This is Joseph Giles-Harris making one of his big plays, a familiar sight in 2013.
Here is the fifth and final part of my series on the Big Five. Hey, I did them in alphabetical order.
St. Joes
Coach: Augie Hoffmann
Last year: The Green Knights sent Tony Karcich out in supreme style with a dominating performance in the Non-Public Group 3 championship. It was the third state title in a row for St. Joes, and if not for a loss on Thanksgiving to Bosco, the Green Knights probably would have won a national championship in one poll or the other. They were the epitome of Karcich, tough, hard-nosed, smart and fast as all hell.
Who starts at quarterback? There are two candidates, maybe more: Austin Bodrato and Jack Walsh. You already know Bodrato from baseball season. Walsh is a big tall kid, good prospect and a senior.
Best case: Its a seamless transition from Karcich to Hoffmann and the Green Knights don’t miss a beat, playing the same style of football they have been for the last, oh, two decades. The quarterback situation is resolved quickly (don’t be surprised if maybe both get to play). The offensive line is the team’s strength (Tommy Hatton and company will be very good) and some new playmakers emerge on offense, maybe RJ Edwards? Joe Giles-Harris becomes the next Mark Fossati-type linebacker playing all over the field and dominating games.
Worst case: Hoffmann gets thrown into the fire quickly and needs some games to adjust. A young offense doesn’t jell and injuries zap the Green Knights depth. This was a team that was relatively injury free last year, and that was big, because like DePaul, they aren’t as big enrollment wise as everyone else. Depth is always an issue.
What do I really think about St. Joes? Well, to me, of all the teams in the Big North United, the team I think that could have the biggest fall is the Green Knights (wait, let me give time for the Green Knights to get this up on their bulletin board). Augie Hoffmann has all the tools to be a great, great coach, plus he’s learned from the master, but I bet if you look it up, no one at this level every really succeeded in their first year. Toal was what, 7-4 his first year? Nunzio lost in the state finals, Partridge….they were what, 4-6? So I believe there are just some things that can’t be learned until the real bullets start flying. Also, the Green Knights just had an unbelievable combination of talent, Sherman Alston, Spencer Aukamp, Carfagno (before he got hurt) a lot of seniors are gone. And hey, to make it even more interesting, the Green Knights will be a big target in 2014. People will be out to get them. So, yes, in June, I think the biggest issue facing the Green Knights will be the learning curve. But then it sets up really good for them. They end with PC and Bosco and I expect them to be playing very good football by then.