Published: August 22, 2008 12:17 am            

Behind ISU-bound King, Rockville goes for return trip to state

TERRE HAUTE — The Rockville Rox and Seeger Patriots are co-favorites to win the Wabash River Conference high school football championship. And like last year, the conference title could be decided the opening game of the season, as the two play tonight at Williamsport.

But that doesn’t mean that Riverton Parke and North Vermillion won’t contend or play a role in the final standings. Both programs are in the second year of rebuilding.

Rockville returns a load of starters from last year’s 14-1, Class A runner-up team — six on offense and eight on defense.

“We have some holes to fill, but we have a good nucleus of kids and we have a very strong junior class,” coach Herb King said of his seventh Rockville squad.

The biggest shoulder pads to fill are those left hanging by the graduation of linebacker-fullback Zach Clapp (Class A Mental Attitude Award) and linebacker-tackle Kyle Fahey. Fahey and Clapp were one and two, respectively, in tackles last year and Clapp led the Rox in rushing and scoring.

Rockville’s potent offense (38 points per game) will be directed by fourth-year quarterback Matt King. The 6-foot-4 lefthander threw for over 2,590 yards and 36 touchdowns against just nine interceptions, and rushed for 1,004 yards and 14 scores.

King, who recently committed to Indiana State, is also at the center of Rockville’s defense at free safety. So add his six interceptions to his offensive numbers and some might think King a Mr. Football candidate. Coach King hasn’t put his son in that category.

“What we’re looking at is him succeeding and being consistent and being a leader. If he can do that, then we’ll be very successful this year, and I believe he can do that. That doesn’t put a lot of weight on his shoulders, other than him doing what he needs to do to run the football club,” coach King said.

Along with King, Rockville has returns veterans at wide receiver and running back, too. Senior Aaron Bridge (6-5, 205) caught 33 passes for 545 yards and nine touchdowns last year at wide receiver, while Caleb McMullen rushed for 487 yards and four touchdowns at running back.

The biggest question mark about Rockville’s offense is the line where James Kent (6-0, 250, junior) and Cody Stout (5-10, 270, junior) are the only returnees. Nick Wheeler (5-11, 270, junior), Billy Bettis (6-0, 210, sophomore) and Levi Berry (6-0, 220, junior) made their first starts on the o-line in the practice scrimmage at Cascade.

“We want to have a multi-diverse offense and the only way to do that is you have to be able to run the football, too. We believe we can throw, we believe we can run and I don’t know in which order, in which week,” coach King said.

Defensively, the Rockville allowed just 10.6 points per game last year. The question mark is linebacker. Jake Lee (5-7, 180, senior), the third-leading tackler last year, is the only returning starter at linebacker. Coach King looked at a lot of different players in the scrimmage, including senior Steven Ball (6-0, 190), who may also play strong safety.

McMullen will do the punting again and Bettis returns to handling the placekicking duties. Bettis kicked a game-winning field goal against Seeger last year and finished with three field goals and 41 PATs.

n Riverton Parke — Riverton Parke coach Hank Lopez believes chemistry will be the key to the Panthers season as they head into Friday’s season opener at Attica. There are only five seniors back from last year’s 4-6 team, which means the Panthers are going to play a lot of sophomores and even some freshmen.

“We just have to have everybody mesh together. I think the older kids have done a good job laying it out in from of [the underclassmen],” Lopez said.

There are 11 sophomores on this varsity squad. “We have a really strong sophomore class. When they were eighth graders they were undefeated,” Lopez said.

With 11 players in the 190 to 220-pound range, the Panthers could have a size advantage in some Wabash River Conference games.

“We’re not an overly big team, but we’re not real small. I think we have a lot of kids that ran run. I think this is probably the best overall team speed we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Lopez said.

Junior Daniel Hardesty (6-0, 190) took most of the snaps at quarterback last year. “He’s worked really hard in the off season and gotten a lot better,” Lopez said.

Hardesty will stand behind a veteran line of senior center Jarrid McLaughlin (6-3, 190), senior guard Daniel Smith (5-10, 200) and senior tight end Corey Manderino (6-3, 205).

“We’ve got some kids up from [junior varsity] that have been with us a few years,” Lopez said.

Riverton Parke’s I-formation offense will have either Coty Moretto (6-0, 220) or Derek Engle (5-8, 160), both sophomores, at fullback, with freshman Cody Vauters (5-10, 160) at tailback.

“I don’t really like to play freshmen on the varsity unless they’re ready and [Vauters] is ready,” Lopez said.

Defensively, McLaughlin and Moretto move from outside linebackers to inside. Manderino returns at defensive end, Smith at defensive tackle with White at strong safety. Sophomore Tyler Yando (5-10, 165) saw action at strong safety, too.

Moretto will also handle the placekicking chores.

• North Vermillion — North Vermillion will field a team of young veterans in the season opener Friday at home against Turkey Run.

“I inherited a young team. I had three sophomores and one freshman on the offensive line last year,” second-year coach John Johns.

But now those players return with a summer of weight training under their belts.

“Last year was an experience year for our kids. So this year we’re trying to refine it,” Johns said.

Senior Carter Morgan (6-0, 175) returns at quarterback. He threw for 875 yards and one touchdown last year out of the I-formation offense.

Morgan will be joined in the backfield by seniors Jacob Allen (5-11, 190) and Ryan Buchhaas (6-4, 200). Buchhaas rushed for 825 yards last year.

“We like to pound the football if we can,” Johns said.

But the Falcons have speed in Jacob Rank (6-3, 160) and Zach Jumps (5-11, 155), both wide receivers and defensive.

“That’s the speed of our team,” Johns said.

Sophomore Hayden Williams (5-10, 160) returns at center. Juniors Caleb Miller (6-1, 295) and Mason Clearey (5-11, 175) will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines.

“They’re really, really solid kids. Being the two anchors on the line they’re required to do a lot,” Johns said.

North Vermillion will stick with the 4-3 defense. “We see a lot of run-and-shoot [offenses in the Wabash River Conference]. We’re going to keep learning more and more about our defense,” Johns said.

• Turkey Run — Steve Stewart returns to coach the Warriors after Scott Vandivier went 1-29 over the last three seasons. Stewart had more success with the Warriors, going 36-43 in his previous stint.

Stewart has several veterans to work with. Jason Milliken returns at the quarterback position and is joined by wide receiver Mitchell Crum and running back Phil Compton. Jarrod Wrightsman, Jacob Martin and Spencer Davies are other seniors who should help offensively. Ethan Stonebreaker has experienced in the secondary for the Warriors. The line is anchored by Jathan Davies, Steven Cruea and Geoffrey Canfield, all seniors.



Todd Golden contributed to this report.

        

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