Stay Connected with YourSeason
Newquist back at QB as Larkin looks to improve
Updated: August 24, 2011 7:07PM
Larkin football coach Mike Scianna always seems to have a trick or two up his sleeve from week to week, but for his plans to be successful this season he’ll need everyone on board.
The Royals don’t have much depth entering the 2011 campaign, so staying healthy will be paramount as the team tries to improve on last year’s 3-6 finish and get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
“We’ve been telling the guys that rule one is don’t get hurt and rule two is don’t get hurt,” Scianna said. “Rule three is see rules one and two.”
Protecting senior quarterback Kyle Newquist (6-foot-2, 195) will be of utmost importance for Larkin this season.
The three-year varsity starter is coming off a junior campaign in which he completed 101 of 177 passes for 1,586 yards and 12 touchdowns and earned All-Upstate Eight River honors.
“It’s nice seeing the way Kyle’s growth has come along,” Scianna said. “Back when he was a sophomore starting three years ago he was on a team kind of like this that had only 30-something kids, and he’s really come a long way since then.”
The past two years Newquist had the benefit of throwing to Trevor Whitehead, who landed 2010 Courier-News Player of the Year honors during a record shattering senior season last fall. With Whitehead gone to graduation, the Royals will be looking for new players to step up as reliable targets.
Seniors Shaquille Mosley (5-10, 190) and Justin Banks (5-9, 155) are two of the players who will try to fill the void at receiver. While throwing the ball will still be a focus with a talented quarterback like Newquist in the fold, Scianna says he has several young and capable running backs who will help establish a ground attack.
Any offensive success will hinge on the play of Larkin’s offensive line. Anchoring the line will be junior Terry Schabert (6-2, 315), who earned All-UEC River honors as a sophomore. Junior Adam Hamiel (6-3, 285) and senior Emmanuel Jungo (6-0, 270) will also contribute up front.
Defensively, Banks will help lead the way in the secondary after earning All-UEC River honors for his play at defensive back as a junior. Senior Luka Bogicevic (5-10, 170) also returns at cornerback.
Senior linebacker Brett Barry (5-10, 180) is being counted on as another defensive leader, and senior Drew Shore will also chip in as a linebacker. Seniors Devontate Joshua (6-3, 250) and Juan Davis will start along the defensive line.
This marks Scianna’s fourth year with the program and his second as the head coach. The current seniors hold a special place for Scianna, who hopes to send the upperclassmen out on a high note.
“These seniors are the first group I had when I was the freshman coach here,” Scianna said. “We’re trying to build character, and it’s nice to see them grow up and become good men.”
LARKIN ROYALS
2010 season: 3-6
Coach: Mike Scianna (3-6 in 2nd season)
© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.
Cell Phone Alerts
Comments Click here to view or make a comment