Football preview: Catholic Central remembers the final drive

Irish finished ’09 on positive note; return to playoffs next on agenda


2010 schedule

Date Opponent

Aug. 27 at Shawnee

Sept. 3 Marion Local

Sept. 10 at Northwestern

Sept. 17 at Cedarville

Sept. 24 at Triad

Oct. 1 West Liberty-Salem

Oct. 8 Southeastern

Oct. 15 at Northeastern

Oct. 22 at Greeneview

Oct. 29 Mechanicsburg

2009 results

Opponent Result Score

Shawnee L 14-7

Minster L 32-0

Northwestern W 20-0

Cedarville W 41-9

Triad W 38-10

West Liberty -Salem L 13-7

Southeastern L 27-6

Northeastern W 8-6

Greeneview W 26-24

Mechanicsburg W 13-12

Results for last 10 seasons

Year Record

2009 6-4

2008 8-4

2007 13-1

2006 10-2

2005 10-2

2004 7-5

2003 9-3

2002 2-8

2001 4-6

2000 3-7

Totals 72-42

SPRINGFIELD — The last memory of the 2009 football season goes like this for the Catholic Central High School football team: A 97-yard drive, a game-winning touchdown and the Fighting Irish left Mechanicsburg with a 13-12 win.

That was the last win of a three-game winning streak to end the season.

But another streak was broken: The Irish missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years.

Getting back has been an impetus during the offseason, Catholic Central head coach Steve DeWitt said.

Offense

The Fighting Irish have a prolific pass-and-catch duo with QB Brian Kelly and WR Jake Aldridge.

Kelly was second in the area with 1,882 passing yards and 14 TDs. Aldridge caught an area-best 54 passes for 780 yards and seven TDs. Brad Kelley, Dimitrious Dimitroff and Sebastian Monnin (20-364-2) provide pass-catching depth. The Fighting Irish will continue to run a spread offense.

Corey Timmons (517 yards, five TDs) returns as the top rusher.

Seth Beedy, Michael Sullivan and Will McFadden are multiple-year starters on the offensive line and provide good anchors.

Defense

Monnin led the team with 96 tackles (48 solo) as a defensive end. He also had 12 tackles for a loss and four sacks.

Linebackers are Ryan Tumblison, Jared Panstingel (a Greenon transfer) and Reed Buxton. Coltin Weeks, Michael Sheehan and Kyle Cooper are on the defensive line.

The backfield is stacked with Aldridge, Dimitroff, Timmons and Brad Kelley.

The Irish have always used multiple defensive formations, depending on the opponent.

Extra points

• The Fighting Irish lost just two seniors to graduation. Large junior and sophomore classes have bumped the roster to 34, the most in several years.

• The first two games are big tests. They travel to Shawnee (9-4 last season) in Week 1, then host perennial small-school power Marion Local (8-6) in Week 2.

Coach’s quote

“We’ve got some versatility that we’re unused to because we’ve got some younger guys, kids like Ryan Weeks, Dale Maloney and Taylor Gannon, that can step into any role,” DeWitt said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0366 or bplasters@coxohio.com.

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