Team photo from left:

Row 1: Keontae Johnson, Nathaniel Houle, Tyler Thebes, Chartyise Fagan, Lamar Carswell, David Nees, Nick Lankard, Marcus Lang, Jacob Lang, Steven David

Row 2: Drue Belanga, Juwan Hardison, Tevin Walker, Easton Skinner, Nick Zajac, Chris Gill, Andrew Bonfiglio, Joshua Truscinski, Mike Minor, Eric Sarantou, Jack Hubay, Michael Swanson

Row 3: Patrick Schneider, Zach Uram, John Fudacz, Dallas Scott, Matt McNeeley, Evan Pawlaczyk, Merit Godbey, Keaton Isaacson, Alex Vigneau, Mitchell Prater, Collin Konrad

Row 4: Jack Kulka, Eric Berg, Sam Corbin, Hayden Brown, Luke Bockbrader, Trent Barteck, Kelife Butts, Drew Dymarkowski, Cameron Downs, Shane Oneail, Ted Gardner

Row 5: Matt Cark, Shawn Wandersee, Tyler Knitz, Alex Shubert, Nick Drees, Marcos Dominguez, Luke Ketterman, Michael Staelgraeve, Andrew Stark

Row 6: Nick Dombi (manager), coaches Brandon Hedges, John Hall, Marty Patrilla, David Perkins, head coach Chris Hedden, Ryan Lamy,Rob Materni, Nate Ruple

 

ABOUT THE TEAM:

Coach: Chris Hedden, second year

Last season: 3-7, 2-5 TRAC

Returning letter winners: 16

Returning starters: Offense 8, defense 4

Schemes: Spread/​4-4

Top players: Seniors David Nees, 6-0, 195, QB-LB; Tyler Knitz, 6-2, 300, OL-DL; Andrew Bonfiglio, 6-0, 180, WR; John Fudacz, 6-0, 215, LB; Zack Uram, 5-11, 205, LB. Sophomore Keontae Johnson, 5-8, 145, RB.

Outlook: The Knights started out with a bang under rookie coach Hedden a year ago, upsetting Southview in week one. But the transition to a new coach and a new system proved to be too much to overcome over the long haul in one of Ohio’s top leagues, and St. Francis went 2-7 the rest of the way.

Hedden points to the leadership of 23 seniors, and to experience as strengths, but is leery of the Knights’ apparent lack of depth. The Nees-to-Bonfglio combo promises to once again be the team’s bread and butter on offense. Nees passed for over 1,600 yards and 16 TDs, and Bonfiglio had 71 catches for 965 yards and 10 TDs. Johnson added balance with 561 rushing yards as a freshman. The offensive line should be much improved.

“We’re real excited for the 2013 season,” Hedden said. “We have 16 returning lettermen and 12 starters back. The kids have done a great job of working out all winter and summer.”

 

ST. FRANCIS SCHEDULE

Aug. 30-Southview at UT

Sep. 6-at Bedford

Sep. 13-Cleveland Collinwood

Sep. 20-St. John's at UT

Sep. 27-at Lima Senior

Oct. 4-at Central Catholic

Oct. 11-Whitmer at UT

Oct. 18-at Fremont Ross

Oct. 25-Clay at UT

Nov. 1-at Findlay

First Published August 28, 2013, 4:00 a.m.