The 2012 football season proved to be a year of pulling out the Sharpie and making bold check marks for the Zephyrs.

Coming into the season, new head coach Brian Gilbert enumerated their goals, beginning with winning a Lehigh Valley Conference Championship. Under his guidance, the team fulfilled that mission, earning a share of the LVC crown, and losing only one conference game in the process. That was the check mark with the fattest stroke, winning a league title for the first time since 2005.

"We achieved a few of our goals this year," said Gilbert who led the team to an 8-3 record this year. "We were able to do that."

Gilbert also said that making the district playoffs was another one of those goals, and that objective was met with another check mark as they gained entry into this year's subregional AAAA tournament.

While they lost that game in overtime to Delaware Valley High School ending their goal for a district championship, the entire scope of their season is something that will resonate with the team for a long time.

"Overall, when we look back, we'll say it's a successful season," said Gilbert.

He believed they still could be playing football, and said that this team fought hard all year, bouncing back from an opening loss to Spring Ford High School to get to the top of the heap in the LVC.

That was possible in large part to the team's 23 seniors, a few of whom earned all-star honors at the end of the season.

Gilbert said that this group has been committed to the football program since their freshman years, and worked diligently to make 2012 a memorable parting season.

Among those bidding farewell to the maroon and gold are quarterback Nick Shafnisky; backs James Wah, John Johnson Carlos Figueroa, and Jacob Rex; receivers Nick Sommer, Seth Sommer, Zach Delp, E.J. Setar, Nick Sabbagh, Barry Beitler; linemen Pat Lynch, Jake Wygant, Tyler Carter, Aaron Genevese, Thomas Ritter, Stephen Buss, Kenny Christine-Mann, Shaun Cramsey, Shiwalla Singh, and kickers Tyler George and Kareem Green.

Shafnisky led the team in a number of offensive categories, throwing and running for a combined 2,719 yards.

As the team's signal caller, Shafnisky had a 16-7 mark as a varsity starter. His departure will cast a big shadow, and Gilbert knows that his talent, experience and dedication set him apart, one reason why he was named the league's MVP.

"Shaf was everything he was cut out to be," said Gilbert. "His hard work paid off and good things happen to those who work hard."

Gilbert said that his unselfishness and eagerness to credit the guys up front made him a special player who led by example.

"He's going to be missed," said Gilbert.

They'll also lose Wah and Johnson who lent speed and elusiveness to the backfield. Those talents also paid dividends in the defensive backfield where they also made their mark.

Additionally, they lose a tough-nosed back and linebacker in Rex who played hard every down. The receiving tandem of the Nick and Seth Sommer, along with tight end Delp were the main targets of Shafnisky and their absence will be felt as well.

On the line, the Zephs lose all-stars Wygant and Genevese who were blocks of granite, to borrow a phrase, since their sophomore seasons. Additionally, replacing Ritter, Buss, Carter and Lynch will be very difficult, as will George who made an impact in the kicking game.

While that group's graduation will leave a huge void, Gilbert said that he was able to get some underclassmen experience this year in a number of games. They also have a number of returning starters led by all-star Ryan Bonshak whose impact should resonate on both sides of the ball. Another player whose presence was felt this year was Saquon Barkley, and he'll be another returnee who will add talent and experience in both the offensive and defensive backfields.

Gilbert also said that linemen Shawn Glosek and Fouad Haddad saw extended varsity minutes and should be the cornerstones for next year's OL. Additionally, tight end Nick Nejad and linebacker Jacob Kerchner were no strangers to the Public Address system and their return should help the Zephs be competitive once again.

Gilbert knows that the outsiders and prognosticators will focus on their losses, casting them in the underdog role. That doesn't bother him as his goals will not waver. They'll still be winning a league and district title.

He also knows that the players who will be wearing the maroon and gold next year will be committed to winning and the entire Zephyr community will be behind them.

"I just know that this group of players will work their tails off," said Gilbert.