So what was Donegal’s reward for a nine-win season and a trip to the District 3 Class AAA playoffs last fall? How about losing 16 total starters to graduation from a team that romped to a 9-1 regular-season mark and made the playoffs for the second year in a row. Ouch. The good news: Two-way terror Kris Trimby returns, and he means business. Below is the Indians’ Countdown to Camp preview.
SCHOOL NAME: Donegal Indians
COACH: Jeff Polites
LAST YEAR: 9-2 overall, 5-1 in L-L Section 3
LAST 5 YEARS: 22-30
RETURNING STARTERS: 3 on offense; 3 on defense
KEY PLAYERS: FB-LB Kris Trimby; RB-LB Jarrod Smith; C-DE Zach Trigg; TE-LB Bryce Sadler; RB-LB Connor Maxwell; OT-DT Derek Frantz.
OFFENSIVE OVERVIEW: I’ll hit you with the good news first — Workhorse FB Kris Trimby is back in tow. All he did last fall was rush for 1,344 yards and 18 touchdowns out of the Indians’ vaunted “Wing-T” scheme, and he was named the Section 3 Running Back of the Year. He’s a beast. If you could pick one kid in the L-L right now to be your FB in a three-pronged backfield, Trimby would be your guy. Scatback Jarrod Smith, who rushed for 342 yards and five scores last fall, also returns. As for experienced skill kids, that’s about it. Donegal must also replace all-star QB Matt Foltz, who went up top for 1,198 yards and 14 TDs last fall. On the plus side, Zach Trigg, at center, and Derek Frantz, at tackle, have been through some trench wars and they’ll anchor the line — a line that must keep a newbie QB upright and help make holes for Trimby and Smith.
DEFENSIVE OVERVIEW: I’ll hit you with the good news first — Ball-hawker LB Kris Trimby is back in tow. All he did last fall was pile up 46 solo tackles, make 72 stops in all, pick up a sack, intercept five passes, force a fumble and pounce on a fumble, and he was named the Section 3 Linebacker of the Year. He’s a beast. If you could pick one kid in the L-L right now to anchor your LB corps, Trimby would be on your short list. More good news: Smith, who had 74 tackles, two picks and four fumble recoveries last fall, and Sadler, who had a breakout soph season with 29 tackles last fall, are also back at LB, giving the Indians a nice 1-2-3 punch in that department in Donegal’s “4-4” scheme. Not a lot of familiar names back in the mix — on either side of the ball — but Polites said there’s plenty of skill and some depth on D. That’s definitely a good thing.
BIGGEST GAME: September 20 vs. Garden Spot. Spartans handed the Indians their lone Section 3 loss last year. This year, Donegal gets Garden Spot at home — with revenge on its mind. It’s the section opener, but it’ll go a long way in determining the winner.
MORE DONEGAL INDIANS: 2013 SCHEDULE
REINHART’S CRYSTAL BALL: Methinks Donegal will come back to the pack a bit, but that’s bound to happen when you lose 16 total starters and return just 11 kids with varsity experience. That said, I still like where Donegal is going. The Indians have made some great strides the last four seasons under Polites, culminating with nine wins last fall and back-to-back trips to the District 3 Class AAA playoffs. Can the Indians make it three postseason rides in a row? Might be a tad tougher this time around, so the quicker they can get all the new kids acclimated, the better. And enjoy Trimby. He’s a beast.