Alconbury Dragons Ramstein High School Kaiserslautern High School Bitburg High School Wiesbaden High School Heidelberg High School Mannheim High School Ansbach High School

DoDDS Europe Football

Week 1

Game capsules - Week 1-

Division I

Ramstein @ K-Town

Defending Division I champion, Ramstein (Carlos Amponin) is a “work in progress”.  Do- everything player, Michael Wallace, has graduated, so the coaching staff has to develop a new set of playmakers and a new game plan. Ramstein will get better each week.  K-Town (Tom Burriss) usually comes up a bit short in this cross-town match-up so they hope that it takes a few more weeks for Ramstein to develop.

Wiesbaden @ Heidelberg

This should be one of the top games to watch. Heidelberg may have one of their better teams this year. Wiesbaden returns a strong group of skill players, a 3 year starter at QB, returning All-Europe RB Daniel Harris, and a few solid transfers. Can Wiesbaden develop a line to maximize the talent? Heidelberg has looked strong in pre-season. Long time coaching staffs return (Shahan- Heidelberg, Jewell-Wiesbaden).

Filton @ Lakenheath

Filton (Ben Herod) is a new program to DoDDS and should have some growing pains.  Lakenheath, led by Matt Martinez, must break in many new starters, but is usually a solid DI program. This game will go a long way to predict how both teams will do this year.

Patch @ Vilseck

Patch (Brian Hill) returns a solid staff from last year and has gotten more players out. That speaks well for the future, but will it be enough to make them competitive this year? Vilseck has some very talented skill players.  If they can develop competent line play, they could surprise a few folks. Vilseck has a deep, veteran staff:  Jim Hall assisted by former head coaches:  Sam Cassou and Eric Mead.

Division II

Bitburg @ AFNORTH

Defending Division II champion Bitburg’s bulldozer mentality will be tested by AFNORTH.  Mike Laue returns much of his huge offensive line (led by All-Europe OL players, Adam Smith and Darian Billups) and will have a deep roster. AFNORTH (Greg Blankenship) will have a good plan to compete, but can they hang for 48 minutes with smaller athletes and less numbers?

Baumholder @ ISB

Baumholder had a good outing against the Ramstein JV. Taking on the Raiders of ISB will be the next step. Both staffs return. Baumholder’s Hollenbeck has been at the helm for a decade.  ISB (Will Vreugdenhil) should be tough despite losing top athlete Gino Culotta to graduation.

Mannheim @ Shape

Mannheim is in its last year. Several top athletes return, but several have moved away, notably, Kenyatta Hill to Wiesbaden. Frank Macias and staff returns to give it one more shot. Shape (Jay Bodine) will be breaking in many new starters. Like Mannheim, a solid staff returns, so that is a plus.

Vicenza @ Ansbach

This is a re-match of the semi-final game from last year. Both of these teams have lost several top athletes from 2009.  Ansbach returns All-Europe players, Alex Moya and Matt Jones.  Vicenza’s Adam Ridgley and Ansbach’s Marcus George have been at the helm for many years.

Aviano @ Bamberg

The Saints (Rick Dahlstrom) make a long trip to Bamberg.  Bamberg (Jim Davis) returns many starters and a big offensive line from last year’s semi-final team and should play at a higher level this year.  The Saints must compete with a volleyball program for athletes. The Saints must also find a replacement for do-everything athlete, Jamal Tuck.

Hohenfels @ Naples

The trip to Naples is one of a kind. A 19 hour bus ride and the southern Italy heat take a lot out of a team. Hohenfels (Ed Lynch) should be better this year and has over 40 players out. Naples (Dirk Lambertson) gets their normal 50 out.  Hohenfels’ program is on the upswing. Naples returns few starters from last year. Both staffs return.

Division III

Menwith Hill @ Alconbury

Defending Division III champion Alconbury (Jeff Black) returns many starters and has over 30 players out. It could be said that they are the pre-season favorite. Menwith Hill (Pete Resnick) is the smallest school that plays football. The Mustangs always do a lot with their talent. This is a re-match of the Super 6 game.

Brussels @ LN

Brussels always struggles with numbers. When they have enough solid players, they can be tough. A new coach at Brussels gives them a fresh start.

Rota @ Sigonella

Navy versus Navy.  Sigonella (Matt McKown) was arguably the most talented team in Division III last year, but was upset by Alconbury in the semi-finals. Most of those athletes are gone. There is always a strong interest in football at Rota. Robert Stovall has moved back to Kinnick HS in Japan, so there is a brand new coach at Rota.