The Little Rock Catholic and Subiaco Academy football teams enter the 2010 season with plenty of new faces. Both teams return just seven starters from 2009 and are replacing standout players with largely untested new talent. Arkansas Catholic interviewed the school’s head coaches for a look at the upcoming season.
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
David Estes enters his 11th year with the Rocket football program with untested offensive skill players, question marks in the defensive secondary and the new title of head coach. Estes, who spent seven seasons as Catholic High’s defensive coordinator, accepted the position following Scooter Register’s departure for rival Little Rock Central High.
Estes inherits a squad long on grit but short on experience despite roughly a third of the team being seniors. The situation required tinkering with both offensive and defensive schemes over the summer to better match personnel.
“We are throwing a lot at them,” he said. “We are teaching them the game of football and focusing on getting better every day as a player and a person. If we can do that, success will happen.”
The Rockets defensive unit shifts from a 3-5-3 scheme to a 4-3 format to better use down linemen. Unlike other units, the defensive line is experienced led by senior defensive end Robert Middaugh. Senior free safety Charley Gardner and junior strong safety Jordan Hartnedy are also solid.
The linebackers, though unproven, feature one of the best athletes on the team, junior Matt Morris. At 6’2″and 210 pounds, Morris started three sports for Catholic as a sophomore. Estes said the biggest question mark for the team is corner, having graduated both starters.
On offense, junior Zach Conque inherits the quarterback position from three-year starter Taylor Bartlett, whom Estes called “the most prolific quarterback in Catholic High history.” At 6’4″, Conque is bigger than Bartlett and practices have focused on developing his decision-making skills to match a great arm.
“Taylor was excellent at improvising plays,” Estes said. “Zach is an intelligent player who is physically gifted. We are focusing on teaching him to recognize coverages and read defenses to call plays that will give us the most success.”
In addition to learning to read the opposition, Conque must also get in sync with a crop of raw wideouts. Estes said as with the quarterback position, his receivers are taught to take what the defense gives them and adjust routes accordingly.
The Rockets posted a 6-5 record in 2009, suffering a 17-10 loss to Rogers Heritage in the first round of the 7A playoffs. This year’s schedule features tough match-ups early including Bryant on Sept. 24, a game Estes said “sets the table for the rest of the year.” Rocket fans are also circling the Oct. 29 game against Little Rock Central when Catholic kicks off against its former head coach.
SUBIACO ACADEMY
The Trojans had a lot to celebrate in 2009, finishing 6-5 and appearing in the 4A postseason playoffs for the first time in school history. Head coach Mike Berry said his team is primed for even better things in 2010.
“As you build confidence, you build tradition,” he said. “You get to a point where you start expecting to win and that’s what we’re after. ”
Subiaco will field nearly 40 players this year, every one of whom hit the ground running during two-a-day practices. Speed and conditioning are key to Berry’s hurry-up, no-huddle offense which averaged 32 points per game last season.
Directing the offense will be junior quarterback Marquis Walter. Walter takes over a starting position held by his older brother Keon who threw for 1,222 yards and 11 touchdowns plus ran for 858 yards and seven more scores in 2009.
“Marquis is a smart kid who makes good decisions and sees the field well,” Berry said.
Another big set of shoes to fill are those of 2009 All State fullback Ethan Ruesewald, who rushed for 1,013 yards and scored 21 touchdowns last year. In his place, senior Jacob Nehus and junior Darrell Doss will split time at tailback. Another player to watch on offense will be junior tight end Michael Berry, the head coach’s son, who led the team in receiving last year.
Berry said he is expecting big things out of this year’s defensive unit. Last year, the inexperienced Trojan squad ranked near the bottom of the conference giving up 27 points per game. This year’s defense is stronger and hungrier than any Berry has seen in 10 years of coaching.
“If we’re going to win a championship we have to play good defense,” he said. “Our offense is capable of scoring 30 to 35 points per game, but we have to hold opponents to two touchdowns or less to win.”
Leading the charge on defense are senior defensive tackle Blake Wallis, junior linebacker Berry and junior linemen Josef Camacho and Jody Chauvin.
Berry’ goals for the year are simple but ambitious — win conference and host a playoff game. Preposterous as recently as 2007 when Subiaco was 0-9 under Berry’s predecessor, the team is making believers out of fans and foes alike.
“Two years ago, it was ’Let’s win a football game’,” Berry said. “Last year, the goal was to go to the playoffs. With the guys we have coming back, the conference race is wide open. If we can stay healthy we will be competitive. I think we have a real shot at a championship.”
