The St. Thomas More Knights will be one year better up front this season.
The AAA varsity Knights return four players off their starting offensive line from last season in anticipation of the B.C. high school football season start on Sept. 11.
STM does lose provincial all-star offensive lineman Kieran Janes and receiver J.J. DesLauriers, who will be playing on Burnaby Mountain with Simon Fraser University this season.
On defence, all-star linebacker Spencer Moore and safety Matt Duda will also be hard to replace.
But, the Knights have a solid building block in Ben Steele, who was an all-star two-way lineman for the Knights last season, finished second on the team with 73 individual tackles and a whopping 14 sacks in 2014.
Philip Lemp, Mac Fridfinnson, Josh Apolinario and Nico Cesarei will lineup with Steele on the O-line.
The Knights also retain an experienced linebacking element with the likes of seniors Landon Jackson and Luca Bellini, who at 6-1 and 190 pounds, is projected to be a force for the Red and White on both sides of the ball, including at running back.
Perhaps the most compelling question might be how best to use the considerable assets of 6-5, 270-pound Demarius Henderson, who played tight end and linebacker for the Knights last season.
Henderson had 38 tackles and a pair of quarterback sacks last season.
Head coach Bernie Kully said little changes from year to year, spots become available each season and the hope is the kids are ready to rise to the occasion.
One of Kully’s “pleasant surprises” is junior varsity player Tyler Eckert, who is on schedule to step in on the defensive line.
Another will be the opportunity for 6-2, 180-pound Grade 11 quarterback Liam Feenan, who will take the opening snaps at pivot for the varsity team.
Former JV Anthony Prpic is also expected to fill in nicely on offence and defence.
“We will take a balanced approach,” Kully said. “I’m looking forward to see how things develop. I like what we have.”
STM opens its exhibition season against Notre Dame at Burnaby Lake-West on Friday, Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m.
The following Friday, the Knights take on Vancouver College at BLSC-W.
