Confidence high at St. Paul
Cards feel they have shot at capturing TAPPS Division IV, District 4 title
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Billy Mau, Victoria Advocate Sports Writer
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SHINER - St. Paul coach Gilbert Price is entering his third season with the Cardinals and he's more comfortable and confident with the situation.
Shiner St. Paul head coach Gilbert Price welcomes 14 starters back from last season's 3-6 team. Frank Tilley, Advocate Photo Editor
One reason Price is more comfortable is the schedule. St. Paul's schedule for his first two seasons was set up before he was brought in, so this was his first year to set up a schedule. Of course the schedule presented its own unique challenges.
The TAPPS Division IV, District 4 lineup for 2006 featured only three teams - St. Paul, Hallettsville Sacred Heart and Pasadena Baptist. That number shrank to two when Pasadena Baptist dropped its football program late in the summer.
"We had to scramble for two and a half weeks for games going into the start of practices," Price said.
Not many teams had open availabilities, making Price's job all the more difficult until he came up with a last-ditch idea.
"I called up Pasadena Baptist and got a copy of their cancelled schedule," Price said. "We were able to pick up a couple of games with the teams they had cancelled with."
The result of Price's scheduling is a non-district schedule that has the team confident they can put together a successful season.
"We have a good schedule," Price said. "It's not an easy schedule, but it's about giving the team a chance to compete. They don't have to win, but they'll have the chance. We played some games before where there wasn't much of a chance."
ST. PAUL CARDINALS
AT A GLANCE
HEAD COACH: Gilbert Price,
third season (9-12), all at St. Paul.
2004 RECORD: 3-6, 2-1 in TAPPS Division IV, District 1.
RETURNING LETTERMAN: 19
RETURNING STARTERS: 14
LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2005 - lost to Cedar Hill Trinity 31-13 in the TAPPS Division IV regionals.
The Cardinals will fill 14 positions on the field with returning starters, including the entire offensive line. The return rate has given Price some things to be happy about.
Chad Kloesel returns at center to anchor the offensive line.
"Chad is a great individual," Price I said. "He's done everything I've ever asked him to do."
He'll be joined by Randy Radcke and Thom Raabe at guard, Drew Marcak and Ben Van Sickle at tackle, and Kurt Knesek at tight end.
That line will be protecting a new batch of starters in the offensive backfield. Beau Broussard takes over at quarterback for the Cardinals. He'll be joined by fullback Gil Hodges and tailback Jordan Schaefer.
2006 ST. PAUL CARDINAL FOOTBALLDate Time Team Last Year Sep 01 7:30 Pettus DNP Sep 08 7:30 Louise L 20-8 Sep 15 7:30 at Bloomington DNP Sep 22 7:30 OPEN Sep 23 6:00 Katy Pope John XXIII DNP Sep 29 7:30 at Bryan Brazos DNP Oct 06 7:30 at Runge DNP Oct 13 7:30 SA St.Gerard DNP Oct 21 7:00 at Bryan Alien DNP Oct 28 4:00 at H'ville Sacred Heart * L 22-14 Nov 04 4:00 Bay Area Christian DNP Nov 10 7:30 OPEN * TAPPS Division IV, District 4 game CLICK HERE FOR TEAM ROSTER
Price's starting wide receivers should be Kevin Patek and Alton Pohl. Price said that while the Cardinals' receivers are not fast, they run good routes and have solid hands.
Marcak, Van Sickle, Knesek and Kloesel will start on the defensive line. Kloesel and Marcak are the returning starters and will be called upon by Price to control the line of scrimmage.
Radcke and Hodges will anchor the linebacking corps. Patek and Broussard will start at cornerback and Jordan Schaefer is the projected starter at free safety. Stephen Novosad, Pohl and Kendel Kusak will see time at strong safety to round out the defensive backfield.
"We have a good schedule. It's not an easy schedule, but it's about giving the team a chance to compete."
Gilbert Price, St. Paul head coach
The Cardinals' players are setting their sights on a district championship, which means they have to beat Sacred Heart in their lone district game.
Schaefer and Kloesel were quick to point out that this year's match is going to be Sacred Heart's homecoming game.
"Sacred Heart is a big rivalry and its even more so this year," Price said.
"I just try to make the team approach it like any other game."
Billy Mau is a sports writer for the Victoria Advocate.
Contact him at 361-580-6508, or by e-mail at bmau@vicad.com.
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