Trojans ready for another run
CRANBERRY TWP — Patrick O'Shea knows what winning football looks like and what it takes to get there.
North Catholic's head coach watched his team reach the WPIAL semifinals the last two seasons. Nothing he's seen in the offseason and in summer camp tells him 2019 can't be another standout year for the Trojans.
“We opened our weight room in January,” he said. “We had our best attendance in an offseason, always had high numbers. The summer was calm. Everybody was there and eager to be there. They're well-prepared.”
That attention to detail should yield more-than-capable backups at a number of positions.
“By the start of the season, we should have 18 kids who can start on either side of the ball,” said O'Shea.
One of the positions North is very deep at is running back, where six players have a legitimate shot to get a substantial number of carries this season.
The group is led by senior Eamon Straub, who was set to be featured last season before a broken thumb relegated him to playing strictly on defense as a linebacker.
“Eamon (6-0, 160) is a very unique runner with speed and power,” O'Shea said. “He played outside linebacker last year and waited until the season was over to have a pretty serious surgery. He's a tough kid.”
Another back who figures to pick up key yards on the ground is senior Anthony Serventi, who gained 407 yards and scored seven touchdowns last season.
The ground game, including mobile star quarterback Zack Rocco, will benefit from a line with three returning starters. Guards Carson Primrose and Dom Prentice and center Jack Friel are back.
“We don't play a Week 0 game,” said O'Shea, “so we'll take that time to figure out the other spots on the line.”
The receiving corps lost wideout Tyree Brown (36-757-8) to graduation and tight end/H-back Nikhai Hill-Green (23-393-5) to transfer. But junior Nick Maher returns after catching 17 passes for 283 yards while scoring six touchdowns a year ago.
“He really finished last year lights out,” related O'Shea. “He got a full year of experience and has assumed the leading role in the passing game.”
Primrose (6-1, 275) and Prentice (5-11, 290) provide the defense with two cornerstones on the line.
“They're two of the best tackles in the WPIAL,” said O'Shea.
Other starters back include linebackers Straub and Mathias Benson, who makes the defensive calls, and cornerback Carson Laconi.
O'Shea is also very high on linebacker Vinny Pindell and safety Jaren Thimons. The former made 35 tackles in 2018.
Maher will be the punter while sophomore Will Kunzmann will once again do the kicking.
The Trojans figure to have some stiff competition in the WPIAL's Class AAA Big East Conference. Derry defeated North in the district semifinals last year. Elizabeth Forward and Freeport were the other teams to reach the playoffs.
“Every team now has a year in the conference under their belt,” said O'Shea. “They can adapt on both offense and defense.”
