“My expectation is that we’re going to be dramatically improved from the team we put on the field last year,” Haynes said. “How that all shakes out in wins and losses, I don’t know.”
The Thunderhawks, who haven’t had a winning season since 2005, return nine starters from a team that finished 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Greater Miami Conference.
“We’re much stronger as a team than we were this time last year and we’re much faster, also,” Haynes said. “You combine those two things, and that puts us in a better position to compete.”
Offense
With six starters back, East looks to improve upon an offense that was seventh in the GMC in yards per game (254.3), including eighth in rushing (153.3). The Thunderhawks were sixth in scoring offense (19.5 points per game) and fourth in passing offense (100.1 yards per game).
Junior quarterback Robby Harpring is back to direct East’s triple-option attack. Junior Will Mahone returns at tailback.
“We feel good about those kids coming back and the experience they had last year,” Haynes said.
Junior Chamada Palmore and sophomores Bobby Brown and Nate Mays also are in the mix in the backfield.
Mikel Horton, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore, will start at fullback.
The Thunderhawks strength could be on the offensive line, where four of five starters — senior Jake Lehn and juniors Grant Collins, Kyler Corbett and Johnny Detherage — return. Junior Zach Daniel and senior Ross Schaible are vying for the other starting spot up front.
Junior Isaac Cosculluela and senior Eric Lenahan will be Harpring’s primary targets at wide receiver.
Defense
The Thunderhawks struggled on defense in 2010, ranking last in the GMC in scoring defense (32.2 ppg) and yards allowed (349.6).
Haynes expects the defense to be much improved.
“Defensively we’re not as experienced as we are on offensive but I think we’re much more athletic than we were last year,” he said.
Defensive lineman Tim Bowman and senior outside linebacker Cody Shaul are the only true returning starters back on defense.
Haynes also counts junior inside linebacker Jake Chestnut, who split time between offense and defense last season, as a returning starter.
Junior Max DeZarn, a fullback last season, and junior Justin Smith are vying for the starting spot at inside linebacker alongside Chestnut.
Junior J.T. Turner, senior AJ Shelby and junior Ben Bostick will join Bowman up front.
The secondary features Jeff Mundy, Brady Sowders, Joe Postlewait, Keith Brady, Tyler Schlensker and DeVaughn Blair.
About the Author