By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After a 2-7 finish to their 202o season, the Sacred Heart Knights football team is reloaded and ready to go for 2021.
“I think we handled adversity well and came out on a positive note,” Knights head coach Shane Richards said. “We never gave up and I was proud of how the boys handled themselves both on and off the field.”
Sacred Heart will once again face a difficult schedule this year, headlined by top-ten teams in class 1A like Inman, Smith Center, Oakley, and Plainville.
Fortunately for Sacred Heart, the team returns a good deal of experience from a season ago, and should be primed to take the next step.
“We have another year of knowing the system defensively and I like our toughness and willingness to improve from last year,” Richards said.
Taking over the full-time job under center will be sophomore Evan Bogart, who saw some good time at QB late last season.
Joining Bogart in the backfield will be Cameron Yohe, Thomas Cheney, and Leon Rowe who are all expected to carry the football this season.
At wide receiver, the Knights return Michael Matteucci and add Camden Carswell to slot in with tight end Jason Marrs.
While the Knights's offense began to take shape last season, fumbles and interceptions prevented the team from getting into a rhythm, something Sacred Heart will have to do better in 2021.
“We need to turn the ball over less this year,” he said. “We’re hoping to see another step taken from our guys up front with another year of experience.”
That veteran line will consist of senior Julian Torres, juniors Riddick Goss and Adrian Panuco, and sophomores Cooper Ivey and Dayne Goss.
In the trenches on the defensive side, Leon Rowe will get the start at nose guard with a rotation of Orlando Torres and Cooper Ivey at DT. That group will be flanked by Jason Marrs and Andy Marshall who will look to put pressure on opposing offenses off the edge.
The linebacking corps will be anchored by Bogart, who slots in as the “knight” linebacker, and who will be joined by Thomas Cheney, Julian Torres, and Adrian Panuco.
The secondary features sophomore Cameron Yohe at free safety with Michael Mettuecci and Camden Carswell at cornerback.
With some good games down the stretch in 2020, the Knights are hopeful that that momentum will carry over into the new year.
“Our expectation is to pick up where we left off,” Richards said. “I’m looking forward to Friday night and we’re planning on playing our best football heading into that bracket game on week nine.”
Sacred Heart will kick off their season on September third when they host the Ellsworth Bearcats.