Saints' line looks to push foes around
Pity the poor defensive lineman who sees St. Charles East's offensive line sprinting toward him out of the huddle.
Snapping the ball is probable starting center Charles Ratajczak, a stout 5-foot-11, 235 pounds. Fair enough. That's a decent size for a high school lineman.
Ratajczak will be flanked, however, by a herd of fellow seniors whose size wouldn't look out of place on a Division I college roster.
From left to right, probable starters Mark Lindholm, Rafael Flores, Andrew Bradburn and Eric Olstad are listed on the roster at a minimum of 6-foot-1, 300 pounds. The line will round out with a returning starter at tight end, 235-pound Jess Stiedl.
These guys aren't just huge pylons.
"They're just athletes," said new Saints head coach Mike Fields, who comes aboard after 10 years at Geneva, where as coach Rob Wicinski's first hire, he helped turn a doormat into a big winner.
"They can move, and I think that's going to be one of the strengths of our team," said Fields, also the Saints' offensive coordinator. "You win or you lose with your offensive and defensive lines. I feel confident."
Fields undoubtedly would feel more confident had he the established running backs of his predecessor Ted Monken, who enjoyed the separate three-year terms of John Brown and Wes Allen. Allen ran for 1,929 yards and 30 touchdowns last season.
The current backfield looks to field senior fullback Andrew Gomez, who carried 11 times for 44 yards last season; and senior Cory Campbell, who Fields said hadn't played in "a couple of years." The backfield, which also includes co-captain Nolan Possley at quarterback after a year at receiver, may still sort itself out the first few games.
One player Fields was considering to run the ball, Jon Voytilla, is tailor-made for a goal-line package. The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder is a go-to tackle on the defense, which looks to be another strength of St. Charles East.
Voytilla is among several returning starters from a defense that in 2008 allowed 177 points to trail only St. Charles North in the Upstate Eight Conference, and which allowed a county-low 189.5 yards per game.
Defensive end Stiedl, middle linebacker Phil Bucaro, and safeties Bryce Barry and Matt Payne are also back for more. They'll be joined by such quality athletes Tyler Nutting, cornerback Pat Hogan and lineman Josh Spudich.
Special teams also offer quality experience headed by kicker Dan Kellar - who converted 44 extra points in 2008 - and returning punter Anders Johnson.
They're all enveloped in Fields' infectious optimism, which no doubt helped him land his first prep head coaching job, "a dream come true."
"All along I've been a big family guy, and I think it starts there," Fields said. "I think it starts with creating an atmosphere that kids want to be a part of."