Coach: Scott Knisely, third year
Last season: 4-6, 3-4 Midland Athletic League
Returning letter winners: 18
Returning starters: Offense 11, defense 9
Schemes: Spread/4-2-5
Top players: Seniors Zach Yeckley, 5-11, 190, QB; Luke Stierwalt 6-1, 200, LB; Jordan Sessler, 5-7, 145, WR/DB. Juniors Corey Durbin 6-1, 245, G/DE; Mitchell Gonya 5-11, 190, RB/CB; Grant Mercer, 6-4, 220, OT/DE; Nick Militello, 6-4, 320, NT.
Outlook: The entire offense returns, headed by the quarterback-receiver combination of Yeckley (1,771 yards passing, 17 TDs) and Sessler (51 receptions, 808 yards).
Sessler was All-MAL first team, while Yeckley was second team. First-team selection Stierwalt (185 tackles) headlines a defense that includes second-team picks Gonya, who is moving from linebacker to cornerback, and Mercer.
The Crimson Streaks look to reach the playoffs for the third time in four years. Former Lake defensive coordinator Steve Hankish takes over in the same role and will employ a 4-2-5 scheme. Helping him is former North Baltimore head coach Chip Hollenback. With a roster of only 38, depth will be a concern.
"The maturity of the team is something that can be seen," Knisely said. "A lot of that comes from last year. We were a young football team. The one plus we saw is we continued to get better each week.".
2012 FREMONT ST. JOSEPH SCHEDULE
Aug. 25-Liberty-Benton
Aug. 31-Sandusky St. Mary
Sept. 7-at Gibsonburg
Sept. 14-at Seneca East
Sept. 22-Carey
Sept. 28-at Lakota
Oct. 5-Hopewell-Loudon
Oct. 13-at Tiffin Calvert
Oct. 20-North Baltimore
Oct. 26-at Mohawk