By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Despite a snakebitten 1-4 start to their 2023 campaign, the Sacred Heart football team is soldiering on as the next generation of Knights get an early look at varsity time.
The injury issues began immediately in week one, as six different starters, many of whom played both ways, left the Wichita Trinity game with injuries of varying severity.
From a health standpoint, things haven’t improved much as the year has gone on, but rather than losing heart, this increasingly young Sacred Heart team has gritted their teeth and pushed on through a tough slate of games.
“The best thing I’ve seen has been the heart of these guys and their willingness to step up,” Knights head coach Norm Jennings said. “When push came to shove you could really see where some of our younger guys were at and we’ve seen some great things out of them.”
One big piece that has managed to stay on the field is QB/DB Michael Matteucci, who leads the team in both passing (486 yds, 5 TD), and rushing (321 yds, 3 TD), while also sitting just one tackle (30) off the team lead, and holding the teams only interception.
While there have certainly been positive moments this year, most notably in a 40-0 decimation of Belle Plaine, the Knights have been their own worst enemy at times, surrendering 14 turnovers and committing far too many penalties for comfort.
“When you look at the game on paper you see a team that matches up stat for stat with our opponents,” Jennings said. “Our goal was to cut down on the mistakes with things like penalties and turnovers come district play, and those are the things that we still need to work through.”
With a tough slate of opponents ahead including 3-2 Wabaunsee and 4-1 Smith Center, the Knights will have to take extra care not to get too far behind the eight ball as their younger pieces continue acclimatizing, and veterans heal up and make their return.
“I’m hoping to see our guys rise up no matter who else may go down,” Jennings said. “I look forward to the return of some of our guys but we’ve proven that we can rally even with losses of key players.”
The Knights will get back to work in Salina this week as they host the formerly-ranked Wabaunsee Chargers at 7 p.m.