ST. VINCENT SEEKS RETURN TO PLAYOFFS

Indians bring back plenty of experience on both sides of ball.

With the return of eight starters on offense and defense, this season may be more of the same for St. Vincent.

"Our kids want to get back to the state playoffs," said coach Paul Sauer. "That's a realistic goal if they work hard and get better each week."

The Indians won the Class 1A district title the past two seasons. In 1996, when they went 9-2, they lost to Marionville 21-20 in the sectional game. Last season, when they went 8-3, they again lost to Marionville in the sectional, this time 21-0.

Although St. Vincent lost three key players to graduation on both sides of the ball, 15 seniors and 12 juniors return. "This is a good, solid group," Sauer said. "They got a lot of playing time last year."

Joey Ponder (6-feet-2, 190 pounds), who as a junior last year played quarterback, will likely be St. Vincent's tight end. "He's gotten a little bit bigger and we just feel right now he could probably help us out more at tight end," Sauer said

Junior Justin Amschler (6-1, 141) will start the season at quarterback. "He's been more consistent in practice and he's really looked good throwing the football," Sauer said. "And he's a pretty decent runner."

While in recent years most of St. Vincent's big plays have come through the air, Sauer said this season he'd like to see running backs scampering for some of those game-breakers.

"We'd like to see our running game really take off this year," he said. "We've struggled in the past with our running game, especially in the `red zone,' and hopefully this year we can get some big plays."

Junior Jeremy Best (5-11, 183) will be the fullback. "He's got good size and speed and he's a really good blocker," Sauer said. Bryan Meyer, who gained about 800 yards last year as a junior, will play tailback.

Sauer said he will rotate several receivers. Senior Dusty Cattoor (5-10, 164), senior Trent Sauer (5-9, 153), senior Dusty Wengert (5-10, 150) junior Cory Strattman (5-7, 165) and senior Ben Favier (5-10, 161) each caught passes last year and will see considerable playing time.

On the offensive line, senior center Ryan Lindsley (5-11, 176), junior guard Pat Lipe (6-1, 188), senior tackle Kyle Eggers (6-2, 206) and senior tackle Michael Winkler (6-3, 205) all return. Junior Andy Schremp (5-11, 240) will start at guard.

On defense, senior Pat Brown (5-9, 157) is a returning nose guard and senior Nathan Flentge (5-10, 221) is a returning tackle. Junior Keith Pecaut (6-0, 197) will start at tackle.

Juniors Gabe Hotop (5-11, 191) and Adam Bahr (6-2, 176) will start at the ends. Eggers and Winkler started at the ends last year but switched to offense this season.

At linebacker are returner Aaron Unterreiner (5-10, 170), a senior, and junior Josh Robinson (5-10, 165). Favier, Best and senior Jacob Heberlie (5-10, 150) are vying for defensive spots.

St. Vincent opens the season Friday at home against Carlyle, Ill.