Outlook: Five of the six teams qualified for ’95 playoffs. Class 5A runner-up Mt. Carmel returns 12 starters. Loyola has 13 starters back, St. Rita 11 and Marian Catholic eight.
1995 state qualifiers: Mt. Carmel (Class 5A runner-up), St. Rita (quarterfinals), Loyola (second round), Marian Catholic (second round), Brother Rice (first round).
Quotable: Mt. Carmel coach Frank Lenti: “This is the division of champions since every team except Marist has won at least one state title.”
Players to watch: Rich Chorak (OT, 6-1, 240), Russ Calabrese (RB, 5-8, 170), Steve Martin (LB, 6-2, 205), Mt. Carmel; Mike Jilek (QB, 6-0, 190), Dennis Crumb (WR, 5-10, 160), Frank Ruggiero (LB, 5-11, 195), St. Rita; Dan Fowler (OT, 6-3, 240), Peter Lee (QB, 6-5, 185), Joseph Cook (LB, 6-2, 230), Loyola; Tony Lewis, (OT, 6-3, 230), Terrence Pirtle (RB, 5-11, 170), Afan Onyema (LB, 6-1, 210), Marian Catholic; Buddy Gallagher (DB/WR, 6-1, 185), Mario Manfredi (DT, 6-0, 225), Brother Rice; Greg Skelly (WR, 5-6, 155), Jim Bizzieri (LB, 5-9, 180), Marist.
Key games: Mt. Carmel at Loyola, Sept. 14; St. Rita at Loyola, Oct. 5; Mt. Carmel at St. Rita, Oct. 12.
Predicted ’96 finish: Mt. Carmel, St. Rita, Loyola, Marian Catholic, Brother Rice, Marist.
