Depew senior running back Anthony Emmanuele tries to evade a Williamsville East defender during last Saturday’s scrimmage at Depew High School. Emmanuele will look to repeat his 1,000 all-purpose yards performance from 2009. Photo by Nick LoVerde Purchase color photos at www.BeeNews.com Expectations are high for Depew Wildcats football in 2010 following a 6-3 2009 campaign by the Wildcats that saw them advance to the Section VI Class B playoffs.

Helping to bolster the high expectations are six returning starters on both sides of the ball as well as a new influx of talent from last year’s 7-2 JV squad. Adding to the talented roster will be a couple of key transfer students with big time abilities who will be counted upon right away.

Depew’s quest for the Class B title began last Saturday as the Wildcats hosted a scrimmage at Frank Constantino Field with Williamsville East, Niagara Wheatfield and new Section VI addition Bennett.

In their first chance to compete against an opposing team, the Wildcats showed well in all phases of the game. Head coach Dan McGrath, the recently retired Depew athletic director who will stay on to coach the Wildcats for a 13th season, said the Wildcats did seem to run out of steam near the end of practice and do have some things to work on before the season opener against East High School this Friday evening at Depew.

“Overall we did well,” McGrath said about the scrimmage. “Specifically we need to turn it up a notch and keep it up. We tended to fall off in last scrimmage. I’m not sure why. We seemed to lose our enthusiasm. It was the first time they had a chance to get a different look against different bodies and different kids. They did very well I feel.”

When the bullets begin flying for real on Friday, Depew will rely on its talent on offense. The triggerman is junior quarterback Aaron Ertel. As a sophomore last season, Ertel stepped in for injured senior quarterback Matt Block at midseason and gained valuable experience to prepare him for the starting role this season. He’s also spent the offseason working in passing leagues and team camps to learn how to lead the offense. McGrath believes Ertel should be ready to go on Friday.

“He understands what we are trying to do on the field,” McGrath said. “As a junior, he is very mature coming in.”

Ertel will be protected by five big bodies up front on the offensive line. Each member of Depew’s line weighs over 230 pounds, the biggest being 291-pound right tackle Jaden Cotton, a starter on Depew’s varsity basketball team as well. At the other tackle spot is 285-pound senior John Kling, a transfer from St. Mary’s. Kling is one of two transfers on the squad from St. Mary’s, the other being running back Anthony Chiarmonte who will miss the season with a broken leg. Kling has already signed on to play at the University at Buffalo next season.

The other starters on the offensive line are senior right guard Josh Wiechelt, junior left guard Andrew Burgio and senior center Mike Kasprzak.

Depew’s big weapon on offense is senior running back Anthony Emmanuele. Like Erdle, Emmanuele was inserted into the starting lineup during the second half of last season and responded with over 600 yards and seven touchdowns. He totaled over 1,000 total all-purpose yards on the season. Emmanuele will also start at defensive back and can be used as a tight end in the passing game.

Depew will immediately see the effects of the newly realigned divisions in Section VI to include Buffalo city schools. New to Class B are Burgard, South Park and East. McGrath said the new divisions offer a great opportunity for the city schools.

“I’m a traditionalist and I hate to see the Harvard Cup be put on the shelf,” McGrath said. “But this is great for the city. It’ll be a good opportunity for them.”

As for his team, McGrath doesn’t have any specific expectations in terms of wins or loses. He’s more concerned with how his guys carry themselves and what kind of effort they give on the field each week.

“Mainly, I want these guys to look out for each other, to play with class and to give uncompromised effort,” he said. “If they do those things, winning will take care of itself.”

e-mail: mmigliore@beenews.com