Burlington Central intends to bounce back
The Burlington Central football team doesn't intend to let one bad break keep it from returning to the upper echelon of the Big Northern Conference East Division.
The plan for this season was to play two of the program's top athletes in the backfield at the same time: senior quarterback Tim Botsford, who impressed with his speed and throwing arm last season; and junior running back Tim Maroder, a third-year varsity player with great speed.
However, during a 7-on-7 passing-league competition at Beloit (Wis.) College in late July, Botsford was playing cornerback when he collided with two players converging on a pass and broke his tibia just below the knee. He had surgery to install plates and screws in his leg and will miss his senior season.
Botsford also would have played in the secondary this season for the Rockets (2-7, 2-3), who finished fourth in the East Division with their lowest overall win total since the 0-9 season of 1993.
Maroder, who played quarterback half of last season, will take snaps under center. As a sophomore he completed 23-of-50 attempts for 358 yards and 7 touchdowns with 5 interceptions. He carried the ball 93 times for 346 yards and 2 touchdowns.
"It hurts us depth-wise," sixth year Central coach Aaron Wichman said of Botsford's injury, "but at least we have somebody who has the experience back there to take to snaps."
The Rockets return four of their five offensive linemen and should be able to improve on their 150-yards-per-game rushing average. Senior third-year starter Tim Seyller (6-2, 220) returns at tackle along with senior all-conference guard Tim Vincent (5-11, 225), junior tackle Thomas Juns (5-10, 245) and junior guard Brent Suderlage (5-10, 205). Joining those returnees will be promising junior Dominick LoPiccolo (5-11, 195), who Wichman said was impressive in two-a-days.
"They're all a year older and more mature both physically and mentally," Wichman said. "The offensive linemen have done a really good job in the weight room, so I think it's going to be a little easier for us to score some points than it was last year."
Three-year varsity receiver Kevin Kellish returns. He led the Rockets last season with 24 receptions for 367 yards and a touchdown.
Maroder's move back to quarterback opens the door for junior running back Tre Llanes (5-10, 185), a state track qualifier last spring. "He's an explosive athlete," Wichman said. "I don't think he realizes how much potential he has yet."
The fullback position will be manned by senior Roberto Cárdenas (5-8, 175) and junior Rob Grosskopf (6-0, 235), a transfer from Massachusetts.
Defensively, the line should be stout with Vincent returning alongside senior end Austin Prestidge (6-3, 200) and senior J.J. Branecki (5-7, 200).
Junior Evan Billek (6-1, 170) returns to anchor the linebacker corps, and junior Brandon Westergaard (5-10, 175) returns in the secondary along with Kellish and Maroder.
Do the Rockets have the right mix to make a return to the state playoffs for the eighth time in 10 years?
"When we look around at the talent in the room I think we can be a playoff team this year," Wichman said.
"I think we can be a team that, if we don't win the conference, will be right there trying to play for a conference championship later in the season. It's going to come down to not just saying those things but deciding how bad they really want that. If we stay focused and keep working hard, I think some of those things can happen."