Prepzone Pigskin Preview 2017

By: Megan McGill
ST. MARY’S CATHOLICCARDINALS
After losing only one senior to
graduation last year, St. Mary’s
finished the 2016 season 8-2
with essentially their entire
team in tact. Losing six starters
to graduation and one transfer,
St. Mary’s will only return
two starters on both offense
and defense, putting them in a
much different situation than
last fall.
Head coach Tony Allen will be
looking for fresh faces to fill
positions at outside linebacker,
defensive tackle, fullback,
and nose guard just to name
a few. Although the Cardinals
won’t have a lot of experience
this time around, Allen is still
confident in his roster.
“Even though we lost seven
starters, a lot of the returners
played meaningful minutes,”
he said.
The most experienced name on
the roster will be senior Taylan
Reiser (5’8” 205 lbs). Reiser
is a two-year starter who will
see action at outside guard,
defensive tackle and middle
linebacker. Last season Reiser
TEAM FACTS
Team Name: Cardinals
Class: D2
2016 Record: 8-2
Playoff Appearances: 16
Head Coach: Tony Allen
Career Record: 102-69
Assistant Coach: Darold
Schneider
recorded 47 tackles and one
sack. Reiser will likely settle
into a leadership role come this
fall.
The Cardinals offense that
rushed for 219.9 yards a game
will look to running back
Jared Atkeson (5’9” 170 lbs).
The senior has never started,
but still put up some good
numbers last season rushing
for 232 yards. Atkeson will also
see time on defense at outside
linebacker. The senior recorded
66 tackles last fall. Senior Tate
Shoemaker (5’11” 160lbs) and
junior Zach Crumly (5’8” 165
lbs) will join Atkeson at outside
linebacker.
Grady Semin (6’ 3” 170 lbs) will
be another name to watch out
for. Never being in a starting
role, his chances this year look
pretty good. In 2016 he had 134
yards on the ground and 79
receiving yards. He’ll make an
impact on defense at safety too,
where he racked up 18 total
tackles. Allen said he will likely
be the team’s new quarterback.
Cole Rosenkrans (6’1” 220 lbs)
will be another force on the
3-1/4-2 defense. At 220 pounds,
he’ll provide some size for the
Cardinals at defensive tackle
and offensive guard.
With a brand new starting
lineup will come more learning
and a new team chemistry and
identity.
“We need to stay healthy,”
Allen said. “We will have
2017 SCHEDULE
8/25 Allen
8/31 @ Clearwater-Orchard
9/7 Wausa
9/21 @ Stuart
9/29 @ Elkhorn Valley
10/5 Bloomfield
10/13 North Central
10/19 @ Osmond
new players learning new
positions. We need to develop
team cohesion with seven new
starters.”
The three-time state
championship program knows
what it takes to get to the
playoffs. The Cardinals were
knocked off by Blue Hill in the
second round, 42-14. Losing
just once in the regular season,
this new Cardinal squad will
have their work cut out for
them this time around.
St. Mary’s may lack in the
experience category this
year, but there will still be no
shortage of drive and talent.
The Cardinals will open their
season on Aug. 25 at home
against Allen.
Key Players:
Taylan Reiser (5’8” 205 lbs) Sr.
OG/MLB/DT
Jared Atkeson (5’9” 170 lbs) Sr.
RB/OLB
Grady Semin (6’3” 170 lbs) Jr.
E/S
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