A new year, a new team
HERMAN — Coming off its most successful season in the Summit Academy's history, it's back to the drawing board for the Knights.
After a 5-4 record and falling just short of a playoff berth, the Knights are starting from scratch, but coach Steve Sherer always has been able to piece together a competitive squad.
"As the season goes on the kids will get much better," said Sherer. "There's room for them to grow. They're pretty much learning the game."
And the team moves from the Tri-County North to the Allegheny Conference, so they return to face teams they did from a few seasons ago.
Still, it will be hard to replace some of the dynamic players of a year ago, when LaRon Green completed 67 of 106 passes for 1,313 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions.
Also gone are running backs Theo Betts (10 offensive TDs) and David Lawrence, and receiver Terrence Davis (28 catches, 665 yards, 6 TD).
The Knights do return receiver Chris Pollard (18-325-4) and will have either banged-up quarterback Derrick Rawls or 6-foot-4 Kevin Goodman running the offense.
"Derrick is a pretty athletic kid and can throw the ball vertically," said Sherer. "I don't know if he's played high school football before, but he's pretty athletic. (Goodman) just turned 16 and throws a nice ball. (He's) not as athletic, but he can throw."
Tailbacks Darnell Jenkins and Shaquille West will highlight the tailbacks, while Malik Reed and Antonio Wilson will lead the fullbacks.
"We also have a good core of receivers with Alonzo Owens, Marcus Wade, Raheem Maxwell and Bijon Marshall," said Sherer. "We're a little deeper."
Sherer hopes to have those players protected by an offensive line that will include center Travis Miller, guards Kelly Cepeda and Dakota Leach, and tackle Chris Hudson.
Inexperience will be commonplace on the defense, but there's quite a lot to work with.
"Our secondary is athletic and the defensive ends are athletic," said Sherer. "The defense from a personnel standpoint, should be pretty good.
"All the schools we face have very good traditions, like Ford City, Shady Side Academy, Kittanning, Apollo-Ridge.
"We'll have our work cut out for us. It will be a little tougher, but we'll have a little something to work from for next year and in the years to come,"Sherer added.
Sherer sees a growing process throughout the season, culminating with better results in the latter half of the season.
"This team won't peak until the last game," said Sherer. "I think we have the weapons. We just have to make sure to teach the kids they have to be focused and not make mistakes that take us out of the game.
"We have a long way to go, but (by last week) we should be 100 percent from where we are (in mid-August) and I look forward to that,"Sherer added.
