First-year Roncalli coach Scott Marsh addresses the Rebels after a recent practice. Marsh succeeds Bruce Scifres, who was at the helm for 27 seasons.
(15-0, 5A) Marsh takes helm after year as offensive coordinator … succeeds Scifres (seven state titles and 248-88 record), whose 2016 team went 15-0 and won state … most returnees played crucial minutes last season … Rebels looking for new leaders … need to build depth … good mix of running and passing … offense features three-sport QB Conner Gore, running back Patrick McManama and leading receiver Jacob Leudeman … Dominic Clouse (315) moves from D-line to O-line … front line with John Asher becomes strength of defense with solid linebackers Cade Morgan, Jones Asher and Luke Hanley …. Cameron Fath moves to cornerback with Sam Sedgwick and Ethan Newitt at safeties for all new secondary … seniors Hayden Moran and Christian Walker lead O-line where holes need to be filled … challenging season ahead … at home Friday against Southport and Aug. 25 against Franklin Central.
Coach’s comments: “We are the target again after running the table for the state championship under coach Scifres. This program is used to that, so we know we have to stay hungry, stay together. We have some talented players coming back. I’ve been really pleased with the work ethic. We’ve been able to teach and coach these players with a lot of depth.
“Traditionally we’ve been the runnin’ Rebels; if you look at last year, that certainly wasn’t the case. We were very balanced last year with our personnel and sets. We’re going to throw the football. We want to establish that mentality by playing hard on both sides. We lost a lot of seniors, but we have seniors coming back and they have played critical minutes. We’re starting to see leaders emerge to help us with our goals this season. Any player we put on the field has to help lead us to a tremendous season.”
Coach’s comments: “We are the target again after running the table for the state championship under coach Scifres. This program is used to that, so we know we have to stay hungry, stay together. We have some talented players coming back. I’ve been really pleased with the work ethic. We’ve been able to teach and coach these players with a lot of depth.
“Traditionally we’ve been the runnin’ Rebels; if you look at last year, that certainly wasn’t the case. We were very balanced last year with our personnel and sets. We’re going to throw the football. We want to establish that mentality by playing hard on both sides. We lost a lot of seniors, but we have seniors coming back and they have played critical minutes. We’re starting to see leaders emerge to help us with our goals this season. Any player we put on the field has to help lead us to a tremendous season.”
Roncalli’s offense will be led by running backs Hunter Miller, Patrick McManama, quarterback Conner Gore, Murphy McManama and wide receiver Jacob Leudeman.
Up front for the Rebels are senior linemen (from left) Christian Walker, Hayden Moran and Dominic Clouse.
Roncalli expects to have traditionally sound linebackers and defensive backs with seniors Sam Sedgwick, Cade Morgan, Tony Schott, Ethan Newett, Cameron Fath, Luke Hanley, Jones Asher and Carson Jones.
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