McCaskey head football coach Ben Thompson

It's no secret what McCaskey's offense wants to do this season.  "We're gonna chuck the ball a little bit," said head coach Ben Thompson with a smile.  It's a style of attack that the players enjoy.  "Oh, absolutely. It can get everybody excited and it can tire teams out," Thompson told SV Sports' Paul Roberts.  The 2004 Coatesville graduate is preparing for his second year in charge of the Red Tornado.  Thompson spent one season as the interim coach and ended a 26-game losing streak in 2021.  Prior to that, he served as McCaskey's JV coach for two years.  Thompson began his college playing career at Florida A&M before graduating from Cheyney.  The Red Tornado kick things off at home next Friday against John Bartram from Philadelphia.  McCaskey outlasted Bartram 30-24 in overtime last fall.  Matt Remash's 3-yard touchdown run was the difference in OT.  Remash tossed two TD passes to DeAndre Jones that day.  Jalen Cintron is expected to step in at quarterback for Remash who graduated earlier this year.  Jones is back along with running back Steven Lavender.  Thompson mentioned that Josh Monzon is another skill position player to watch.  Their non-league schedule also includes Elizabethtown, Cedar Cliff, and Plymouth-Whitemarsh.  All three of those contests are on the road.  The Section 1 slate in the Lancaster-Lebanon League features Manheim Township, Wilson, and defending champ Hempfield.  "It's top-notch. I can't complain about having any down weeks. We get challenged every week and it makes us a better team," acknowledged Thompson.  The Red Tornado finished (1-9, 0-6) in 2022.  Thompson keeps it all in perspective.  "Everything is a learning opportunity because in life you're not going to have every win off the field. You have to figure out what you need to do better and keep moving forward," he stated.  McCaskey's homecoming game is set for October 6th versus Reading.  This will be their 97th meeting with the Red Knights.  The rivalry dates back to 1892.  Thompson talks to his players every day about the school's history and the importance of being involved in the community.  "In order to know where you need to go, you need to know where you're coming from. It's a big part of our program," he replied.