Expectations are high this season at Episcopal Collegiate even though the Wildcats’ numbers are critically low.
Coach Richie Marsh has worked with 27 to 35 players for most of the past three seasons, but this year the Wildcats’ roster is under 20. Marsh says his team will compete for a 2-3A Conference title, despite the lack of numbers.
“We want to win the conference. We want to do that every year,” Marsh said. “And I don’t think that’s unreasonable for us, even with the low numbers. We can compete for a conference title because we’ve got some really good players.”
Junior Phillip Bryant, 5-11, 165, has moved from receiver to quarterback. Marsh says Bryant has a shot at playing baseball on the professional level but could also play football at the college level.
“I think he really has a shot,” said Marsh, who also coaches Bryant on the baseball team. “He’s got the size and he’s about as slick of a player as you would think a middle infielder should be. He’s got great arm action. He throws the football very well and he knows the difference between throwing the football and throwing the baseball.”
Bryant’s top target will most likely be junior R.J. Rice, 6-2, 210. Rice was used mainly as a blocking receiver last season, but he did catch 18 passes for 323 yards.
“He’s probably the most physical receiver I’ve ever had,” said Marsh, who has been coaching since 1999. “He’s just a punishing blocker. He really helped us last year, blocking on our screens. … When he catches the ball, there’s not a lot of dancing around.”
Marsh said sophomore Herschel Friday, 6-1, 230, is developing into a top lineman, calling him “country strong.”
“He can really pass protect,” Marsh said. “He’s got the fundamentals. He’s got the size. … He’s not going to come in here and bench 300 (pounds) yet, but he will one day. He’ll get out there and manhandle everybody.”
Senior Josef Braunfisch, 6-1, 190, is the Wildcats’ “surest tackler.”
“He plays wherever we need him,” Marsh said. “He played mostly at strong safety and at linebacker last year. He does a good job with it. … Last year may have been his first year of football, but he adjusted very well. He was very attentive. … He learned a lot about the game, and now he’s our defensive leader.”
Senior Jackson Owens, 6-1, 195, is a two-time all-conference player at defensive end who finished with five sacks in 2015.
“He’s a scarily quiet type of guy,” Marsh said of Owens. “He doesn’t talk hardly ever, but his motor is nonstop. He played with a broken rib for the majority of last season. He’s a super tough individual.”
The Wildcats must remain healthy if they want to seriously challenge conference favorites Harding Academy and Bald Knob for the 2-3A title. Marsh says his program has faced those problems in previous seasons.
“We’ve done it in small spurts in the past,” Marsh said. “We had a game two years ago where we ran out of running backs, finished the game with 15 kids and we won. … It’s not completely unknown to us. There’s no shock value for our kids. Obviously we can’t do 11 on 11, we can’t even do 7 on 7, but we find new ways to get contact and we do a lot of 1 on 1 reps that make us better. We have to be very open-minded.”