Coach Dave Lutte stated Dieruff soccer has three objectives yearly, nevertheless it has added a fourth for 2022.
“No. 1 objective is to beat Allen; No. 2 is to make districts; No. 3 is to have a profitable file and this yr, we now have a fourth objective,” he stated. “That fourth objective is to keep away from the issues that maintain us off the sphere. Final yr we needed to throw a number of children off the staff and droop a number of others for a number of video games, all key starters. We went into two [games] lacking six or seven starters. These had been winnable video games. I’d argue that had we had all people we must always have had, we might have completed 6-4.”
As an alternative, Dieruff completed 3-6, 3-4 within the EPC North with its recreation in opposition to Pocono Mountain East canceled by COVID-19 issues.
This yr, the Huskies are striving for higher outcomes on and off the sphere as they push for this system’s first profitable season since 2002 and first District 11 postseason berth since 1997.
They graduated six of its seven prime scorers from final yr, together with quarterback Jovan Rodriguez, who threw for 1,521 yards which was second-best within the EPC North. One other key graduate is Christopher Promote who caught 32 passes for 708 yards and 6 scores and Xavier Rodriguez, who had 20 receptions for 336 yards and three TDs.
However Lutte, who has gone 6-18 in three seasons together with a restricted five-game schedule in 2020, is extra optimistic than ever.
“I’d say in my 4 years right here we simply had the very best warmth acclimatization interval we’ve ever had,” Lutte stated. “At this level, after 4 years, the youngsters know the expectations and that is the primary yr that we actually didn’t have to spend so much of time on set up and steps. We type of rolled proper after into it. We had been able to play a recreation at mid-week.”
Dieruff has chosen Xion Chapman, who was an all-EPC North guard final season, as one in all its captains. Different captains embody junior Jonas Robles, an out of doors linebacker and large receiver, and two-way lineman Christopher Badillo.
When it comes to skill-position gamers, search for Darius Rivera to emerge as a prime receiver. Lutte believes Noah Ozorio, who missed final season as a consequence of COVID-19, to be among the best athletes within the EPC North and is massive on Mekhi Ashby, who scored two touchdowns final yr as a sophomore.
The quarterback will probably be Jordey Guzman, a 6-foot-3 senior, who has a robust arm and turn-the-corner velocity however continues to be making strides studying the offense.
“He was our largest query mark coming into the offseason together with line depth,” Lutte stated. “Jordey has grabbed the quarterback place, so I’m now not nervous about that. We’re nonetheless nervous about line depth although we now have three returning starters.”
Lutte stated Dieruff has 46 children on the staff in grades 10-12 and about 40 on the freshman staff.
He complimented the Allentown Faculty District and the Dieruff administration for assigning educational academics to be educational coaches by means of the AthLife Basis. The educational coaches will keep on prime of the youngsters and ensure they’re getting the work achieved within the classroom as nicely on the sphere.
“Kudos to the district for doing that as a result of that may assist and we now have a number of coaches within the constructing which can also be massive,” Lutte stated. “That’s our largest factor — staying on the sphere and avoiding educational and behavioral points. If we will try this, we now have sufficient expertise to have a profitable season.”
1. Friday night time lights. Dieruff can have a number of particular nights this season. Its recreation in opposition to Nice Valley on Sept. 16 will function a Army Appreciation Night time. “Now we have particular uniforms for the event that we received’t reveal till that night time and we’re coordinating with the Air Power ROTC and a few native army models and one Dieruff graduate who’s presently serving will probably be honored,” Lutte stated. “The Dieruff college students may also take part in a black out.” As well as at Homecoming on Oct. 7, the1992 Jap Pennsylvania Convention champs will probably be honored.
2. Teaching carousel. Lutte has a number of new additions. Joe Spitale who has been a head coach at Palisades and Southern Lehigh and was most just lately an assistant at Govt Training, has joined the workers, and Derek Weedling, who had been with John Toman at Southern Lehigh, has additionally come aboard. Aaron West, son of Liberty Excessive legend Warren West and a member of the Hurricanes 2008 state championship staff, has joined the workers, as has former Dieruff participant and coach Matt Burch and former Wilson assistant Mike Lengthy.
3. Bus schedule. Dieruff stays the one EPC program to need to bus children to observe, whether or not it’s about two miles away to Keck Park on the East Aspect or throughout city to J. Birney Crum Stadium. “Now we have to get on a bus day by day even throughout warmth acclimatization week,” Lutte stated. “We go to Dieruff, get on a bus and are available to Keck Park after which return to Dieruff for 2 hours for lunch after which get again on a bus and exit to J. Birney Crum Stadium. Generally there are snafus with the buses. I make two observe schedules — one with the bus right here, and one other if the bus isn’t right here.” Lutte stated it’s not straightforward and would favor to observe someplace near the college, however stated his children have adjusted to it.
All recreation instances are 7 p.m. besides the place famous
Scrimmage
Aug. 20: Bangor, 6 p.m.
Aug. 26: Nazareth
Sept. 2: at East Stroudsburg South
Sept. 9: at Poc. Mt. West
Sept. 16: Nice Valley
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Sept. 23: at Stroudsburg
Oct. 1: Allentown CCHS
Oct. 7: Pocono Mt. East
Oct. 14: at East Stroudsburg North
Oct. 21: Northampton
Oct. 29: at Allen, 1:30 p.m.
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