St. Mary’s tailback Erik O’Neill runs through a hole and breaks a tackle during the Lancers’ scrimmage against Maryvale last Saturday. The Lancers open their season Saturday at Niagara Catholic. Photo by Nick LoVerde Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com Dave Hersey describes his new job as being like a “dream come true.” That dream includes working with his father and sharing something the two are both deeply passionate about: football.

Hersey was hired back in March as the new varsity football coach at St. Mary’s of Lancaster High School. It’s Hersey’s first head coaching gig at the high school level. To help him learn how to coach at the high school varsity level, Hersey brought along his father, Tom, to be his offensive coordinator. If there’s one person Hersey can turn to for football advice, it’s definitely his father.

Tom Hersey was a legendary, long-time coach at Canisius College throughout the 1980s and early-90s. Hersey decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and joined Canisius’ coaching staff in the late-80s.

Hersey’s job now will be to push the Lancers over the top in Monsignor Martin League A play. Hersey is looking forward to the challenge.

“I’ve always had a passion for coaching,” Hersey said. “This is a perfect fit for me. I know I can do this and I’m excited.”

Hersey’s first head-coaching gig will not happen without a few obstacles. Several key members of St. Mary’s 2009 squad transferred shortly before the start of practice in August.

Gone from last year’s team are co-captains Anthony Chiarmonte and Henry Fumerelle as well as quarterback Luke Hinton, running back Cody Kelso and left tackle John Kling all decided to transfer.

The transfers do open up spots for some new guys to prove themselves to their new head coach. The quarterbacking duties will fall on the shoulders of senior Chad Griffin. The son of a coach himself, Griffin has several qualities that appeal to Hersey.

“He understands and knows how to be coached,” Hersey said of Griffin. “He takes well to it. He wants to prove he belongs. I love the drive in him. He has great feet, he can move around and he has a nice arm. He can make all the throws.”

The Lancers will run a West Coast offense to take advantage of Griffin’s abilities on short throws and scrambling out of the pocket.

Protecting Griffin will be seniors Jesse Skubis, Kevin Drury and Chris Seel. They also add six-foot-three, 250 pound offensive/ defensive tackle Kyle DiPiro, a transfer from John F. Kennedy.

The Lancers also feature a deep backfield with tailbacks Erik O’Neill, Justin Burke and newcomer Nick Johnson, a transfer from McKinley. Hersey specifically praised the toughness of O’Neill.

“He doesn’t look like much, but he’s the best pure football player we have,” Hersey said. “He’s not afraid of anything.”

Other key contributors will include Anthony Bargnesi at free safety and wide receiver, Cory Williams at tight end and linebacker, Matt Cronmiller at wide receiver and cornerback, and Peter Notaro, whose name is familiar to those who follow St. Mary’s athletics closely because of his play on the basketball court. Notaro has never played football before but was convinced by Hersey to come out and play tight end and defensive end for the Lancers.

“We can get him to play at any level he wants,” Hersey said of Notaro. “There are not many six-foot-six football players.”

Hersey said another big part of the team is kicker Pat Beiter, a senior who transferred from the soccer team before last season. Beiter won a game for the Lancers against Nichols last season with a 47-yard field goal and is automatic from within 35 yards, according to Hersey.

One area of concern for Hersey is a lack of depth on the roster. He admits that injuries could put the Lancers in trouble. That’s one of the reasons why Hersey doesn’t want to make a prediction as to what kind of record the Lancers should have in 2010. Hersey is more focused on growing his young players as people, not just athletes.

“We ’re taking each game one at a time,” Hersey said. “I don’t want to predict wins, but I expect success. I’m more focused on turning our young boys into men. We’re doing a real good job so far.”

e-mail: mmigliore@beenews.com