Losing 17 starters from a team that won nine games, scored a ton of points and had a stingy defense is a bit unnerving. There's more to this Shamrocks team than meets the eye and while the new kids on the block get settled in QB Mike Boguski and WR Brandon Kuntz will play pitch and catch. Below is their Countdown to Camp preview.
School Name: Trinity Shamrocks
Coach: Bill Ragni
Last Year: 9-2, 7-0 Capital champions
Last 5 Years: 44-15
Returning Starters: 2 on offense; 3 on defense
Key Players: QB-DB Mike Boguski; WR-S Brandon Kuntz; DB-WR Logan McNally; DT-OG Jake Ragni; WR-DE Patrick Kline; OL-MLB Austin Rairdain; RB-DB Zeke Kaminski; OT-DE John Kline; C-LB Nick Centurione; RB-DB John Miller.
Offense Overview: Don’t expect another 365 yards and nearly 35 points a game average for 2013. The combination of a hammer running back, talented wide receivers and a gunslinger at quarterback made the Shamrocks’ 2012 offense a dynamite stick on Friday nights. The gunslinger, senior QB Mike Boguski, is back. But the remaining cast of regular big-play characters is gone. Still, there are certain elements to this offense in 2013 that certainly give it plenty of potential. Behind Boguski is 6-5 WR Brandon Kuntz. The senior is getting some FBS interest and has great hands and speed for a guy his size. And Boguski can pitch the pill. He completed 58 percent of his passes last year for nearly 1,800 yards. Running back and offensive line are where the new names will come into play. Almost zero experience at those spots will mean some growing pains. So the counter to that is spread the field and toss the ball around the lot. Love it.
Defense Overview: Only one more returning starter on this side of the ball than on offense. But Trinity has a few more players who while not full-time starters did play in three or four games on defense. And allowing only 18.5 points while also averaging nearly two takeaways is hard to duplicate, a solid group of linebackers once again will help steer the ship. When was the last time Trinity’s front seven was suspect across the board? Come on, these guys re-load on defense. Jake Ragni started all 11 games at DT. Kuntz is a potential all-state safety. Patrick Kline, John Kline and John Miller all started four or five games on defense last season.
Biggest Game: September 6 vs. Selinsgrove
More Trinity Shamrocks: 2013 Schedule | Tentative 2013 Roster
Shay’s Crystal Ball: You don’t average nine wins a season over five years without being able to re-tool and keep the machine rolling when new parts are inserted. Yes Trinity has only five total starters back and who knows what to expect from the offensive line and running backs. Somehow Bill Ragni and his staff have been able to figure it out. My gut tells me the offense won’t be as explosive as last year, but getting to 24 points will not be an issue. And there’s more experience on the defense than those three returning starters. And a couple of transfers, one each from Cumberland Valley and Bishop McDevitt, helped fill some gaps. I see a Capital contender – again. That tough early schedule of Delone Catholic and Selinsgrove to open the season will quickly welcome those who aren’t ready for the bright lights.
More: Complete Countdown to Camp coverage
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