ST. MARYS –– After a winless campaign in 2013, head coach Tony Gerg led Elk Catholic to its best season in more than 20 seasons last fall.
His task this year? Do it all over again.
Oh, and do it with the services of just one senior on the roster as the Crusaders look to avenge last season’s defeat in the District 9 Class A championship game, the first district title game the program has participated in since the 1995 season. That senior, Brandon Reed, is the leader among the six returning letterwinners and one Gerg plans to lean on heavily.
“I’ll probably be leaning on him until he falls over,” Gerg said of his 5-10, 185-pound tight end and defensive back. “He has to accept that responsibility. Brandon, God bless him, has been with me for four years now. He’s been through thick and thin. There were a lot of times when we didn’t have a JV program and to stick it out and continue on, I give him all the credit in the world.”
While the Crusaders don’t have as many veterans players as others around the Big 30 — the team graduated 12 players from last year’s 8-4 campaign — Gerg is looking to Reed and other players, like junior Ben Sherry, for leadership.
“[Brandon’s] finally in a position as a senior that he’s worked his way into that leadership role,” Gerg said. “Ben and some other guys have to fill that leadership role with only a few kids on the team that are a little bit older. It’s a challenge but also one that we welcome.”
Among the holes to fill this year are the oversized ones of Doug Schatz and Joe Kucenski, now playing at Clarion University, on both offensive and defensive lines. Also departed are running backs Dan Stauffer and Braun and quarterback Nate DaCanal. All three provided a bulk of last year’s offense.
Is that cause for concern?
“Every year, it’s a new personality, a new face,” Gerg said. “It’s the same thing with this year. We’re just going to see how things play out. If anything, we’re feisty. We have a young group, but they’re feisty. They like to play football. That’s something you can definitely build on and go in the right direction. The expectations are still high for them. I still think we can win with this team and go in the right direction and achieve our goals.”
Taking on advanced roles this year will be Tyler Dilley, the top returning back, ran for 111 on just 13 carries and scored once as a sophomore last year. Sophomore Alec Bitler also carried 13 times last year.
Despite the team’s relative youth and lower numbers, Gerg’s single-wing, multiple option offense is a system the Crusaders believe can thrive with athletes rather than pure positional players.
“I think with this position, we can plug and play a little easier,” Gerg said. “We always have a lot of athletes. Maybe not somebody with a golden arm, but certainly people who can run, throw, do all these things. So why not utilize both of them? I don’t need someone to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. I just need someone to throw a couple completions and keep the chains moving.”
The Crusaders’ quarterback is going to be one that is produced through an open competition in training camp. However, he’ll still have protection from returning lettermen Hunter Cashmer and Sherry, both juniors.
Brennen Klawuhn started last year as a slot end and cornerback, catching one pass for seven yards on offense and recording 31 tackles and a sack on defense.
Returning starters
Hunter Cashmer, junior, 6-0, 175, guard/linebacker
Tyler Dilley, junior, 5-5, 140, running back/linebacker
Alec Bitler, junior, 5-6, 150, running back/cornerback
Ben Sherry, junior, 6-2, 225, offensive line/defensive line
Brandon Reed, senior, 5-10, 185, tight end/cornerback
Brennen Klawuhn, 5-10, 165, slot end/cornerback
The players, by position:
Offense
Quarterbacks
Dilley, Stephen Bobby (so., 5-10, 155)
Running backs
Bitler, Dillon Braun (jr., 5-6, 170)
Ends
Reed, Alex Breindl (jr., 6-0, 175)
Guards/tackles
Sherry, Jared Emmert (so., 6-0, 240)
Center
Alex Fedus (jr., 5-10, 210)
Defense
Ends
Klawuhn, Leo Gregory (so., 5-10, 150)
Gaurds/tackles
Emmert, Sherry, Anthony Gerg (so., 5-11, 130), Ethan Alexander (jr., 5-11, 185)
Linebackers
Cashmer
Secondary
Reed, Ryan Fritz (jr., 5-7, 140), John Wittman (so. 5-8, 130), Sam Gregory (jr., 5-10, 150), Evan Zelinski (jr., 5-8, 160)
THE SCHEDULE
Elk County Catholic
August
25 – ECC 27, Sheffield 12
September
2 – Cameron County
8 – at Otto-Eldred
16 – Coudersport
22 – at Bradford High
30 – Kane
October
6 – Brockway
13 – Curwensville
20 – at Ridgway
