The Immaculata football team will look to utlize its speed and experience in 2010, banking on an inspired work ethic from its senior class to help pave the way for the season. Head coach Sean Sachen said he’s been very encouraged by the team’s early progress.
“We’ve probably had the best first week that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Sachen said. “At that time you’re looking to get better every day and they did that.”
With senior linemen Sam Metivier, Cole Cannon, John Lednicky and James Morley back in the trenches and fellow seniors Patrick Boisson and Brad Holcomb joining Metivier as team captains, Sachen said his upperclassmen are doing a good job of keeping the team focused.
“I’ve got four guys who’ve started on the offensive line since they were sophomores,” the Raiders’ coach said. “They’re all back, they’re all still on the line. Those guys are really setting the tone for how things are going, staying positive and really helping us move forward. They’re ready to go.”
Since Sachen says his squad is focused on fine-tuning themselves, those senior leaders are pushing the rest of the Immaculata team to live up to higher expectations.
“We’ve really been focusing on discipline and attention to detail,” Sachen said. “Our focus is to not run a lot, but to run it well. In overall team speed we’re faster than we have been inthe past few years. That’ll help us defensively getting to the ball.”
The experienced line will also be looked to help quarterback Corey Leintz, a junior, as he looks to distribute the ball to running backs like Holcomb and Brandon Wall and wide receivers Boisson and Sean Murray.
“We’ll run a lot of option,” Sachen said of the Raiders’ offense for 2010. “Corey’s to the point now where he’s a little older, a little more physical and he can make the read. We’ll put the ball in his hands and let him make the decisions for us and get the ball to the right people at the right time.”
A newcomer to the team, sophomore Wall, is a player Sachen said will give the Raiders added punch in 2010.
“He had a really good camp week and we went to the Saint Mary’s camp and he really stood out there,” Sachen said of Wall. “He’ll probably start for us at a corner and one of the running backs. He’s got good speed, he does some nice things in the open field and he’s very technically sound on the defensive side. He does his job and does it well.”
Although the roster is filled with many familiar faces, the team will have a different look to the schedule this year. Immaculata falls into a five-team district — with Wathena, Valley Falls, Oskaloosa and Jefferson County North. The change in scheduling, Sachen said, should be even more motivation for his team.
“We’ll start district play week five at Wathena,” Sachen said. “It’ll make it so even if we’re not in contention for a league title those games will still mean something. That might help keep our guys focused.”
With five home games, including the season-opener against Horton on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., will be played at Abeles Field, which the Raiders are anxious to have sole claim over this season.
“That’ll be fun,” Sachen said.
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The Immaculata football team will look to utlize its speed and experience in 2010, banking on an inspired work ethic from its senior class to help pave the way for the season. Head coach Sean Sachen said he’s been very encouraged by the team’s early progress.
“We’ve probably had the best first week that we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Sachen said. “At that time you’re looking to get better every day and they did that.”
With senior linemen Sam Metivier, Cole Cannon, John Lednicky and James Morley back in the trenches and fellow seniors Patrick Boisson and Brad Holcomb joining Metivier as team captains, Sachen said his upperclassmen are doing a good job of keeping the team focused.
“I’ve got four guys who’ve started on the offensive line since they were sophomores,” the Raiders’ coach said. “They’re all back, they’re all still on the line. Those guys are really setting the tone for how things are going, staying positive and really helping us move forward. They’re ready to go.”
Since Sachen says his squad is focused on fine-tuning themselves, those senior leaders are pushing the rest of the Immaculata team to live up to higher expectations.
“We’ve really been focusing on discipline and attention to detail,” Sachen said. “Our focus is to not run a lot, but to run it well. In overall team speed we’re faster than we have been inthe past few years. That’ll help us defensively getting to the ball.”
The experienced line will also be looked to help quarterback Corey Leintz, a junior, as he looks to distribute the ball to running backs like Holcomb and Brandon Wall and wide receivers Boisson and Sean Murray.
“We’ll run a lot of option,” Sachen said of the Raiders’ offense for 2010. “Corey’s to the point now where he’s a little older, a little more physical and he can make the read. We’ll put the ball in his hands and let him make the decisions for us and get the ball to the right people at the right time.”
A newcomer to the team, sophomore Wall, is a player Sachen said will give the Raiders added punch in 2010.
“He had a really good camp week and we went to the Saint Mary’s camp and he really stood out there,” Sachen said of Wall. “He’ll probably start for us at a corner and one of the running backs. He’s got good speed, he does some nice things in the open field and he’s very technically sound on the defensive side. He does his job and does it well.”
Although the roster is filled with many familiar faces, the team will have a different look to the schedule this year. Immaculata falls into a five-team district — with Wathena, Valley Falls, Oskaloosa and Jefferson County North. The change in scheduling, Sachen said, should be even more motivation for his team.
“We’ll start district play week five at Wathena,” Sachen said. “It’ll make it so even if we’re not in contention for a league title those games will still mean something. That might help keep our guys focused.”
With five home games, including the season-opener against Horton on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m., will be played at Abeles Field, which the Raiders are anxious to have sole claim over this season.
“That’ll be fun,” Sachen said.
