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Schools

Archbishop Carroll Looking Forward With A New Coach

Joe Powell takes over as head coach of the Patriots after having success at Wood.

Joe Powell knows what’s ahead of him, as does everyone else in the Philadelphia Catholic League Class AAA Division— playing the national-level powerhouse Archbishop Wood.

Compounding that headache of headaches is the position Powell finds himself in—keeping 's program competitive while rebuilding.

Powell should know a thing or two about Wood. He coached there and won two Philadelphia Catholic League Blue Division titles for the Vikings. He was the mad scientist that created that concoction. Now Powell finds himself trying to do the same in his first year at Carroll.

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“Our goal is keep focusing on the positives and we want to make sure that we get better each week,” Powell said. “We know what’s down the road, with Wood, [Cardinal] O’Hara and [Monsignor] Bonner in our last three games. We think we can be good enough in weeks seven, eight, and nine. There are some realistic goals. For now, we need to identify our strengths and put people in the right spots.

“They work hard and I think we have a lot of skill kids. I think our speed will be one of our best attributes, and to compete against teams like Wood and O’Hara, we don’t have their size. We can make up for that with speed.”

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That will start with senior quarterback Jalal Timmons. He can sting opponents with the pass or on his feet.

“And he’s left-handed, in the Michael Vick mold,” Powell said. “We’re still working on how many guys that will play both ways, and that could be as many as six or eight guys. Our biggest concern is identifying our offensive and defensive lines and shutting down the run on defense. Depth will be a concern. Like everyone, if we get banged up, we may be forced to play a sophomore that might be ready.”

Powell will turn to senior Bill Ghaul to anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Look for senior Kevin McLaughlin to play a big role at tight end and on the defensive line, and junior Sage Stephenson to be integral to the Patriots’ running game at fullback.

“We want to build a family atmosphere here and build something these seniors can look back and be proud of,” Powell said. “We’ll focus on the things we can control and represent Archbishop Carroll the best way we can.”

Carroll may very well be a much better football team when it enters the grinder part of the schedule in October. But it may take Powell a season or two to get the Patriots where they can evenly compete with the Woods, O’Haras and Bonners.

 

Archbishop Carroll Fact Box

Coach: Joe Powell (first season).

Last year: 4-6 overall; first-round playoff loss to Archbishop Wood in Class AAA Catholic League playoffs

Key players: Jalal Timmons (Sr. 5-foot-10, 175, QB); Bill Ghaul (Sr. 5-foot-11, 225, OL/DL); Kevin McLaughlin (Sr. 6-foot-1, 190, DB/TE), Sage Stephenson (Jr. 5-foot-10, 190, LB/FB).

Games to watch: At Radnor 9/2, Archbishop Wood 10/14, at Cardinal O’Hara 10/23, Monsignor Bonner 10/28.

Archbishop Carroll Schedule (home games played at Radnor)

Sept. 2         at Radnor 7:30 pm

Sept. 9         at Conwell Egan Catholic 7:00 pm

Sept. 16       at Bishop McDevitt 7:00 pm

Sept. 23       Archbishop Ryan 7:30 pm

Sept. 30       at Academy Park 7:00 pm

Oct. 8          Penn Charter 7:00 pm

Oct. 14        Archbishop Wood 7:30 pm

Oct. 23        at Cardinal O'Hara 1:00 pm

Oct. 28        Monsignor Bonner 7:30 pm

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