Season Opener to Set the Stage for Butler Football Season

Rebuilding or reloading?

That’s a question that many high school coaches face heading into a new season, and head coach Jim Matsakis is no different.

With just four returning starters from 2010, Matsakis has yet to determine what his group is capable of in 2011 and admits that he probably won’t know until after their first game of the season against Morris Catholic on Saturday.

“There will be some growing pains, he explained. “I don’t know if it’s a reload or a rebuild, but we’ll find out on Saturday. We really have a whole new group of starters, so it really comes down to how well they transition from being backups to being key players.”

A lot of coaches would have a good idea of what their teams look like heading into a new season from watching practice and scrimmages, but for Matsakis and his team, an inability to get on the football field to practice leaves those doubts highlighted heading into Week 1.

Matsakis explained that because of other teams practicing on the football field, his Bulldog group have been forced to practice behind the high school, only seeing a football field one time (a scrimmage against Bernards High) before they get set for Morris Catholic.

With 10 senior starters, five of which will play both ways, Matsakis has the advantage of having a senior-heavy team heading into 2011.

“We’ve got a lot of maturity coming back, but I guess that’s the beauty of high school football,” he said. “You never know what you have until the first ball is kicked and you see who has what.”

But Matsakis also has a first-year quarterback in junior Chris Heredia, and only one returning starter on the offensive side of the ball in the form of wide receiver Mike Tenned.

Only time will tell what this group is capable of, but if last season is an indicator, Butler will be just fine.

"Nobody’s going to feel sorry for Butler," Matsakis joked. "They’ve had their share of successes."

LAST SEASON’S RESULTS:

The 2010 varsity team finished with a record of 7-3, losing to Hawthorne 35-14 in the first round of the North I Group 1 state tournament.

LOOK OUT FOR:

Mike Tenned, Wide Receiver/Safety (Sr.) – Tenned, a senior captain in 2011, is one of only four returning starters from last season and the lone returning offensive starter. Look for the senior to have an impact on both sides of the ball all season.

Nick DalPan, Offensive Lineman/Linebacker (Sr.) – DalPan returns on the defensive side of the ball to captain an inexperienced Butler group. Expect big things from this senior captain.

Billy Sklavounos, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back (Jr.)- The junior steps into an unfamiliar role in 2011 as a captain and a starter on both sides of the ball. Growing pains are to be expected, but Matsakis is confident that he will be a key contributor.

David Arabia, Offensive/Defensive Lineman (Sr.) – The senior captain will be expected to lead an inexperienced group, and make an impact on each and every game.

WHO’S GONE:

Thomas Brigham, Brigham was a wide receiver converted to quarterback last season. With the senior graduated, Matsakis will look to junior Chris Heredia to take the reigns.

Derek Bock, The senior offensive lineman was the lone representative for Butler in the annual North-South All-Star Football Classic this summer.

Keith Damiano, The senior tailback and linebacker was a team captain in 2010. His leadership both on and off the field will be missed in 2011.

COACH’S TAKE:

“If I’ve ever had a question mark year, this is it,” he said. “But if we have any success on Saturday, I think it will snowball and I think we can be in for a very special year that very few people think we’re going to have.”– Coach Matsakis