Bath looks to back up 6-2 record in '06
BY CHRIS GILL THE LEADER

ERIC WENSEL/THE LEADER Bath Haverling running back Andre McCloud rushed for 894 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.

BATH - Last season, Bath Haverling reclaimed its place as one of Section V's giants after three losing seasons. In 2007, the Rams want to make sure they stay on top.

Bath won its first five games in 2006, but as injuries mounted, the Rams suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of seventh-seeded East Rochester in the opening round of the playoffs. They finished 6-2. Having a shot at the school's first sectional title since 2003 stolen from them by injuries, the Rams' purpose is clear.

"It was terrible, to get upset the seventh seed ... it was terrible," said senior linebacker Eric Argentieri. "We worked a lot harder in the weight room this year and we really want to win a sectional title."

Bath returns 12 starters from last season for Saturday's season-opening game against Canisteo- Greenwood, the first step towards avenging a disappointing finish.

"We were a different team the last three weeks than we were one through five, we had a lot of kids get injured at the end and just couldn't get healthy in those last two weeks," said Wayne Carroll, who begins his 21st campaign as head coach. "I'm hoping we can still be playing that ninth or 10th week."

He's got some tools to work with.

Among the returners is running back Andre McCloud, a 5-foot-7, 157- pound junior who rushed for 894 yards and scored 15 touch downs in a variety of ways. McCloud is the latest in a lineage of great rushers at Bath, but gets the job done in an entirely different way.

With speed to spare, McCloud is a home run hitter who can break off seemingly mundane running plays and take the ball 30, 40 or 50 yards to paydirt - a sharp contrast to the bruising styles popularized by predecessors Bill Plank or Mark Robinson. However, McCloud has made strides towards becoming more like them.

"He worked really hard in the spring and summer to get bigger and stronger, and he's definitely stonger," Carroll said. "He just can't get much bigger right now. The mark of a great back is to lead their team to a title, and we've had some great backs here, Plank, Robinson and (Josh) Batjer."

McCloud also has the benefit of a 5-11, 186-pound fullback named Brent Havens plowing paths for him. Havens can bowl people over with, or without the ball.

Returning to the quarterback spot, Jake Kuver brings an element of danger for opposing defenses with a good arm and quick moves. The 6-0, 151-pounder is able to sprint out of the pocket when things break down, or just boot leg to either side. His targets include senior Tyler McCloud at tight end and senior wide out Jordan Nichols. Waiting in the wings are junior Blaine Emery and sophomore Luke Burns.

On the other side of the ball, Bath is adjusting to life with out Bryant Madison - the Rams' hulking defensive end who made life miserable for offensive linemen. Madison graduated, and Carroll moved Argentieri from down lineman to linebacker this year, which has given the D-line a different look.

Danny Harrick, Brent Harrison, Sam Musso and newcomers Dylan Bennett, Mark Bart and Martin Kilsdonk comprise the newlook D-line, while Argentieri and T.C. Carroll anchor the linebacking corps. For Argentieri, it's a chance to make hits in open space, since the 5-11, 203-pound senior spent most of his time on varsity smashing in to Olinemen.

"T.C. helped me a lot, just going from shooting it to watching the coverage and covering the flats," he said. "You can never do enough reps, practice, all of that. We want to leave it all on the field with no regrets."

Still, a new look on defense is cause for concern in Carroll's mind.

The hallmark of Bath under Carroll's rule has been defense - big, nasty, stifling defense. Last season the team didn't surrender more than one touch down per game through Week 5, and the teams that won sectional titles at the turn of the century were some of the most impressive in local sports lore. The bar is set pretty high for the 2007 version.

"We're really concerned about the pass rush. We had a scrimmage the other day and we didn't have any sacks or interceptions, so far we haven't taken the step," Carroll lamented, before adding he was hesitant to change how pressure is applied. "We're trying to get pressure with five guys up front, so we don't have to use six or seven. If you bring six or seven, you better make something happen."

And making things happen in a game is finally upon them.

A month of sweating buckets in dress rehearsal is over.

"These past four weeks have been biting at me," Argentieri said. "We had a scrimmage and got a little taste, but we just want game time to get here."