2011 Laurel Spartans’ Football Preview
Head Coach: Jeff Holzhauser
2010 Record: 3-5, 4-5
Conference/Finish: Midwestern/6th Place
2010 Points Scored Per Game (Area Rank): 18.6 (42nd)
2010 Points Allowed Per Game (Area Rank): 24.6 (40th)
Playoff History Since 2000
District Appearances: 6
District Playoff Record: 2-6
District Championships: None
2011 Schedule
September 2 – at Aliquippa, 7:30 p.m.
September 9 – at Jeannette, 7:30 p.m.
September 16 – Beaver Falls, 7:30 p.m.
September 23 – at Riverside, 7:30 p.m.
September 30 – at Freedom, 7:30 p.m.
October 7 – New Brighton, 7:30 p.m.
October 14 – Ellwood City, 7:30 p.m.
October 21 – at Beaver, 7:30 p.m.
October 28 – Mohawk, 7:30 p.m.
Keep an Eye on: Quarterback Brandon Ritchie started last year as a sophomore.
Jones will be the Workhorse once again
The Spartans will try to rebound from last year’s 4-5 season after a 2009 campaign which saw Laurel notch double-digit victories (10-2). Laurel begins their second year in the Midwestern Conference. “The quality of the teams in this conference (from Aliquippa and Beaver Falls), we know we will need to take each game at a time,” says head coach Jeff Holzhauser. “(The kids) have to take the field (with) confidence.” Last year, the Spartans dropped a heart breaker in week seven at Ellwood City, 14-13, which caused the green and white to miss the WPIAL post-season.
Among Laurel’s 40 players in camp, most have varsity playing experience as is evident by the eight starters which return on offense and 7 on defense. Coach Holzhauser is impressed by the way his seven seniors have taken to their roles this summer. “They’re like coaches on the field. They’re good positive role models that are able to build good character in (the younger kids).”
One player who the team will lean on is senior tailback Dylan Jones. Number 26 has rushed for over 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons. Last year, Dylan topped the 1,200 yard mark (1286). Quarterback Brandon Ritchie started as a sophomore last fall. “He got better as the year went on,” indicated Holzhauser. “It seems like he’s been here (at quarterback for) a long time.” With most of the offensive line returning, Ritchie and Jones are set to have another big year offensively. Senior Kaleb Kingston (6’6, 325-pounds) is back for his final season as a Spartan.
Laurel opens the 2011 season on Friday, September 2 when they travel to “The Pit” to take on the Aliquippa Quips.
