Injuries throughout the 2016 season forced Lake-Lehman coach Jerry Gilsky to go deep into his roster at times.
The result is that the Black Knights are able to bring back more experienced players than usual as they try to return to the top of Wyoming Valley Conference’s small schools.
“With all those injuries, a lot of young guys played last year, so we’ve got to just keep building on that,” Gilsky said.
At 33 players, the Black Knights will not have the largest roster among potential contenders, but Gilsky thinks he might be able to use a greater percentage of those players than most teams can.
“There’s a lot of quality there,” he said. “That’s an asset to have.
“ … Everybody’s pushing each other.”
ON OFFENSE
The Black Knights can put experienced players at nearly every position.
“We’re moving around a little bit trying to find the right combination, but we’re pretty solid,” Gilsky said.
Nate O’Donnell is at quarterback where he started two years ago when Lake-Lehman won its first nine games. His presence could mean a few new wrinkles along with the Black Knights power attack behind a veteran line.
Trey Borger, who has run for more than 1,000 yards combined in the past two seasons, is back at halfback along with Zack Kojadinovich. When Borger went out last season, Kojadinovich wound up as the team’s second-leading rusher as a freshman.
Matt Kurtz is also back at fullback.
Josh Durling returns at tight end and Tyler Billotti is the split end.
Ian Evans and Jack Symeon return at the two tackles and Kaleb Konigus is the center.
T.J. Meehan, who was in the rotation of offensive linemen last season, is at guard with Elmer Souder.
ON DEFENSE
A veteran group of linemen and linebackers could make the Black Knights tough to run against.
Konigus is back at defensive tackle where he is part of a planned rotation with Souder, Heinrich and Evans.
Josh Durling returns at one end spot and Meehan, who has made some starts, is at the other. Symeon will be in the mix there or at linebacker.
Frank Kutz and Borger return at inside linebacker where Kurtz will also see time.
O’Donnell is back at one outside linebacker position. Jarrett Cummings and David Horgerbe are the most likely to fill the other.
Gilsky went into the preseason looking at many possibilities in the less-experienced backfield.
Billotti and Liam O’Brien are safeties. Nate LaBar, Casey Kaminski, Floyd McCroy and Sean Sabaluski are others who could play in the secondary.
OUTLOOK
As long as it has better health, Lake-Lehman should be positioned for a better season.
How many more wins that translates into, however, remains to be seen.
It is possible for the Black Knights to ultimately finish higher in District 2 Class 3A than they are ranked in playoff points at the end of the regular season, if they qualify for the district playoffs for the sixth straight year.
Along with defending champion Scranton Prep, a Week 3 opponent, Lake-Lehman appears to have the most demanding schedule among the district’s 3A teams.
Scranton Prep, a state quarterfinalist that won 12 games, is challenge enough. Aside from the other WVC small schools, Lake-Lehman also takes on larger schools Berwick, Dallas and Tunkhannock.
