Row 1: Jacob Widman, Marcus Kerr, Bennett Weickert, Corey Durbin, Matt Fox, head coach T.J. Buckley, Mitchell Gonya, Ryan Williams, Grant Mercer, Hunter Harrison, Nick Militello
Row 2: Assistant coach Seth Dufendock, assistant coach Justin Carmack, Gavin Kubat, Parker Stierwalt, Bobby Mancha, Brock Schultz, Jake Yeckley, Kyle Veleba, Josh Holland, Nick Magro, Travis Cook, assistant coach Jim Carmack, assistant coach Scott Stecher
Row 3: Zach Militello, Jordon Hartley, Derek Rosengarten, Fabian Cortez, Johnny Moreno, Ben Mancha, Eric Fulwider, Alan Refugio, Josh Anderson, Nathan Burns
ABOUT THE TEAM
Coach: T.J. Buckley, first year
Last season: 10-2, 7-0 Midland Athletic League
Returning letter winners: 12
Returning starters: Offense 10, defense 9
Schemes: Multiple/4-3
Top players: Seniors Corey Durbin, 6-0, 255, OL-DL; Mitchell Gonya, 5-10, 180, RB-DB; Hunter Harrison, 6-2, 230, TE-LB; Marcus Kerr, 5-9, 170, RB; Nick Militello, 6-2, 285, OL-DL; Junior Jake Yeckley, 5-9, 160, WR-DB.
Outlook: Buckley takes over a program that made the postseason in three of the last four seasons. He spent last seasonas Elmwood’s co-defensive coordinator following a five-year run as an assistant to Mike Vicars at Genoa.
The Crimson Streaks have the talent to repeat as league champion, but lack the depth to offset a rash of injuries. Durbin, Harrison, Kerr, and Militello all made All-MAL first team a year ago, while Gonya and Yeckley landed on the second team.
Buckley is transitioning to a run-oriented attack from the spread system employed previously. That could mean good things for Kerr, who ran for 924 yards and 12 TDs last year.
"It’s a little more complex in the running game and a little less complex in the passing game," said Buckley. "It’s a switch in mentality in being more physical."
Taking over at quarterback is Kyle Veleba, a junior, with the graduation of Zach Yeckley (2,230 yards, 29 TDs in 2012).
FREMONT ST. JOSEPH SCHEDULE
Aug. 30-at Lake
Sep. 7-at Sandusky St. Mary
Sep. 14-Gibsonburg
Sep. 20-Seneca East
Sep. 27-at Carey
Oct. 4-Lakota
Oct. 11-at Hopewell-Loudon
Oct. 19-Tiffin Calvert
Oct. 25-at North Baltimore
Nov. 1-Mohawk