St. Vincent focused on a title goal

St. Vincent seniors don't have to rely on newspaper clippings or word of mouth to tap into the illustrious history of Indian football.

They only need to harken to their freshmen years when the school played in the Class 1 state championship game -- the second time in three years St. Vincent's season ended under the dome in St. Louis. The 13-1 season held the fifth straight district title for the Indians.

Times have been relatively lean since Hayti has beaten St. Vincent in district showdowns the past two years. The Indians compiled a 7-3 record last season -- after they went 5-5 in 2001 -- but are intent on adding another district crown this year. And then some.

"We have a big goal this year, and we hope to get there," senior lineman Dusty Cissell said. "We hope to go all the way. It's never been done here, but we hope to be the year to do it."

Cissell and quarterback Chad Lane are both three-year starters and are among a group of key returners for the Indians, who lost just eight players to graduation.

Lane provides the air portion of an Indian attack that will be balanced out by the running duo of brothers Chris and Kyle Kline, who both started at running back last season.

"Our offense is looking real good," Lane said. "We're pretty well going to be able run the ball and throw a lot."

Last season the Indians were a balanced bunch that rushed for more than 1,600 yards while throwing for about 1,200 more.

Lane (5-11, 170) lost his top three receivers to graduation but again should provide the Indians with a balanced attack.

"He's got deceiving speed," St. Vincent coach Keith Winkler said. "If you give him a lane, he'll tuck it down and run, but he throws the ball real well. The thing we like about him is he makes good decisions on the field. He knows what the coaching staff wants and takes control of the offense."

The Indians' ground game overcame the loss of Chris Kline (6-1, 205), who broke his leg midway through his junior season. Kline, who rushed for about 500 yards in five games, was replaced at running back by his sophomore brother, Kyle (5-11, 190), who accumulated more than 600 yards in the final five games.

The Indians are making room for both Klines by keeping Kyle at running back and moving Chris to fullback. Junior Anthony Brown (6-0, 150) also returns after seeing playing time last year.

They'll run behind a line that lost 270-pound tackle Matt Wengert and center Dominic Richardet.

"Those are going to be some tough guys to replace, but that's what high school football is all about," Winkler said, "finding some guys that are going to step up and be the next class in."

Led by two returning starters at guard, Cissell (5-10, 253) and junior Brian Buccheit (5-10, 220), the line still should be formidable up front.

Other line candidates are seniors Ben Unterreiner (5-10, 174) and Dustin Ochs (5-11, 240), juniors Chris Besand (6-1, 145), Mark Prost (6-3, 289) and Patrick Siegmund (6-3, 167), and sophomores Ben Buchheit (5-11, 241) and Waylon Richardet (6-1, 215).

"I don't think our size is going to blow anyone off the field," Winkler said. "The kids worked hard in the weight room, and we'll just have to see how we stack up. We may not be the strongest team, but there's a lot of determination in these kids."

Seniors Zach Moll (6-0, 162), an all-conference and all-region punter, and Matt Schremp (5-11, 160) both saw time at receiver last year and will be joined by juniors Joey Guilliams (5-8, 145), Mark Meyer (6-1, 170), Justin Ruessler (5-10, 157) and Justin Balsman (6-1, 165). Senior Brett Richardet (6-0, 195) and junior Danny Rellergert (6-4, 180), both tight ends, also will be targets.

St. Vincent will look to play a ball-control offense, which it did effectively in the second half of last season.

"Defensively we really got stingy there toward the end of the season," Winkler said. "That's a credit to our offense -- they were keeping the ball out of the other team's hands."

The Indians' defense allowed only 26 points over its final five games. It limited a powerful Hayti offense in a 7-6 loss.

The defense returns three of its four linebackers in the Klines and junior Tyler Lozier (5-8, 145).

Buchheit is the only returning starter on the defensive line, while Ruessler is the only returner in the secondary, which was hit hard by the loss of Renner and Paulus.

Moll saw action in the secondary and could be joined by Brown, Guilliams, junior Luke Guyot (5-9, 175) and Lane, who hasn't played on defense since early in his sophomore year.

Winkler once again will look for the offense to help the defense with ball control.

"I think they can," Winkler said. "That's going to be a key for us. Controlling the clock and controlling the game."