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Green Wave eager to make another statement
Updated: August 23, 2011 9:09PM
Despite reaching new heights last season, St. Edward still feels like it has a lot to prove in 2011.
A year ago the Green Wave set a program record for victories with an 8-3 finish, claimed its first-ever league title by winning the Suburban Christian Gold and won its first-ever playoff game. While all that success was enjoyable, it also led to St. Edward taking a step up to the more competitive SCC Blue this fall.
The move means an unprecedented third straight trip to the playoffs is no sure thing for the Wave, which will have to contend with perennial powerhouses Montini, Marmion, Marian Central and St. Francis in the Blue Division. St. Edward served as a punching bag for those teams for many years in the old Suburban Catholic Conference, and the current Green Wave squad would like nothing more than to show it belongs with the big boys.
“Regardless of what our success has been the past two years, there’s people out there that want to mar that by saying it wasn’t in the original SCC,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “These kids know there are doubters out there, and it kind of fuels them. There’s no doubters in our locker room, I can guarantee you that.”
This season St. Edward is built around a stout offensive line and an experienced defense. Playing a leading role in both areas is senior Evan Finnane, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound standout who is attracting serious Division I interest and already has a scholarship offer from Air Force.
Seniors Zack McQueen (6-0) and Mark Sink (6-0, 195) join Finnane as returning starters on an offensive line that helped the Wave average more than 350 yards of offense per game last year. Senior Tyler Morawski (6-3, 185) and sophomore Collin Holte (5-11, 220) round out the crew up front.
Senior Bob French (6-2, 190) moves to quarterback this season, and he’ll count on senior receiver Matt Brockner (6-1, 170) to be one of his top targets. Although French has impressed during the offseason, the Wave likely won’t rely on the pass as much this season as it did last year.
That’s because a big group of talented running backs headlined by senior Luke Duffy (6-0, 185) and sophomore Davontae Elam (5-11, 185) look poised to run roughshod behind St. Edward’s big offensive line. Seniors Ryan Johnson (6-0, 175), Troy Gudino (5-10, 180) and Dennis Turnquist (5-10, 180) and sophomore Will Bothwell (5-9, 170) also figure to get their share of carries.
“This year I think we’ll be more of a run-oriented team with that senior-dominated line and a couple great running backs,” said Rolando, the 2010 Courier-News Coach of the Year. “I really think it’s just back to basics with our offense and trying to push the ball down the field however we can.”
Finnane is attracting most of the college attention for his play at defensive tackle, and he’ll once again play a key role for a unit that led the area by holding opponents to 11.7 points per game last year. McQueen, Morawski, junior Jacob Koehring (6-0, 185) and senior Matt Gotsch (5-10, 170) will also contribute on the defensive line.
Leading the linebackers will be Sink and Duffy, who like Finnane earned All-SCC Gold honors last season. Sink has a hold on the middle linebacker spot while Duffy will be joined on the outside by Bothwell.
A pair of newcomers are also in the mix at linebacker in junior Joe Stump (5-11, 190) and Turnquist. Stump transferred from St. Charles East while Turnquist transferred from Burlington Central.
Senior Sean Richmond (5-10, 150) is back at free safety, and he’ll be joined in the defensive secondary by Johnson, Brockner, Elam, Gudino and senior Joe Carlson (5-8, 150).
“Defense has to be our strength until we find our identity on offense,” Rolando said. “The goal is to be better than last year, and obviously the competition is going to be a little more stringent this year, so we need to play better.”
ST. EDWARD GREEN WAVE
2010 record: 8-3
Coach: Mike Rolando (19-38 in 7th season)
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