NORTH TONAWANDA — The 2009 North Tonawanda Lumberjacks accomplished a feat that no other team in school history or in Niagara County ever achieved with a 14-7 triumph over Section I’s New Rochelle to capture a state Class AA championship a year ago.

On paper, they’re defending state champs, but that’s old news to Jacks head coach Eric Jantzi and the rest of the varsity squad.

Although the team returns a handful of seniors from last year’s undefeated team, Jantzi said NT football is “moving forward, and that’s it.”

“We’re not the state champions anymore,” said Jantzi, who will roam the NT sidelines for his 11th season as head coach. “If you asked us, we’re just another team trying to win Week 1. We’ve put that behind us. We don’t even talk about that anymore.”

Admittedly, Jantzi has relied on the old cliché of “one game at a time.”

It has undoubtedly worked for the Southtowns native since he took the helm. The Jacks have won eight out of the last nine Class AA North Division titles.

“That’s the big thing. They want to win,” he said. “They want to beat Kenmore West and that’s the same recipe we use every year. We didn’t talk about the state championship [last year] until the week of the state championship.

“It’s a cliché, but that’s what we do — one at a time,” Jantzi continued. “We’re trying to win the league, that would be our first goal, to go undefeated and win the league again. But we can only do it if we start winning. We have to win right off the bat because we have big league games from the start.”

Filling the voids

The Lumberjacks have to fill the shoes of a slew of departing seniors from a year ago. Quarterback Mike Tuzzo, wide receiver Darrik Bloomfield and running backs, Tom Sell and Aaron Davis left some heavy voids offensively at the skill positions.

This season, Jantzi and Co. will rely on senior running back turned QB, Joe Montesanti, to call the signals under center for NT.

“Joe’s a little more comfortable out of the shotgun running the option, so we may be doing a bit more of that and just setting it up to get the ball in his hands probably a little more than we have in the past,” Jantzi said.

For Montesanti, the position is uncharted territory.

“I definitely have to improve a lot at quarterback. I’ve never played the position before,” Montesanti said during the first week of doubles. “I can throw the ball, but that’s obviously not my forte.”

The Jacks will showcase a balanced option-style attack with the likes of seniors Joe Medina, Steve Stefanski and Rob Wikierski, in addition to junior transfer Justin Bacon from Tonawanda, and former Royalton-Hartland product, sophomore Brandon Buryta.

The front five is highlighted by returning seniors Tyler Body, a 6-foot-5, 301-pounder, and Jordan Marrs. Gone are Casey and Kyle Shreve.

“We know what we’re losing each year, so we slot the best JV players in each position that are ready to play,” said Jantzi in reference to his O-line. “We have kids that are coming back that are seniors that are fighting for those positions. I think we’re pretty solid on the line right now.”

 Defensively, the Jacks will display a quick and athletic group of linebackers, including seniors Travis Charsley and Ryan Daigler. Dan Montesanti is making the switch from linebacker to defensive end. Sophomore Tyler Durham is projected to fill the open spot at LB, Dan Montesanti said. Bacon and Jake Brock will also get some snaps at linebacker as well.

Dan Montesanti said that it’s good to see the younger guys step up in a starting 11 that is usually loaded with upperclassmen.

“They’re starting to get used to the tempo,” said the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Montesanti. “They have to get used to the speed, the weight, the height. “They’re catching up, though. They’re learning the speed. A few sophomores are stepping up, which is kind of unheard of on our team. You don’t really play unless you’re a junior or senior.”

That group will replace key members on the defensive side of last year’s squad, including Steve Kijowski.

Can they repeat?

NT opens up with a tough slate of Niagara Frontier competition, including tonight’s clash with the Blue Devils. The next two weeks include a trip to Lockport on Sept. 11 and a home contest against Niagara Falls on Sept. 17 before a much anticipated Week 4 matchup against 2009 Harvard Cup champion Riverside at All High Stadium in Buffalo.

The Jacks will be ready for each week, Jantzi said, because other teams will be looking to knock off the reigning champions.

“You’re not going to sneak up on anybody, certainly,” he said. “Everybody that we play is saying, “we’re playing the state champions.”

That sheer fact will add a bit of pressure to a Jacks squad looking to build its own identity. Joe Montesanti admits there will be a target on NT’s chest this season.

“We know we’re wanted around Western New York and around the state, so it definitely brings a lot more intensity to everybody,” Montesanti said. “Everybody is a lot more excited, ready to go, and everybody’s looking to get back at NT for winning last year.”

Jantzi acknowledged that only a handful of teams have ever repeated as state champions in the Empire State, so the odds are certainly against them.

“We knew it’s hard to repeat and you have to have a little bit of luck,” he said. “But hopefully where we’ve progressed in terms of our hard work in the offseason, it’s going to make us all that more better to repeat if it’s possible.”

Joe Montesanti said that the thought of repeating as champions still lingers.

“In the back of your mind, you’re always thinking repeat,” he said. “Our personal goal, and what I would like to do, is I would like to go out there, have fun and win one game at a time and let us bond and become one and take it as far as we can.”

Playing as one

Coach Jantzi said there is no difference from last year’s squad and the current roster in terms of leadership.

“There’s like no difference from last year and this year,” he said. “It’s pretty much the same thing we expect. We don’t have captains and put the seniors in charge of (leadership). If someone’s out of line, then it’s usually (the seniors) that are all over them first.”

Over the course of offseason training and summer camps, Jantzi said team building activities have helped tremendously.

In addition, the team has grown closer after losing two former teammates, Jordan Bunker and Tom Serwinowski, over the past year. After each practice, a Lumberjack acknowledges a teammate whom they are thankful for.

Dan Montesanti said that NT’s togetherness will factor above all else when it comes to winning football games.

“Everybody on this team, we break it down, family every single day,” Montesanti said. “Because that’s what we are; we’re family. ...We play as a family, not as individuals.”

The Lumberjacks host Niagara Frontier rival, Kenmore West, at 7 p.m. tonight.

Contact sports editor Brandon Koch at 693-1000, ext. 117.