OBSERVER Photo by Christian Storms Pictured from left to right are three of the Fredonia running backs, Dominic Gullo, Joey Gullo and Dalton Gardner.

Most students dread summer vacation ending, but the Fredonia Hillbillies football team has been looking forward to it, because it signals the start of the football season. The Hillbillies will get their first look at the Section VI Class C South division when they host Gowanda/Pine Valley tonight.

This season there will be a lot of new things for the Fredonia football team — new league, new starting quarterback and new starting running back.

The Hillbillies first look in Class C South will be against Gowanda/Pine Valley.

“I don’t know a lot,” Fredonia head coach Greg Sherlock said about his knowledge of the Class C South division. “We’re so new to this division, all we have is tape and we have a few games from last year.”

What Coach Sherlock does know headed into the game is that the Panthers try to run a power offense and that their team has changed a lot from last year. Similar to the Panthers, Fredonia has a lot of turnover from last year and expects players to step up.

“A lot of learning,” Coach Sherlock said about the lead-up to week one. “It’s the first time for jayvees to learn system and prepare for a game week. It’s a learning experience at the beginning of the year.”

Fredonia’s quarterback, Nick Whitfield Jr. will be among the first year varsity players, but he doesn’t show the signs most rookies do.

“He did a great job in the scrimmage,” Coach Sherlock said of Whitfield. “He seemed comfortable, he seems to be beyond his years. He doesnt play like he’s a sophomore.”

After his strong performance in last week’s scrimmage, Whitfield is expected to stay calm and poised.

“My expectation for him is just to stay calm and lead the offense,” Coach Sherlock added. “I expect as much out of him as I have any quarterback before. I also feel great with our backup Jake Helmer, I think either way we’re fine.”

At the running back position, Fredonia will go with either Dalton Gardner or Dom Gullo.

“Either Dalton Gardner or Dom Gullo, all depending on which set we’re in,” Coach Sherlock said who would be the Hillbillies primary running back. “We’ve got four or five kids running out of the back field.”

The key to the quarterback and running back finding success will rely on the offensive line’s performance.

“I hope that the majority of the time we’re supposed to block who we’re blocking and make reads off of that,” Coach Sherlock said about his line. “We gotta block well enough to run, I think we can pass the ball. We have the athletes to run an open offense. We’ll probably stick to what we’re doing well.”

Fredonia brings back Alex Christy as a starter on both the offensive and defensive line and expects Joe Gullo III among other returners to step up for a great year.

“Gullo kind of quarterbacks the whole line,” stated Sherlock. “It’s nice having someone who can quarterback that line. I know we dont have a lot of starters coming back, but we have a lot of kids who had a lot of playing time last year.”

According to Coach Sherlock, his team certainly has the talent to be successful and it will come down to if the coaching staff has prepared them well enough.

“We’re learning this league,” stated Coach Sherlock. “And I’m hoping we’re good enough coaches to prepare them for this league. I hope we prepared these kids well enough. If we’re struggling then that’s on us as coaches, but we’re excited.”

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