Mannello Eyes Win Over Old Teammate
By DOUG PAPE [email protected]
Friday, October 26, 2001 Page: 5B
Rich Mannello and Steve Briggs played football together at Springfield College
in the early 1980s.
Mannello, the head coach at King’s College, was an offensive lineman and
Briggs, his counterpart at Susquehanna University, was a defensive back. The
two are still close friends and talk on the phone at least once a week.
The one thing they don’t discuss is head-to-head meetings between the
schools and the fact that Briggs is 6-0 against his old buddy.
“The game does not interfere with our friendship,” said Mannello, whose
Monarchs visit the Crusaders at 1:30 Saturday. “If they gave him a set of
pads and me a set of pads, then it would matter, but those days are over, so
the kids are going to decide the game.”
King’s (4-3 overall, 4-2 Middle Atlantic Conference) is still looking for
that elusive win over “a big three” league opponent – Widener, Lycoming and
Susquehanna.
“If you look back on the MAC, traditionally those three have been floating
around the top forever,” Mannello said. “This is the last crack for the
seniors, they have an opportunity in their legacy of King’s football to do
something that hasn’t been done prior to them.”
King’s already lost to Lycoming and Widener, and it has to be favored
against Susquehanna (2-5, 2-4), which has struggled this season. King’s lost a
meeting.
The Crusaders utilize a wing-T offense. In the past, they were known for
their running game, but now are primarily a passing team.
“That wing-T offense is a tough deal,” Mannello said. “They do a great
job with formations and it’s an offense based on getting angles. Some teams
are very run dominated, very play action pass dominated, that thing down there
(at Susquehanna) is very multiple.”
Junior quarterback Mike Bowman has thrown for 1,264 yards and 11
touchdowns. His main target is sophomore Mark Bartosic, who averages nearly
were high school teammates at Shikellamy.
“Those two kids, they got something going there,” Mannello said. “They
work very well together. They really know each other, they’re good players.”
Linebacker Troy Sosnovik leads Susquehanna in tackles with 73, but
defensive back Antonio Nash is the star of the defense. He has 49 tackles,
three interceptions and eight pass breakups.
“He might be the best in the country,” Mannello said. “He’s a tremendous
playmaker.”
Susquehanna is loaded with local talent. Lake-Lehman graduate Brent
Stransky starts at one defensive end slot, while Pittston Area product J.J.
Wivell fills the other. On offense, two former Pittston Area players are at
center. Phil Falvo is the starter, while Joby Tuminelli is the backup.
Doug Pape, a Times Leader sports writer, can be reached at 829-7227.
