2018 Bearcat Season Preview |
 The 2018 KCD Bearcats have been working extremely hard this Summer in their conditioning and during practices. This team is led by 9 outstanding Seniors that are motivated and ready for their turn to lead the program. For the first time, the Seniors took part in leadership training classes led by a sports physiologist and created a team mission statement and team goals for both on and off the field. This year’s team mission is very simple: All Out. The 2018 Bearcats feature an excellent collection of skill players, both runners and receivers, along with a young and constantly improving line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Here’s the 2018 Season Preview: Offense The 2018 Bearcat Offense will be led by Junior QB Dorian Heard (6' 185). He played primarily defense last season, but shows outstanding promise as a passer, runner, and even as a receiver and is dangerous with the football in his hands. If Dorian is not under Center, Freshman Luke Russo (5’10” 150) who has had an outstanding Summer, will be playing QB for the Bearcats. At the Running Back position, the Bearcats will be led by Senior Blake Caldwell (5'9" 170). Blake gained 543 yards and scored 7 TDs on only 45 carries last season, an average of 12 yards per carry. The 2018 Bearcats will continue to spread the ball around the field and running backs like veteran Bearcat Junior Nick Smith, So. Drew Russell, Fr. Nate Caldwell, So. Aidan Yerasimides, and Sr. Ken Thomas will carry the ball and catch passes. At the all-important Fullback position, the 2018 Bearcats return Sr. standout David Satterly (5'8' 205) and he will block, run, and catch the ball as well. The Bearcats will feature two experienced Senior Tight Ends in standouts Lawson Whiting (6'2" 170) and Hunter Bates (6'3" 205). Both are tall targets who block well and can create mismatches in the passing game. Other Tight Ends who will see game action are So. Max Rumpke and So. Grayson Bailey, along with Sr. Myles Howell, who is returning from a knee injury last season. On the line of scrimmage, the Bearcats will have five new starters. The Center position will be manned by Jr. Liam Gallagher (5'10" 250) who has worked extremely hard this offseason and returns stronger and quicker. The Bearcats will employ tough and strong So. Henry Jackson (5'10" 190) at Strong Guard and So. newcomer from Trinity Vince Evans (6’2" 185) at Quick Guard. At Tackle, Sr. leader Max Mead (6'1" 210) will man the Quick side and So. Newcomer from Trinity Desric Mason (6’2” 250) will play the Strong side. The Offensive line rotation will also consist of dependable Jr. Ogulcan Kirazoglu and Sr. Antonio Roccisano. Defense The Bearcat Defense will be led by Sophomore MLB Exavier Douglas (5'9" 185). Exavier started the last 5 games, including the playoff games in 2017, and is ready for an even bigger role this Fall. He totaled 29 tackles and 1 Interception seeing action in only 6 games in 2017. On the interior Defensive line, the Bearcats will employ a solid platoon unit featuring Gallagher, Satterly, Jackson, Mason, and Roccisano At Defensive End, the Bearcats will feature Senior Max Mead, along with Rumpke, Evans, and Howell. At the second level, the Inside Linebackers will be Douglas and Senior Lawson Whiting, along with Kirazoglu and Grayson Bailey. The Outside Linebackers will include standout Fr. Nate Caldwell and speedy So. Drew Russell (5”10” 155), with Dorian Heard also playing meaningful snaps. The secondary will highlight Blake Caldwell at Free Safety, who finished 3rd on the 2017 team with 68 tackles. Caldwell will have first-rate backups in So. Yerasimides and Fr. Russo. The Corners will be tall and rangy Sr. Ken Thomas and outstanding football newcomer and multi-sport athlete So. Jalen Todd (5’9” 170) along with Sophomore KCD newcomers Jackson Hubert and Max Cohen and Jr. Nick Smith. Special Teams The Special Teams will be led by Senior Kicker Michael Wright. Michael is entering his 3rd year kicking for the Bearcats and tallied 62 extra points and 2 Field Goals last season. The second Kicker in the program will be Freshman soccer standout Zach Schonwetter. The long snapping will be handled by Nick Smith. The Punter position will be manned by David Satterly and Luke Russo. Outlook According to Coach Jones: “This group has been so much fun to work with this Summer. They show up focused and ready to work each day and we are going to take care of the small details as well as we ever have because of our Senior leadership. What we lack in numbers, we are going to make up for in effort, unselfishness, and execution on the field. Every player on a team with our numbers is going to be counted on to contribute and some may have to do so in multiple positions to help the team. I also believe that this team, especially both lines of scrimmage, will improve over the course of the season and be better in October and November when the games really count than early in the season.” The KCD Bearcats season opens on August 17 at home against Atherton at 7:00 p.m. Click here to view the 2018 schedule |