Coach Kyle Lindsay has found the groove with his Bishop Luers Knights. The 26 victories over a three-year span are the most for the program since 2011-13. The team has made it to semistate twice and state once during its three-year run.
Can the Knights continue the good vibes in 2023? If so, it will come on the backs of a lot of new (and young) faces.
Graduation and transfer hit Bishop Luers hard. Breakout QB Charlie Stanski has graduated, with three of the top four receivers from 2022 gone and R.J. Hogue, who led the team in rushing last season.
Cadell Wallace was supposed to command a big presence on both sides of the ball, but he transferred to South Side.
TJ Smith (three INTs) and Zamarion Jackson (11 TDs, 89 tackles, Junior All-State) left the area, moving back to Alabama.
What’s left? A smallish 12-man senior class and loads of talent, albeit inexperienced, in the sophomore and freshman classes.
The offensive reins will be handed to senior Kohen McKenzie. Much like Stanski a year ago, the Knights are hoping a QB that bided his time on the depth chart will shine when given the opportunity as a senior.
Seniors Gio Jimenez (338 rushing yards, five TDs in 2022) and Mickey Daring (300 yards, eight scores) will be the two-headed monster at running back.
While 1,000-yard receiver Nick Thompson and Brayden McInturf have graduated, Lindsay is high on the trio of senior Isaac Zay (31 catches, 490 yards, five TDs), junior Jaylon White and sophomore Daveon Surry.
If there is a strength of the offense in terms of experience, it will actually be in the trenches with a multitude of starters and key contributors back – including seniors Tristian Woodcox (413 pounds!) and Dalton Bogdon, junior Michael Brough and sophomore Zack Wall.
“We should be bigger and stronger up front on both sides of the ball,” Lindsay said. “We have some strong runners in the backfield, an athletic QB and some size and speed on the perimeter.”
Defensively, the secondary has loads of questions. The Knights accumulated 16 interceptions last season. Only twoof those – one each from Jimenez and Zay – are back. But there is potential on the back end with the likes of juniors Jaylen White, Jacob Felger and Evan Wilkens in addition to sophomores McKale Woodson, Dee Hogue, Surry and Xavier Martin. But most are unproven and inexperienced.
The linebacker corps should be the strength of the defense with Zay and Daring as the vets with fellow seniors Finn Saxe and Jarell Thomas commanding greater roles.
Up front, the defensive line should be more effective and deeper. Senior Damiun Jackson is back after posting 29 tackles, five TFL and 2.5 sacks last season. Bishop Luers hopes to have a rotation of D-linemen as to not wear out guys going both ways.
Do not overlook the loss of kicker/punter Roel Pineda, who is now holding down the same duties at the University of Findlay.
WHY #8?
The Knights look deeper and stronger than they were a year ago that saw them finish with a 4-5 record in the SAC. While there are considerable questions at positions left vacant by graduation and transfer, there is a lot to like, per usual, at the skill positions.
Is this a team that can be one of the top teams in the league like in 2021? Probably not. However, with the new division format, the Knights avoid both Carroll and Snider, a huge boost.
WHY NOT HIGHER?
There is a lot of potential on this roster, but until we see it perform and deliver on Friday nights, that’s what it will remain.
With only a dozen seniors, it puts a lot of pressure on the junior and sophomore classes to rise up and post significant contributions in all three facets of the game.
Will the youngsters hit the ground running? Will they need several games to find their footing? Will it take an entire season? Time will tell.
CRUCIAL GAME
Week 6 at North Side
When it comes down to who will own the “B Division” of the SAC (can we get some better names, please?), the two contenders are the Knights and Legends.
Both squads will have had plentiful amount of times to find themselves through the first five weeks, meaning there should be no surprises in this one.
Luers was trounced by North 42-16 a year ago at Luersfield. If the Knights want to be division winners, it has to compete more this time around with the Legends.
CRITICAL PLAYER
Kohen McKenzie, senior, quarterback
McKenzie is a different player than Stanski was last year or even Carson Clark prior to him. Whereas both of those guys were predominantly pocket passers, McKenzie has the ability to move inside and outside the pocket to extend plays. He also can be asked to execute some designed runs as well.
While the defense can be sound, it will not be suffocating, meaning Bishop Luers will need to score points to win. Consider that the Knights were 0-6 when they scored 29 or fewer points in a game last year and 8-0 when they scored 35 or more.
McKenzie has a powerful arm and can scoot, but he has to tighten up his decision making and his propensity to hold onto the ball a bit too long.
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