Name: Tony Manfredi
School: Overland Trailblazers in Aurora, Class 5A Centennial League
Record: 3-4 overall, 2-2 league in 2005; 175-99 career, 18-12 in playoffs, including 1-2 in title games, 25th year
Coaching résumé: Assistant at Mullen from 1977-78 and Overland from 1979-80; interim head coach at Overland in 1981, became head coach after the 1981 season
Life lines: Age 53, native of Hazelton, Pa. Graduated from Hazelton High School, 1970, earned degrees in English and physical education in 1974. Former teacher at St. Mary’s Elementary in Littleton and Overland (retired).
Back in his day: Quarterback and defensive end for the Hazelton Mountaineers from 1967-69; as a senior made Pennsylvania’s prestigious Big 33 all-star game. Played tight end at Syracuse from 1970-73.
What he has done lately: The Cherry Creek-Overland rivalry may be one-sided, with the Bruins having won 19 of the past 26 games in a series that began in 1980.
Never mind the Trailblazers entered Friday night’s game with an unusually low number of juniors and seniors (25), were noticeably undersized, had a rash of injuries and a losing record.
It’s an honest-to-goodness district rivalry that has included a meeting in a championship game (1995), and 13 of their past 18 meetings have been decided by a touchdown or less.
Another storied chapter was entered last week, when Overland knocked off the top-ranked and previously undefeated Bruins 28-21.
“My job last week was to make (Overland’s players) believe they could win,” Manfredi said.
It worked.
Overland led 21-0 at halftime, then weathered a late move by the Bruins. Along the way, Overland’s Isaac Neal threw three touchdown passes – including a 99-yarder to Curshion Jones.
In 2005, Overland has played six playoff teams from a year ago, including the 2004 state runner-up in Utah.
“If we played (the Bruins) 10 times, they would probably win nine,” Manfredi said. “I’ve been really impressed with our kids and how they’ve managed to creep along here week by week.”
Note
The Denver Broncos high school coach of the week, in its 10th year, will have 10 honorees in the regular season. NFL Charities will present a check for $1,000 to the school’s program. A coach of the year will be announced at the Broncos’ Dec. 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Invesco Field at Mile High and receive $2,000. Coaches are selected from a panel consisting of Neil H. Devlin, The Denver Post; Billy Thompson, the Broncos; Susie Wargin, KUSA-9; Marcia Neville, KCNC-4; and Andy Lindahl, KKZN 760 AM.
Neil H. Devlin can be reached at 303-820-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com.
