ROCKLAND – Rockland coach Daryle Weiss remembers when he used to play football on the farm in Pennsylvania with his nephew.

“We used to go out and play touch football with [Andy] and his brothers and it always wound up being tackle,” Weiss said. “We knew we had a good group of football players there with the Weiss boys.”

Andy Weiss is heading into his second year as starting quarterback for the Tigers, and he’s only a sophomore.

But the 15-year-old already has a year of experience under his belt as the field general.

Coach Weiss said it was his nephew’s decision-making and ability to run the football that garnered him the starting position as a freshman.

“He straightens me out when we’re in the wrong formation,” Weiss said. “He says, ‘Coach, we can’t run that out of this formation.’ He’s a leader and he’s the coach on the field when we’re on offense.”

During the offseason, Andy Weiss said he mainly focused on weightlifting to prepare himself for the season.

“I’ve been working on staying under control and trying to become the best I can,” said Weiss, who threw for more than 1,500 yards last season.

But it wasn’t just Weiss who was working to get better.

Coach Weiss said the team was in the weight room five mornings a week this summer working on the bigger, faster, stronger weight-training program.

“They have worked hard and they are ready to play,” Weiss said.

The Tigers’ 5-4 record in 2004 was motivation for the team.

“We’re looking forward to winning,” Andy Weiss said. “We’re sick of losing here.”

The team also is excited to have the opportunity to compete in the postseason this year, after not being eligible the past two seasons because of their transfer from Class B to C.

“I think we’re going to be a lot more aggressive this year because we have something to work for,” senior captain Clint Dodge said.

Two players who coach Weiss said will contribute greatly on both sides of the ball are seniors Josh Fogg and John Capolla, who each will play safety and receiver for Rockland.

“Those are the guys we’re going to look to get the ball to as much as possible,” Weiss said. “Those are the guys we’re going to look toward to make big plays on defense.”

Even though Weiss is pleased with the team’s talent level, he knows he can’t rely on just that … and according to him, he doesn’t have to.

“The football takes care of itself when you have smart kids like we have,” he said.

ROCKLAND TIGERS

2004 results: 5-4

Coach: Daryle Weiss, 5th year

Key players: Andy Weiss, QB, So: Clint Dodge, OT/DT, Sr: Josh Fogg, FS/WR, Sr: John Capolla, FS/WR, Sr: Josh Elwell, CB/WR, Jr: Cyrus Sleeper, OL/LB, Jr: Vern Kvorjak, OL/LB, Jr: Mike Marsh, RB/LB, Jr: Ryan Meklin, C, So.

Outlook: The Tigers are eligible for the playoffs this year. The offense will primarily use a one-back set, while the defense will run a 3-3-5 formation.