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Germantown Academy 2017 football preview

Without recent graduate Kyle McCloskey at quarterback, GA will lean on senior linebacker Tanner Long to buttress its defense.

Playing tight end, Tanner Long catches a touchdown pass against West Catholic in October 2016.
Playing tight end, Tanner Long catches a touchdown pass against West Catholic in October 2016.Read moreLOU RABITO / Staff

After earning a share of the Inter-Ac title last season, Germantown Academy has an important void to fill with the departure of quarterback Kyle McCloskey, now a freshman QB at Villanova.

Fortunately for the Patriots, however, senior linebacker Tanner Long should continue to buttress a stingy defense that helped GA share the crown with Malvern Prep despite GA's being outscored in league play, 93-78.

Long, a University of Pennsylvania recruit, should also somewhat lessen the sting of losing last season's co-league MVP, Patrick McGettigan, now a freshman linebacker at Penn.

According to TedSilary.com, the Patriots were one of few teams in city history — maybe the only team — to be outscored in league play while winning a title and claiming its wins by only 15 total points (3, 2, 7 and 3).

Matt Dence, entering his sixth season as GA's coach, hopes senior quarterback Colton Niedzielski can bring stability to the backfield.

Niedzielski (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) will also likely help guide freshman Jordan Longino, the younger brother of former GA basketball standout Evan-Eric Longino (West Chester).

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