Woodland running back Sean McAllen video highlights courtesy of hudl.
Vitals
- Coach: Chris Anderson (7th year [first since 2007], 49-21)
- Conference: NVL Iron
- Playoff Class: S (328 boys enrollment)
- Home: Woodland football field, Beacon Falls
- 2014 Record: 4-7 (1-3 NVL Copper)
- 2015 Kickoff: Sept. 11, vs. Oxford, 6:30 p.m.
- Captains: Sean McAllen, Coby Vaccarelli
- Team website: MaxPreps
Top players
- Sean McAllen, 5-10, 190, Sr., RB
- Coby Vaccarelli, 5-9, 190, Sr., LB
- Dave Bobbie, 5-10, 190, Sr., RB
- Zach Bedryczuk, 5-7, 155, Fr., QB
- Jon Scirpo, 6-2, 185, Sr., WR
- Ben Nuss, 5-9, 175, So., RB
- Cody Doyle, 6-0, 190, Jr., LB
Key losses
QB Mike Kenney; WR/FS Joe Poeta; C Alex Varhol; CB Pat Hale; LB Jake Laliberte; T/NG Max McSperrin; T/NG Dylan Fidalgo
Outlook
Woodland’s Sean McAllen
The biggest news in the offseason out of Woodland was the rehire of Anderson, who returns for his second stint with the Hawks. Anderson started the program in 2002, and quickly turned Woodland into a state power. Under Anderson, the Hawks won the Class SS state title in 2004 and 2005 and again qualified for the playoffs in 2007. He enters this season with a career record of 49-21. Anderson takes over for Tim Phipps, who coached at Woodland for one season before taking the head coach position at Hopkins.
After going 4-7 last season, the Hawks appear to be in rebuilding mode again. Woodland must replace its entire offensive and defensive lines. Although it seems like a tall order to bring the program back to prominence, Anderson is a proven winner and he should have the Hawks in contention sooner rather than later.
Despite some graduation losses, Woodland returns a slew of talented skill players, including McAllen, a two-year starter who rushed 242 times for 1,406 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior. With 2,992 career yards, McAllen needs about 600 yards to break the school’s career rushing record, currently held by former standout Jack DeBiase.
Bobbie should be another threat out of the backfield. Bobbie gained 474 yards on 97 carries and scored four touchdowns last season. Nuss is expected to see some carries this season, while Scirpo is poised to be the team’s top receiving.
The Hawks are expected to start Bedryczuk, a freshman, at quarterback. He’ll likely experience some growing pains, but he should get more comfortable with the offense as the season progresses.
Vaccarelli (57 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions), McAllen (31 tackles, four sacks, three interceptions) and Bobbie (57 tackles, three sacks) all return on defense.
Three of Woodland’s first four games are against Iron Division opponents. The Hawks do not play Valley rivals Ansonia or Derby.
2015 Schedule
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| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| Sept. 11 | vs. Oxford* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 18 | vs. Torrington** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 25 | at Wolcott** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 2 | vs. Watertown** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 9 | at Holy Cross* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 16 | BYE | |
| Oct. 24 | at Sacred Heart/Kaynor Tech* | 10:30 a.m. |
| Oct. 30 | vs. Wilby* | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 6 | vs. Naugatuck** | 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov. 13 | at Kennedy* | 7 p.m. |
| Nov. 20 | BYE | |
| Nov. 25 | at Seymour* | 6 p.m. |
*Conference game
**Division game