Bulldogs for the Ages

August 7, 2006

 

 

Well, I like to hear myself type, so I thought this could maybe be a good conversation starter. I pick here my choices for “alltime” (yeah, right) best Bulldogs. I laugh because being 33 years old I have not come close to seeing all the best boys, I’m sure. In fact, I’ll say right now, these picks are pretty much based on the late 80’s till the present. I can remember somewhat back to the early 80’s, but I didn’t know quite as much what to look for back then. Another important point to note is that the term “best” is impossible to define. What I will do then will be to pick the players I would most want on my team. Maybe another player is more talented, succeeded in college, whatever. Doesn’t mean he’s what I’d want to have in my starting lineup on DK Field. So, all in the name of fun, here goes…..

 

(senior season is listed in parantheses)

 

Offense:

 

QB – Matt Sohns (1991) – tough, tough pick here, with the main alternates being Chris Clark and Warren Kelly. Clark was more poised, and Kelly could run better, but Sohns’s gun was impressive. Certainly had the most zip, and he wasn’t a slouch running either. Doesn’t hurt that he was my QB when I played…..

 

FB – Anthony Viafore (1998) – again a narrow pick over Brian Neale and Chris Demeo. This kid weighed 240 and was the fastest on the team! He was a bull at running as well.

 

TB – sorry, I have to be a copout and pick a tie – Brett Sohns (2001) and Rich Mokay (1995) – these two just have too many advantages that I can’t put one over the other. Mokay was faster and could make brutal lateral moves (he literally dropped one of Elmira Notre Dame’s best athletes to his knees on a cut). Sohns was a bit more versatile – only slightly slower than Mokay, only a sliver behind in lateral ability, and Brett had better ability to bull ahead after contact and a better ability to read the field and adjust his path and velocity on long runs. Both were outstanding receivers. We’ve had tons of other great ones (Brenton Hood, Dave Scheck, and Fran Pardee to name a few), but these two were the best in my eyes.

 

WR – Seth Haight (1991) – another from my era. Haight caught 988 yards worth of passes in his junior year, and was so hard to cover with his elite speed and jumping ability. He may have been my favorite player to watch alltime.

 

WR – Jason Pardee (1999) – Pardee didn’t have the speed or athleticism of Haight, but he made up for it with his aggression at catching the ball. Get the ball close and he would go and get it no matter where it was. His hands were also incredible.

 

TE – Greg Balcavage (1996) – Balcavage represents one of those kids you just want on your team no matter what the sport. He was big and strong and aggressive, and dominated both catching and blocking. He went on to displace a starter at Hartwick and win the spot as a freshman.

 

T – John Way (1990) – Way was not only big and strong, but just very very smart at the complexities of the Delhi offense.

 

T – Brian MacIntosh (1995) – MacIntosh was an instrumental part of an absolutely dominant rushing attack that lit Walton up for over 360 rushing yards.

 

G – Steve Flanders (1999) – Flanders was another outstanding example of a strong head for the game, and was also an outstanding leader.

 

G – Chris Hilson (1996) – Incredibly fast and incredibly strong, Hilson joined MacIntosh in building rushing dominance in the mid-90’s.

 

C – Bill Shaw (2001) – As a 4 year starter at center, Shaw spearheaded the 2001 line that was so dominant in the state playoffs.

 

Defense

 

DT – Cory Ackerly (1995) – Ackerly was the middle of a defense that allowed 3 TD’s total in 10 games. As a 4 year varsity player, Ackerly provided size and aggression to the middle of the field.

 

DT – Jeff Daye (2006) – Daye was part of an airtight middle of the field for the 2005 team.

 

DE – David Daye (2001) – Daye’s speed harassed opposing QB’s constantly. He was big enough to fight off blockers, and his outside containment was flawless.

 

DE – Matt Burkert (1995) – much like David Daye, Burkert’s speed made for a mismatch with the people he was lined up against, and he was practically unblockable, especially with his short-ish stature. He could run with the best QB’s and RB’s.

 

ILB – Cecil Davis (1991) – Davis fell into this position nearly by accident in 1990, and became a dominant player with his size and aggression.

 

ILB – Brian Neale (2001) – like Greg Balcavage, Neale was just one of those kids you desperately want to be on your side. Big, incredibly strong, and just so aggressive and hard-hitting, Neale would single-handedly change the face of a game.

 

OLB – Greg Balcavage (1996) – one of only 2 two-way picks in the whole thing, though a few others came close. Balcavage was tall enough to see what was going on, and big enough to tackle with authority.

 

OLB – Brooks McMurry (1996) – Interestingly both OLB’s played at the same time. McMurry was smaller than Balcavage, but was very fast, had a great head for the game, and was superb in dropping back into pass coverage.

 

DB – Tom Tuthill (2002) – I’m copping out a bit and picking 3 CB’s and no safety, since there is such a huge crop (honorable mention goes to Jason Daye, Rich Mokay, Karl Guy, and Mike Barnes). Tuthill made a habit of picking off the other team’s balls in 2001, setting a school record with 10 (though I thought that number was low). Much like Jason Pardee at WR, he was so aggressive at reacting to and going after the ball. He could shut down his half of the field from the passing game. Also an outstanding tackler.

 

DB – Jon Smith (2004) – Smith was nearly always the fastest player on the field, and with his good height, he could really shut quality receivers down. What got him this nomination, though, was his tackling ability, as he consistently brought down much larger players whenever asked, including multiple TD-saving tackles on Whitney Point’s 230 lb. Brian Soeffing.

 

DB – Brett Sohns – Sohns wins this nod due to his extremely physical play. Some of his hits in the secondary were absolutely brutal and violent, including one on Walton’s Jeff Shelton that caused a fumble and helped preserve Delhi’s lead at the time.

 

There you have it folks. Give me these kids and I’ll show you a real team. Sorry to those I’ve overlooked or whatever. I’d love to see DK’s list on this one. Enjoy, and let me know if you have any comments or think I’m way off base…..