St. Paul's football fans can be assured of one thing this season: The Crusaders can't possibly much worse in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Conference after going 0-6 in league play last fall.
St. Paul's should make major improvements this season.
The Crusaders return seven starters on both offense and defense.
"Last year, we were incredibly young," St. Paul's coach Paul Bernstorf said. "Basically, we were a JV team. All the kids that are returning were sophomores last year. We are more mature this year and the kids understand the game. I think we will be much more successful."
Bernstorf feels his Crusaders are legitimate contenders for a championship.
St. Paul's won titles in both 2012 and 2013 and lost in the final in 2014.
"Any coach in the league will tell you anybody can win the B Conference because the teams just don't have the depth," coach said. "The team that usually stays the healthiest usually has the success. That's how it works. "
The task of running the spread offense falls to junior quarterback Kevin Madden (5-foot-8, 155 pounds).
The gifted athlete started fives games last year.
"He is immensely talented," Bernstorf said. "He can run and he can throw. He has a chance to be a really good quarterback. He has better arm strength than Anthony Pino, who was our quarterback for four years."
Bernstorf welcomes back four starters along the offensive line: Junior center John Urban (5-10, 210), junior guard Jack Higginbottom (5-11, 225) and junior tackles John Walker (6-4, 210) and John Billips (6-2, 205).
"I have four kids on the offensive line I am really excited about," Bernstorf said. "We have to find that fifth kid."
The Crusaders are deep at running back, boasting juniors Mitch Daugherty (5-10, 180) and Kolby Kessler (5-10, 185) and sophomore Princeton Douglas (5-8, 170), a transfer from Dallastown Area High in Pennsylvania.
"He can really, really run," Bernstorf said of Douglas. "And I love his intensity. He is probably pound for pound, one of the strongest kids in the weight room."
Junior wide receiver Zyon Jenkins (6-4, 210) and sophomore slot back Jack Parr (5-11, 170) are inviting targets for Madden.
On defense, the Crusaders can't give up as many big plays and points (202) as year.
Junior end Billy Chizmar (5-11, 175), Walker, an end, and Urban, a tackle, spearhead the line in the 4-4 defense.
Junior Chris Cabral (5-10, 180) and senior Alex Rode (6-0, 180) are the top linebackers.
Sophomore cornerback Quizzon Tarver (5-7, 155), senior safety Bobby Cade Mornhinweg (6-1, 210) and senior cornerback Colby Nelson (5-9, 180) are the leaders of the secondary.
"I expect us to be more physical and more disciplined," Bernstorf said of his defense. "We are a year older and a year more mature. We were so young on defense last year. "