Lima Central Catholic ‘s Billy Bourk is one of the many weapons the T-Birds offense returns this season.
Lima Central Catholic is coming off a 2021 football season when it won 11 games, played in a regional championship game and did that after graduating some of the best players in school history.
So now what do the Thunderbirds do for an encore in 2022?
If the recent past is any indicator, they have another good season. LCC, which has starters back at seven positions on defense and six on offense, has won at least eight games every year in the last five seasons and has won at least once in the playoffs in four of those seasons.
LCC’s roster of 41 players is one of its biggest in recent seasons.
“We have a really good senior class. They are really good leaders, have a really good work ethic, they play hard and aggressive and are smart football players,” LCC coach Scott Palte said. “We only have six juniors. So we are really relying on some sophomores to come along.”
LCC’s junior class might be small but what it lacks in numbers it makes up for by providing three starters.
Starting quarterback Carson Parker, wide receiver Billy Bourk and offensive lineman James Patton, all returning starters, are juniors.
Parker became LCC’s starting quarterback in week seven last season when Evan Unruh suffered a broken collarbone.
Parker, who also played some quarterback as a freshman when several LCC players missed time because of COVID-19, passed for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 1,017 last season.
“He has done some good things. He’s a big kid, 6-2, around 210. He throws the ball well, he runs the ball well. He obviously is the centerpiece of our offense. Everything is built around him,” Palte said.
LCC has three returning starters on its offensive line – Jacob Lauck at tackle and Tyler Shipman and Patton at the guards. Parker, Bourk and running back Matt Cira are the other three returning starters on offense.
Wide receiver Sal Guagenti also will be a target in the passing game. “He’s probably our fastest guy. He’s our deep threat,” Palte said.
Gabe Cira will be the starting running back. “He played a little bit last year and gained around 300 yards rushing. He’s a quick kid, he slashes well and sees the hole well. He’s solid,” Palte said.
The Thunderbirds lost 1,000-yard rusher Keiron Bailey and two big-play threats, Traves Hoyle and Quintel Peoples, to graduation. Hoyle caught 13 touchdown passes and ran three kicks back for touchdowns last season.
“We have been really blessed to have the guys we’ve had with game-breaking speed. I don’t know if we have that this year,” Palte said. “We have a couple guys with potential but right now we don’t have any proven game breakers. We might be a little more ball possession than we’ve been. We were a little spoiled there for a few years.”
Deangelo Russell and Lauck are returning starters on the defensive line. Gabe Cira, Matt Cira and Ethan Frankhouser are back at linebacker. Bourk and Parker are returning starters at safety, which is a position change for Parker, who was a linebacker last year.
“Our linebacker corps – Ethan Frankhouser, Matt Cira and Gabe Cira – all played for us last year. We’re really counting on them. Gabe was our leading tackler last year and made a lot of big plays. We really expect those guys to carry us. We have some holes to fill up front and we’re hoping those three guys can carry us,” Palte said.
Another player who could contribute in a significant way is sophomore Matthew Quatman. “He will play a lot of downs for us. He’s kind of jack of all trades. He’s a really solid athlete. He’s the back-up quarterback. He’s the backup everything right now.”
Developing depth on the offensive and defensive lines is a priority and a necessity, Palte said.
“We can’t play our schedule with the same five linemen playing both ways. We have to develop some depth on the lines up front. If we don’t we’ll be running on fumes by week six or week seven,” he said.
LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Coach: Scott Palte
Years At School: Ninth (62-27 at LCC and 108-54 overall)
Last Year’s Record: 11-3
Division: VII
Returning Starters: Jacob Lauck (OT/DL), Tyler Shipman (OG), James Patton (OG), Carson Parker (QB/DB), Billy Bourk (WR/DB), Matt Cira (RB/LB), Deangelo Russell (DL), Gabe Cira (LB), Ethan Frankhouser (LB)
Players To Watch: Carson Parker passed for more than a thousand yards and rushed for more than a thousand yards last season, most of it after replacing injured Evan Unruh in the seventh game of the season. Linebacker Gabe Cira led LCC in tackles last season and will take over as the No. 1 tailback job this season. Jacob Lauck, Tyler Shipman and James Patton give the Thunderbirds three veteran offensive linemen.
LIMA CENTRAL CATHOLIC
Coach: Scott Palte
Years At School: Ninth (62-27 at LCC and 108-54 overall)
Last Year’s Record: 11-3
Division: VII
Returning Starters: Jacob Lauck (OT/DL), Tyler Shipman (OG), James Patton (OG), Carson Parker (QB/DB), Billy Bourk (WR/DB), Matt Cira (RB/LB), Deangelo Russell (DL), Gabe Cira (LB), Ethan Frankhouser (LB)
Players To Watch: Carson Parker passed for more than a thousand yards and rushed for more than a thousand yards last season, most of it after replacing injured Evan Unruh in the seventh game of the season. Linebacker Gabe Cira led LCC in tackles last season and will take over as the No. 1 tailback job this season. Jacob Lauck, Tyler Shipman and James Patton give the Thunderbirds three veteran offensive linemen.
SCHEDULE
August 18 – Shawnee
August 26 – Delphos St. John’s
September 3 – Tinora*
September 9 – at Huron
September 17 –Bishop Hartley*
September 23 – at Hopewell-Loudon
September 30 — at Lucas
October 7 – at Licking Valley
October 14 – St. Andrews
October 21 – Fort Loramie
All games begin at 7 p.m.
* Games begin at 4 p.m.
