for the sake of his seniors. “I think we have begun to build a solid future for Lake-Lehman football,” said Gorgone. “Our recruiting has been successful and we have a good group of players for the future. “However, we have not and will not give up on this season,” Gorgone continued. “I owe that much to my seniors and they owe it to themselves.”
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