CASE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Cards expect to be in the SCC title mix

SWANSEA - Case coach Anthony Palladino doesn't have a whole lot to complain about.

While football numbers are down at several area schools, the numbers are up in Swansea and so are the hopes for Palladino and the Cardinals.

"We are up a little (in numbers) from last year," said Palladino, in his fifth year as head coach at Case. "We're in the high 40s and hopefully we'll pick up some more."

The Cardinals return six starters on offense and eight on defense from last year's 5-6 team that qualified for the postseason for the second straight year.

Seniors Chris Costa and Ty Couto bring experience and excitement to the Case backfield, which should help alleviate any pressure from first-year starting quarterback Danny Silva, who replaces the graduated Devin Proulx.

"He's a gamer," said Palladino of Silva. "He's more of a throwback-type player. We want to put the ball in his hands."

Silva, when throwing, will have a pair of juniors as wide receiver in Clayton Dyer and Keegan Lecomte. At tight end, the Cards are blessed with three quality players vying for the positions in Ryan Martin, Alex Janicki and Steve Senecal.

 The offensive line features a pair of returning seniors in Isaac Tucker and Noah Casado, along with three juniors in Tre Netto, Bradley Dellicker and John Garell.

Many of Palladino's offensive starters will also start defensively, and the coach also expects to see something out of freshman cornerback Braden Ventura.

"He opened our eyes the first scrimmage," Palladino said.

Palladino expects his Cardinals to be very competitive in the wide open South Coast Conference (small division).

"I think our offensive line has a chance to be very good," he said. "We hope to be a physical, downhill running team, just move the chains.

"I think the league is wide open. Wareham always has the athletes, Seekonk is always good. I think it will be very competitive."