Eagles want to resurface in 1A

Berwick taking ‘baby steps’ approach in ’13
August 29, 2013
Braves believe skill players will pave the way
August 29, 2013
Berwick taking ‘baby steps’ approach in ’13
August 29, 2013
Braves believe skill players will pave the way
August 29, 2013

Several players on the Central Catholic football team are being asked to step up this year.

That’s because the school lost 12 seniors from a playoff team a year ago and are returning just four starters on offense entering the 2013 season.

Central Catholic is coming off a 6-4 season that ended with a loss to Cedar Creek in the opening round of the playoffs. It was the Eagles’ fourth consecutive playoff appearance and the first time they’d failed to make it past the first round since 2009.


Given the school’s deep playoff runs in 2010 and 2011, it was a disappointing way to end a season in which the Eagles scored at least 40 points in seven consecutive contests and went 6-1 in that stretch.

This season, the offense is putting a stronger emphasis on the running game by operating more out of the traditional I-formation in practice.

“We’re going to get under center and run the ball a little bit more in the I-formation,” Eagles coach David Fuhrer said. “We haven’t done that in quite a few years.”


The reason for that is the number of players Central Catholic has to replace on offense this season, particularly at quarterback, where the team doesn’t have much in the way of experience. Senior Nick Case has been named the team’s starter behind center, but he hasn’t played the position since his eighth-grade year.

Operating out of the “I-form” feels more natural, Case said, than some of the more complex, spread-offense schemes that Central Catholic has run in the past.

To be clear, the Eagles aren’t eliminating the spread offense under Case. They’re just putting more attention on the “I” package this fall as a way to better fit their personnel.


“We’re still a spread team, we’ve just got different personnel,” Fuhrer said. “We lost two quarterbacks that had been here for three years. The quarterbacks we have coming up now haven’t (played) in the spread, so we thought this was a good time.”

Case was used as a slot receiver in the Eagles’ offense last year and admits it’s been a big adjustment moving over to play quarterback.

“As a slot receiver, you just play,” Case said. “As a quarterback, you’re the leader of the offense and people expect you to be the leader of the team. That was something different for me, having to step up and be a leader. But I feel like I’m ready for the challenge.”


Case may lack experience behind center at the varsity level, but there’s no question about his athleticism. He competes in both baseball and basketball in addition to the snaps he garnered at wide receiver last year.

“We’re going to give him his opportunity,” Fuhrer said. “We’ve got a couple of other guys that may see some action there, but we’re going to go with Nick first.”

At running back, the Eagles feature a number of backs that could see playing time this year.


Sophomore Stephano Guarisco is likely to be the primary ball-carrier in a stable that includes Eric Blanchard, Charlie Barron, Garret LeBlanc, T.J. Ruffin and Logan Arias.

“We’ll find out if anyone steps up in our (pre-season scrimmage),” Fuhrer said. “Stephano plays defense, returns kicks and does a lot of stuff. We’re going to see if we can find a rotation in there. Hopefully we can get some depth.”

On the offensive line, seniors Joe Michell and Collin Conner are the only two starters who return. Kyle Autin saw playing time on the line last year and figures to factor in this season.


In the receiving core, senior Tyler Hoffpauir might be the only true wide-out, but Barron, Guarisco, and Jalen Johnson are also capable of catching passes.

“We lost some guys that had been around for two or three years,” Fuhrer said. “They were starters and not only at skill positions, but also linemen, so we’re kind of revamping what we do. We just need to make sure we execute. We’re doing a few things differently on offense than we have in the past. We hope to be able to put up some points.”

Defensively, the Eagles have a bit more experience with the return of seven and possibly eight players from last year’s unit.


Guarisco starts at cornerback in a secondary that will feature Barron, Hoffpauir and others, while LeBlanc, Michell, Conner and Ruffin are big names in the Eagles’ front seven.

“The part we’re going to have to worry about defensively is linebacker,” Fuhrer said. “We don’t have a whole lot of returning linebackers, but LeBlanc is returning at middle linebacker. Most of the guys on the line have a couple of starts and we’ve got experience in the secondary, so we’ve got some (expertise) on the defensive side of the ball and hopefully we can take that into the season.”

While Central Catholic may be tasked with replacing a lot of talent this season, particularly on offense, players believe the pieces are still in place.


“We have a lot to (rebuild), especially with such a young team,” Conner said. “But I think we have a lot of talent just like we did last year, and a lot of heart.”

“We’ll have to see what happens when the season starts, but everyone is pretty excited,” Case added. “It’s a good atmosphere here and I hope we can keep it going.”

Central Catholic opens its season against Loreauville on Sept. 6.


Central Catholic players Collin Conner (left) and Nick Case smile while standing on a soggy practice field. The Eagles aim to return to the Superdome in 2013. 

STEVE HOLLEY | TRI-PARISH TIMES