Running game will be Genoa-Kingston’s bread and butter

Updated: August 22, 2011 7:18PM

Considering that Genoa-Kingston will have a new head coach, a new offense and a new conference, you might be surprised at how much things will stay the same for the Cogs.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the hope of making a playoff run like G-K has in four of the last five seasons. To get there, however, new coach Travis Frederick will have to pilot the Cogs through the Big Northern Conference East after moving from the BNC West.

It won’t be easy, especially with a smaller group of upperclassmen than G-K has had in recent seasons. Changing personnel is also a reason why Bill McCarty, who returns as offensive coordinator after seven seasons as the Cogs’ head coach, will move away from the spread offense in favor of a more run-oriented ball-control attack.

As a defensive coach at G-K for the last 10 years, that approach will suit Frederick just fine.

“We’re slowing it down and going back to a wing T-style offense,” he said. “That’s what I grew up with. That’s what coach McCarty called for most of his years coaching. This is the offense all these boys ran in middle school, so it’s familiar to them.

“This will help us control the ball. If we do our thing, keep playing good defense and avoid injuries, we’ll be pretty competitive.”

To bolster the new attack, returning two-way starter and senior lineman Luke Schumacher will move to fullback. That will make junior Ben Rabe the only returning starter on the offensive line. Senior TE/DE Calvin Beach is back after a strong junior year, and so is speedy junior RB/DB Gabe Williams.

The Cogs will fill in the gaps on the offensive and defensive lines with seniors Zach Carroll, Kyle Logan and Brandon Mortyn. Senior Matt Falco will solidify the tight end spot and the defensive backfield.

Junior Adam Price will step in at quarterback and linebacker, while fellow junior Anthony Mazza will play at RB/DB. G-K is also counting on junior Logan Bankson to contribute on the offensive line and at linebacker. Junior Cris Camargo is in his third varsity season handling the Cogs’ kicking duties.

G-K opens the season with back-to-back road trips to face playoff qualifiers from last season, and things won’t get easier from there. Despite moving from the BNC West, the Cogs won’t be getting away from back-to-back Class 3A finalist and 2009 champion Stillman Valley, which visits Week 3. G-K must also travel to face BNC East favorite Richmond-Burton.

“We haven’t set a team goal as far as wins and losses, but I can tell you there’s not a guy that doesn’t want to make the playoffs,” Frederick said. “We’ve got to do what we can to solidify a few spots on the team and see where we can go from there.”

GENOA-KINGSTON COGS

2010 record: 6-4

Coach: Travis Frederick (1st season)

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