New faces, new positions highlight 2015 Cardinal offense
Kingston quarterback Riley Magiera directs the offense during practice Monday night. Magiera looks to replace All-Thumb quarterback Aaron VanHorn this season, after playing running back last season.
By: Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
KINGSTON — In 2014, a strong group of seniors led the Cardinals to a 7-4 record, and one of the best offensive outputs in school history.
In 2015, head coach Scott Boyl will look to another strong cast of seniors, including two that have yet to play a down on varsity, to keep the Kingston program heading in the right direction.
“Right now we are working on our offense,” said Boyl. “We are losing a quarterback, a running back, and a center. That’s the three key areas in football, and that three key areas that we will be working on.”
Boyl will have to replace three All-Thumb performers from last years squad, a squad that scored 419 points, the most by a Cardinal team since 1996 (452), and the second most in school history. Quarterback Aaron VanHorn (872 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, three interceptions, 575 rushing yards), runnning back Travis Tucker (48 carries, 659 yards, 27 catches 560 yards, 23 total TDs), and center Seth Richmond (All-Thumb center, team captain, three year starter), will all need to be succeeded on the offensive side of the ball.
“Last year with having a new quarterback, new running back, and new head coach, we ad to think about what we wanted to do, and then place our kids to what their abilities were,” commented Boyl. “This year it is going to be the same way. We are going to be doing a lot of different things than last year, just based on the talent we have. We try to go three deep at all of our positions, so we will just be filling in from last year.”
Boyl will look to seniors Riley Magiera, a running back last season, to take over at quarterback, and two new varsity players Dalton Price, and William Webster to help out in the backfield. Kyle Ruggles will be taking over the center position.
Two Kingston football newcomers, William Webster (left), and Dalton Price (right), get set in the backfield during practice Monday night.
“The two seniors that have just came out this year both have decent speed for their size,” Boyl said. “William is about six foot tall, 240 pounds, and Dalton is about five foot, 11 inches, 200 pounds, and they are both going to be fighting out there. (Kyle) is a junior that didn’t play last season, but he is taking on the spot on, and learning it.”
One player that coach Boyl will be counting on on both sides of the ball is fourth year starter Kylan Pennington (83 tackles, 12 sacks, four forced fumbles), an All-Thumb performer at defensive end, and a tight end on the offensive side of the ball.
“He is our team captain, and probably the only break he is going to see is on special teams,” said Boyl. “We have to figure out how to get him the ball offensively, and defensive wise we are going to have to move him around, try to pick the offense’s brain, and put him in spots that will show his strengths.
“Last year we didn’t have a linebacker, and Kylan was already a two year starter at defensive end, and he had to play some linebacker, but this year with Dalton coming in we have a true linebacker. (Dalton) has good eyes for the ball, and he is going to be a big part of our defense.”
Kingston will travel to Webberville on Thursday to play in a scrimmage that will feature some of the top 8-man talent in the state of Michigan, including teams from Deckerville, Peck, Owen-Gage, Portland St. Patrick, and Lawrence, the 8-man state champion last season. Then the Cardinals will focus on the regular season, and a week one matchup with Deckerville, in a non-conference showdown.
“That’s going to be a big one,” Boyl said. “It’s a non-conference game, but it’s big because six wins get you into the playoffs, and that’s what we need to focus on. We want to start off the season a bit better than we did last year, last year we started 0-2.
“It’s been a long time since Kingston beat Deckerville, and that’s something we want to change.”
Mike Gallagher is a sports writer for the Advertiser, and can be reached at sports@tcadvertiser.com, or over the phone at 989-673-3181, ext. 116