2019 Team Preview: Mercyhurst Prep Lakers @mpslakers @coachroot82
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Billy Splain | August 21, 2019
| 2018 Season Record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10-1
2019 Schedule: https://pafootballnews.com/mercyhurst-prep-lakers/
|
| Head Coach |
| Jeff Root |
| Assistant Coaches |
| Rich Krafty Scott Gorring Trey Proctor Scott Moneta Joe DiSanti Ken Brasington Dan DiTullio Andre Bridgett Greg Luce Dan Loringer Carlos Rogers Matt Glass Steve Wingenbach Todd DiGange |
| Key Starters Lost |
| Jason Lawrence – LB Dex Polk – LB Ben Guild – Slot Khalil Barnes – RB / S Zack Helsely – RB / LB Mike Krafty – QB Isaiah Johnson – G Derek Loringer – C Tyrese Tate – LB Andrerw Montefiori – WR / DB |
| Offensive Starters Returning |
| Class Pos. Name Ht WtSR WR Iyan Baker 6’1” 175 SR WR Nate Helsley 6’3” 180 SR TE C.J. Liegl 6’3” 225 JR RB Steve Smith 6’1” 185 SR OT Dylan Schley 6’4” 285 JR OG Dave Kaliszewski 6’1” 230 JR OT Kaden Bluey 6’3” 245 |
| Defensive Starters Returning |
| Class Pos. Name Ht WtSR LB C.J. Liegl 6’3” 225 SR DE Nick Spaulding 6’1” 215 JR DT Dave Kaliszewski 6’1” 230 SR DT Dylan Schley 6’4” 285 JR DB Steve Smith 6’1” 185 SR DB Iyan Baker 6’1” 175 SR S Nate Helsley 6’3” 180 |
| Special Team Starters Returning |
| Class Pos. Name Ht WtSR P/K Sutton Rowland 5’10 ” 170 JR Returner Steve Smith 6’1′ 185 SR Returner Iyan Baker 6’1” 175 |
| Key Newcomers |
| Class Pos. Name Ht WtFR RB Gus Campbell 5’10” 170 FR QB David Bahm 6’2” 175 FR OL George Mann 6″ 215 SO RB Aronde Bridgett 5’9” 175 JR OL Dave Kaliszewski 6’1” 230 JR OL Kaden Bluey 6’3” 245 SR OL Nick Walters 6’3” 270 SR DL Nick Spaulding 6’1” 215 |
| What does your offense need to improve on from last year? |
| 1st Key: The keys to us being a successful offense in 2019 starts up-front. Our offensive line returns 4 starters including the TE who are seasoned. We need them to be able to control the line of scrimmage.2nd Key: Big Plays from the passing game. We must be affective in our passing game during the 2019 season. We will break in a new QB and we need to allow him to throw when we want. We need him to be comfortable and not place the burden on him. We have to be able to challenge teams vertically down the field which will complement what we feel will be a strong run game.
3rd Key: Getting Steve Smith the football. The most explosive player I’ve coached in 33 years of high school football. He can score anytime he touches the football. |
| What does your defense need to improve on from last year |
| 1st Key: The keys to us being a successful defense in 2019 starts with our front 4. We bring back 4 starters up front. After that we will rely on young, inexperienced players. We do bring back two secondary starters2nd Key: In a great year for our defense, we gave up a big play almost every game. We cannot give up big plays if we want to have a chance to move deeper in the playoffs in 2019.
3rd Key: Create turnovers! Our guys need to create defensive turnovers to allow us to keep our defense off the field, to change field position and to give our offense a chance to score more points. |
| What are your overall thoughts on this years team? |
| We could be 0-10 or 10-0 depending on how these new guys step-up and answer the call. Potentially they can be really, really good. This Senior class has been a part of 10-1 / 10-1 and 6-4 records the past 3 years so they know what it takes to win and maintain that edge as everyone in Region 5 will be playing their very best against us. We really love our young guys and are excited to see them play….its their time now! Realistically reaching the D10 3A title game isn’t out of the question for us….We just have to find a way to get past those always tough southern teams! |
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