Opening night of high school football delivers a night of fresh starts. The uniforms look pristine and the hopes and dreams of players and coaches are just as unblemished. Even the popcorn tastes better.
As the 2018 season kicks off Friday, each of the Summit Athletic Conference teams will have something to discover. Are they better than last year? Is there an emerging once-in-a-decade-or-better player ready to join the legacy of Johnny Bright, Rod Woodson and Jaylon Smith? Can anyone catch Snider as it “rebuilds”?
As opening night hits, each of the 10 schools has something or someone of intrigue:
Bishop Dwenger: The Saints have the only new coach in the conference in Jason Garrett and he’s blessed with a roster full of tremendous players. One I’m eager to see in action is junior Patrick Finley, who always seems to make something happen when he gets his hands on the ball. I’m not overlooking University of Wisconsin commit Joe Tippmann, because at 6-6 and 300 pounds, there’s literally no way to overlook him.
Bishop Luers: Every Luers opponent knows one key to slowing the Knights is slowing multi-talented Jordan Presley. Problem is, it’s near impossible to do and Luers has so much talent around him (QB Norm Knapke and Justin Gaston to name two) teams risk being burned by others. The player in the middle of everything on defense will be Camari Harris, who combines confidence with an eagerness to improve that should make him one of the best, and possibly the best, defensive player in the SAC.
Carroll: With the graduation loss of quarterback Jack Miguel, the Becker brothers (Justin and Jonathan) and running back Cam Shank and the loss of injured Jack Tranquill, there are huge gaps for new standouts to fill. The obvious player to watch early is former receiver Gaven Vogt, now the quarterback. He’s 6-foot-2, 205 pounds of typical prep quarterback physique and he’ll have a new target in former Bishop Luers receiver Camdyn Childers as well as returners Nathan Harrah and Layton Mitchell.
Concordia: Is there a combination producing anticipation as enormous as quarterback Jake Byrd to receiver Kamari Anderson-Drew? If those two get on the same page, and enough complementary players emerge to help, it’ll be quite an aerial attack for the Cadets. Everyone knows Byrd must cut down his interceptions (17 last season) but that should come with experience. Coach Tim Mannigel always puts his players in position to succeed.
Homestead: Who doesn’t love a quarterback controversy? Coach Chad Zolman, probably. He has two good ones in Jake Archbold and Luke Goode, and either could end up at the helm week to week or even series to series. Archbold packs a punch at any position he plays and is simply a bear to bring down when he carries the ball. These two have a target in receiver Trevin Taylor who could be called a beast if that wasn’t such an understatement.
North Side: Mike Brevard took over a tough coaching job last year and the Legends were winless. But Brevard’s calling card is optimism and a can-do attitude. He’s a builder, starting in the weight room, and it’s a big task he’s determined to tackle. There’s ample room for players to make their names. Keep an eye on quarterback Ronald Collins III and Carroll transfer Alex Holliday-Robinson. Also, 6-3, 350-pound lineman Reginald “Reggie” Telemaque should help clear the way.
Northrop: The long legacy of the Doerffler coaching family continues with Bruins coach Jason Doerffler, who keeps his team knocking on the door of a breakthrough he hopes this season provides. The unit to watch is the defense, which surrendered 41 points a game last season. It must be better and Doerffler believes it is. The play of RaShaad Moore and James Jones up front will be pivotal, as will linebacker Caleb Martinez.
Snider: The Panthers reload, right? Probably. When you consider how many players they lost to graduation, it’d be easy to talk “rebuilding” on 2018. But here’s the rub: Snider’s program always – and I mean always – has big-time players waiting to step in. Is there a Christian Covington ready to get out and run like nobody’s business? Probably. A’nyis Lockett is back and this is Running Back High. The team needs a quarterback to emerge between Jon Barnes and Antoine Taylor and it needs plenty to help the dynamo Ethan Hoover on defense.
South Side: Roosevelt Norfleet remains one of my favorite coaches because he’s fearless. He takes teams that lack numbers and experience and finds a way to draw the best out of them. Omar Jackson, a versatile athlete, is a name most people recognize. Everett Merritt is a nice receiver. Norfleet will try to patch the rest of his unit together and, when it reaches the postseason, potentially surprise a non-SAC school with its talent.
Wayne: The Generals believe this is their year, and it well could be. They have playmakers galore. Everyone knows Craig Young, the Ohio State commit, and if quarterback Brandan Young improves, the two Youngs will make defenses feel old. One player who is a delight to watch on defense is Darius Alexander, who should be nicknamed “Nightmare” because of what he causes for opposing quarterbacks for several nights after they meet.
