This Cary-Grove team seeks its own identity

Cary-Grove enjoyed the most successful football season in school history in 2009, culminating in the Class 6A title.

With most of that team lost to graduation, the Trojans must replace starters at 19 of 22 positions. The only three starting position players returning from the championship squad are tight end Cole Connington, offensive tackle Rich Kersten and defensive back Danny Sarillo. Kicker Nick Taylor also returns.

"We'll strive to gain a new identity with these kids, and we're all really clear that we're not really the defending champ because that team has graduated," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "This is a new team. We have to cut our own path.

"We know with the amount of inexperience we have there's going to be some mistakes. The fewer mistakes we make each week, the better off we're going to be."

The varsity now includes a junior class that went 9-0 as sophomores last season, plus four sophomore call-ups. The quarterback of that undefeated sophomore team, junior Corey Laktas (5-9, 160), takes over for the graduated Tyler Krebs as the director of the triple-option offense. Kay said Laktas is a better runner than he was a year ago and "does a nice job of distributing the ball."

Two sophomores join the backfield. Ryan Mahoney (5-10, 150) will play the slot position and Patrick O'Malley (5-8, 170) will play fullback. However, others could see carries because the disparity in talent level between first and second string is slight, Kay said.

Making holes up front will be a good-sized line with Connington at tight end, tackles Kersten (6-3, 235) and junior Matt Gerebizza (6-4, 245), senior guards Jimmy Allen (6-0, 250) and Kenny Pistorious (6-4, 245) and senior center Jon Schemmel (6-2, 250). Several backups will see playing time as well.

The Trojans are equally unproven defensively with only free safety Sarillo (5-11, 195) returning. He made 6 assisted tackles in the championship game against Providence, including one tackle for loss. Junior Sean Keady (6-0, 165) will man the other free safety spot.

Kersten, going both ways, will play defensive end. Junior Sam Babick (6-1, 170) steps in at inside linebacker. Overall, the defense is young. Two sophomores could start at linebacker for what is an unproven defense at the varsity level.

"It's a defense that's improving each week," Kay said. "They're similar to our offense. They're both in the same boat. We have a number of guys who are competing. With young people sometimes you have good days, sometimes you have bad days.

"This will be similar to our past defenses, where we've attempted to play faster than we actually are with our reactions and techniques, etc. It'll be a competitive team."