Daily improvement, consistency are keys to success for Ellwood City

By: James Dotson
Monday, August 19, 2019 | 9:22 PM

1548495_web1_ptr-EllwoodCity-081819 — James Dotson | For the Tribune-Review

Ellwood City football players warm up during practice Aug. 13, 2019.

Four head coaches in four seasons can certainly lead to a lot of inconsistencies in a program.

Joe Lamenza hopes he’s the right man for the job.

The 1996 Ellwood City graduate was hired in December to coach his alma mater. The veteran coach has eight years of head coaching experience across the WPIAL, as well as time as an assistant at Robert Morris. For Lamenza, while it’s been fun to reconnect with families in the area, he’s trying to downplay the return as much as he can.

“I try not to get caught up in that nostalgia,” Lamenza said, “because that doesn’t help us win or anything like that. But, personally, it’s been good.”

It’s been difficult for the Wolverines to find much stability with the changes in the coaching staff. Whether it be in the playbook, the practice schedule, or even just in discipline around the locker room, step one for Lamenza and his staff was to institute their foundation.

“Our big thing was just establishing consistency of routines,” Lamenza said. “These kids have started over every single year, so that’s been a big challenge.”

One of the best ways to set up some of that consistency is at the quarterback position, where junior Ryan Gibbons will be again this season. He threw for 630 yards and a pair of touchdowns during his sophomore campaign, and Lamenza couldn’t find a better foundation to begin with a new offense.

“He’s done everything that we’ve asked him,” he said. “In terms of learning a new system, he’s been great.”

Lamenza also has been impressed with the play of his offensive line throughout the summer. Juniors Cam Reynolds, Rodney Grimes and Andy Vrabel will be called upon to solidify the trenches.

“(The offensive line) is turning into a bright spot,” Lamenza said. “They’re really starting to come together as a unit.”

The skill positions still have a lot of possibilities, including a likely running-back-by-committee after losing the top two rushers from a season ago. However, even with only 30 players on the roster, good competition at those positions is a positive for the Wolverines.

“There were a lot of kids last year who weren’t necessarily full-time starters, but they saw a lot of playing time,” Lamenza said. “A lot of our current 10th graders … played quite a lot last year.

“There are a lot of question marks. We don’t have a big roster, but we do have some competition in some spots.”

With only three seniors on the roster, Lamenza knows the underclassmen will have to play a pivotal role for an Ellwood City team that has not been to the postseason since 2011.

Senior nose guard Noah Bunney figures to be a big influence on the defensive front. Lamenza also credited Tyler Powell, Ashton Wilson and Peyton O’Brien with great camps for the Wolverines over the summer and into the start of the season.

“It’s been positive. I feel like we have gotten better every day throughout the summer,” Lamenza said. “The attendance in the summer program was awesome, maybe the best I’ve ever had as a coach.”

Ellwood City begins the season with nonconference games against Beaver Falls and at Serra Catholic. The Wolverines start MAC play in Week 2 when they host New Brighton. Between now and then, Lamenza and his staff have a simple message for their players in terms of finding success.

“We just need to get a little bit better every day,” he said. “Win or lose, right or wrong, good or bad, we just have to focus on getting better.”

Schedule

Coach: Joe Lamenza

2018 record: 3-7, 2-5

All-time record: 430-547-44

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23, Beaver Falls, 7

8.30, at Serra Catholic, 7

9.6, New Brighton*, 7

9.13, Neshannock*, 7

9.20, at Freedom*, 7

9.27, Western Beaver*, 7