NORTH MANCHESTER - Finishing last season with four-straight wins before falling in the sectional championship game, the Manchester Squires are looking to keep those good times coming.
"We lost a lot, but have some young guys who can step up and, hopefully, allow us to pick up where we left off," said fifth-year head coach Brandon Baker, whose team opens the season Friday at home against Mississinewa. "I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be able to build on last year's positive signs."Among the players gone from last year's 5-7 squad are Blaine Miller, Brecken Kennedy, Nolan Holloway, Skyler Howard and Matt Mathias.
Quarterback Dylin Kennedy is back this year, but he's going to have to find a new favorite target, with his older brother, Brecken, filling that role in 2007.
"Right now, we have receivers by committee until we see what they can do," Baker said of prospective receivers Corey Thomas, Kyle Boone, Tyler Shepherd, Ryan Binkley, Ryan Henderson and Skyler Honeycutt. "So far, they're blocking well, which is a huge part of our game, but the pass-catching is struggling. We'll use our first two games, against nonconference opponents (Mississnewa and Bluffton), to try to figure out what we can do."
Having capable receivers is always a plus at Manchester, but with an offense centered around the running game, it's the offensive line that needs to be clicking.
"They're working pretty well together, but they can be better," Baker said of his offensive line. "We have a couple of quick guards, who should be able to pull well. We're going to have to maintain our blocks though, because we're not going to be able to push other lines around."
In 2008, Baker's staff will look to replace the graduated Matt Mathias, Justin O'Brien and Clayton Johnson. To fill those voids, Manchester is looking to add converted tight end Josh Robinson and Ryan Byers at the guard positions, while a center still hasn't been determined.
Also helping along the line, when not going out on pass patterns, will be tight ends Kyle Dewitt and Dillon Gable.
The line featuring returning tackles Nathan Miller and Matt Budnik will look to make holes for some new running backs. Vying to take the place of the graduated Blaine Miller and Nolan Holloway in the backfield are Brady Miller, Kyle Henderson, Seth Dotson and Austin Flack.
"I think we'll be OK at running back," Baker said. "With those four guys, we can get a pretty good rotation going, without losing much when substitutions are made."
On the defensive side of the ball, Manchester will once again look to run a 3-5 defense, a scheme that put the Squires on its four-game winning streak last year.
"It worked for us," Baker said. "As the season went on, the guys began to buy into it."
On the line, Baker will look for Budnik, Byers, Nathan Miller, Dewitt and Aric Howard to occupy the opposition's offensive line long enough for the linebackers to make plays.
Blaine Miller filled the role as the Squires top linebacker over the years, and along with replacing Holloway, returnees Thomas, Brady Miller, Robinson, Kyle Henderson, Dotson, Flack and Dylin Kennedy will attempt to serve as the new regime.
In the secondary, Baker will rely on Ryan Henderson, Binkley and Honeycutt.
Days before practices got under way this year, Baker also learned that senior kicker Broc Skaar wouldn't be with the team, having moved to Wyoming. The strong-legged Skaar displayed his importance last season, nailing a 37 and 41-yard field goal in the Squires 20-0 sectional win over Whitko at Manchester College.
"That's going to hurt a lot," Baker said of losing Skaar.
"We had five soccer players come to practice Monday, but honestly, I don't know what we're going to do," he added.
With a lot of new faces filling in at positions occupied by familiar ones at this time last year, Baker's wants his guys to gel, and gel quickly.
"Through two-a-days, this is probably the hardest working group we've had," Baker said. "On defense, most of the guys played last year, but on offense, we've all got to get on the same page. If we can do that, I think we can be OK."
