St. Mary's Football Preview: Panthers No Longer Underdogs

Returning Starters: 9 (7 offense, 2 defense)
Top Offensive Players: Francisco Torres, QB; Chris Carnegie, WR; Isaac Richard, RB; Nick Callendar, LT; Dave Thomas, TE.
Top Defensive Players: Chance Moses, SS; Chris Carnegie, CB; Murad Williams, CB; Dave Thomas, DE; Taylor Thompson, MLB.
Rising Star: Nick Abrams, DL/OL
Captains: Francisco Torres, Dave Thomas, Isaac Richard, Chris Carnegie
Team Strengths: Conditioning, pass defense, quarterback play.
Areas to Improve: Toughness, experience in the defensive front seven
Mark the Calendar: vs. Encinal, Oct. 30

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They've established themselves as a contender and emerged as a playoff threat, but, as St. Mary's College High School tries to take its program to the next level, it'll face one crucial challenge.

This time around, the Panthers aren't sneaking up on anybody.

"Last year we definitely surprised some people," said coach Keith Minor, who enters his second season at his alma mater after a stint at San Francisco's Balboa High. "Now we've got to show that we can be that type of team consistently."

And, while the Panthers return seven starters from a potent 2009 offense, they only bring back two defensive starters. The secondary is experienced and talented, but some new pieces will have to come together in the front seven for St. Mary's to shut down opponents in the run-heavy Bay Shore Athletic League.

"You want to have a program that just runs itself, but it's always a process," said Minor. "You're always just plugging guys in and making adjustments. You're always starting over."

For the team's senior leaders, the concept of beginning anew has been a theme for the offseason and fall practice.

"We have to make sure to realize that last year is over," said senior defensive end and tight end Dave Thomas. "We have to move on from that. It doesn't matter anymore. It's a new year."

Thomas, like many players on the Panthers' 24-man roster, plays on both sides of the ball. Despite its lack of depth, St. Mary's aims to wear teams down and take advantage of its superior condition late in games. They run a no-huddle offense, led by energetic quarterback Francisco Torres.

"We really wear on guys," Torres said. "We try to be the best-conditioned team we play."

Torres is the team's vocal leader and offensive sparkplug, a mobile and assertive signal-caller who is three for 1200 yards and nine touchdowns with 10 interceptions in 2009.

"He gets the whole team going," Minor said of Torres. "He's our leader. We'll go as far as he takes us."

While Torres and much of the Panthers' starting offensive line have returned, the team is counting on other playmakers to step up in place of departed seniors. Cornerback Chris Carnegie will be expected to play a more prominent role on offense, stepping into the role of No. 1 receiver. Running back Isaac Richard, who averaged 7.2 yards per carry last season, replaces Demetrius Brown-Ryan as the starting tailback.

The pieces are in place to make another playoff run and take a shot at league powerhouse Encinal but, for the Panthers to do significant damage, they'll have to remain healthy, as the team lacks depth.

"We're not big, and we're not very deep," Minor said. "But we've got good football players. We hustle, and we're well-conditioned, and we're fundamentally sound."

"We may not have all the players that some other teams have," said Thomas, "but everyone who is here wants to be here. That's important."

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Schedule

9/4 vs. Christian Brothers at Del Oro

9/17 vs. Sacred Heart at Kezar Stadium

9/25 @ Salesian

10/1 @ St. Patrick/St. Vincent

10/9 vs. Moreau Catholic

10/16 @ Kennedy

10/22 @ Piedmont

10/30 vs. Encinal

11/6 vs. Albany

11/12 @ Swett

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