Marmion's numbers down, commitment not
Marmion's 36-man varsity roster matches the smallest in coach Dan Thorpe's 34-year head coaching career. He is not discouraged.
“It's been an interesting journey for myself, and it's exciting,” Thorpe said.
“The beauty of this thing is every kid really wants to be at practice. We've had tremendous commitment. Everybody's been there every day because they know they've got to be there for their brother. They can't let anybody down and they don't want to. And that's just awesome.”
Keeping players healthy and rested is paramount, reflected in a planned patient, ball-control offense.
“Possessions will be minimal,” he said, “so we need to be efficient.”
In addition to natural attrition the Cadets lost four players representing eight starting positions. Most impactful was 2014 leading rusher and tackler Lucas Warren's transfer to Bolingbrook and Nate Traxler opting out after receiving a Stanford wrestling scholarship.
Still, Thorpe likes what he has.
Six-four, 215-pound quarterback Johnny Tate owns a college frame and interest. As a junior he ran for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns, and has honed his passing form with a quarterbacks coach.
One of three returning offensive starters, Tate lines up behind two others, all-Chicago Catholic Green center Baylor Johnson and guard Jeremy Daum. Tackles Adam Miller and Adam Prosser are 280-plus bookends.
Squired into the ground game are backs including Nick Sevenich, Jett Haas and Cole Bonebrake. Despite just 3 touchdown catches last season Thorpe aims for run-pass balance.
The defense — which lost coordinator Geoff Durian to St. Francis but brings in Jim Bonebrake with lengthy prep and college experience — will feature several two-way players. One who really tickles Thorpe is 260-pound junior tackle Wes Kramer, noted in his preseason prospectus as “one of the most physical linemen I have coached.”
Thorpe portrays Kramer as a throwback to colorful former professional lineman Alex Karras. Kramer also made 41 tackles to lead all returners, including defensive backs Bonebrake and Eli Baltazar.
Special teams are secured by Tate and Connor Hoeft, the latter a college prospect who reached the 2014 NFL Punt, Pass and Kick Contest finals. This summer Hoeft's punting earned Kohl's Kicking Camps' No. 1 rank among Illinois juniors, No. 5 for field goal kickers.
Marmion football has always highlighted trust and community. It's needed now more than ever. Thorpe feels his Cadets have delivered.
“Great attitude, work ethic, family attitude, brotherhood and you know what? Those things get you as many victories as talent,” he said. “If we get beat it's not because our kids didn't have effort or play smart. We'll get beat just because an opponent has more numbers.”