The offensive and defensive lines of Springside Chestnut Hill practice against each other last week during practice. While depth in the trenches has been a problem in years past for SCH, it seems as though it will be a strength in 2017. (Photo by Jonathan Vander Lugt)

by Jonathan Vander Lugt

If anybody knows the importance of depth on a high-school football team, it’s Rick Knox. The longtime coach of the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Devils has helmed a team that, for two years in a row, has started off the season 4-1. In each year, SCH showed plenty of firepower and promise in the early slate of non-conference games.

"This year, our overall roster is at 45 kids,” Knox said of the 2017 Blue Devils. “It’s ticking up a little bit, but it’s not dramatically different. It’s something that we’ve been working toward,” Knox went on. You need more numbers in football. You can’t start a football season with numbers in the high 30s.”

In previous years, the aforementioned promise wilted with the autumn leaves. SCH has had two winless Inter-Ac years in a row, and putting a stop to the skid is Knox’s number one priority. Where will that start? In the trenches.

“We have four offensive lineman back, and a couple new additions,” Knox said. “This is the most offensive line potential I’ve had.”

In past years, SCH lineman have had to play two ways. This year, the Blue Devils hope to have enough experience and depth to weather an injury or two and to be able to combat fatigue with regular substitutions.

“Early in the Inter-Ac season, we just didn’t finish games,” Knox said. “If you’ve got linemen that have to play both ways, they’re going to be really tired by the end of the game.”

Complicating the issue, however, is the loss of talent at virtually every skill position. Matt Rahill (quarterback), Justin Telamaque (running back), Evan Krawczuk, Matt Hoffman, and Jack Cucinotta (all wide receivers) have graduated, leaving the roster with a lot of talent to replace.

“I think you can make up for losing skill players by having a really good line,” Knox said, reiterating his earlier point. Our guys still have to progress. We’re happy with the athleticism they’re showing. The biggest thing, though is that if you have a good line, you can make everything else look better.

“We’ve got three kids that are over 300 pounds, and another around 285. We have a halfback who’s 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, so that helps as well having a fullback or tight end that size. It makes everyone’s job easier. It gives the quarterback more time, and gives a running back bigger holes. They’ll feel safer, more confident, and they’re going to play better.”

Speaking of the quarterback, incumbent backup and senior Jack Elliot is in a neck-and-neck battle with Aaron Angelos, a junior from California. Despite the contest, they’re building a strong relationship.

“Competition’s making the both of them better,” Knox said. “They’re handling it great – becoming friends, and pushing each other.”

Elsewhere, senior Nick Logue returns to patrol the defensive backfield as well as take a newer role in the slot on offense. Logue was one of last year’s bright spots, and finished 2016 as the Blue Devils’ leading tackler. Replacing his brother Tyson, who is playing football at Columbia, is cornerback and receiver Miles Hugee. According to Knox, Hugee showed up stronger, faster and more agile than just about anybody on the coaching staff had expected.

This combination – new talent, what’s left of the holdovers, and some offensive line depth should make for an interesting, if not successful year on the Springfield Avenue gridiron. Knox and company have their work cut out for them; it’s hard to revamp an entire offense, but he’s optimistic.

“The chemistry is really good between all of the kids,” he said. “It’s been all positive.”

Not that that hasn’t necessarily been the case in previous years, but Knox is optimistic nonetheless.

“There’s been no distractions,” he said.

For a coach, that’s a pretty good place to start.