ST. JOSEPH EAGLES
Versatile veterans ready for grueling district
After switching to 6-man last season, Eagles feel better prepared to chase more success in 2019 ROSTER
By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com
St. Joseph went through plenty of changes when it switched to 6-man football last season, and senior center Adam Labowitz may have enjoyed the biggest novelty of the transition. Linemen are eligible to catch passes in 6-man, and Labowitz had two receptions for 20 yards last season and enjoyed the fame the format brings to his position. He isn’t alone — the Eagles have four centers who can make catches.
FACTS
6 Matthew Nelson, 20 Roland George, 22 James Najvar, 80 Adam Labowitz, 2 Trace Brightwell, 8 Jake Drabek, 11 Rylee Hutka, 35 Twister Barrington, 12 Joe Tyler Saladiner, 15 Justin Kristynik, 34 Jack Grunkemeyer, 25 Grayson Glass, 10 Reid Millhollon, 24 Gabe Stratta Coaches: head coach Alec Castilleja, Kyle Castilleja, Marcjavion McGrew, Jackson Pierce, Robert Mandujano, Nathan Jones, Dylan Woods, Stefon McCray
That’s just an example of how versatile the Eagles will be, something Labowitz, junior quarterback Trace Brightwell and head coach Alec Castilleja agree is a defining trait of this year’s St. Joseph squad. The Eagles will open the season against Calvert, which was ranked seventh
Head coach — Alec Castilleja (8-14 overall; 8-14 at St. Joseph) District — TAPPS 6-man Division II District 3 2018 record — 7-5 (2-3 in TAPPS 6-man Division II District 3) 2018 playoffs — TAPPS Division II first round: def. Granbury North Central Texas Academy 72-38; quarterfinals: lost to Huntsville Alpha Omega 64-22 Playoff appearances (11) — 6-man (3): 1999-2001; 11-man (8): 2006-11, 2013-14 Returning lettermen — 15 (6 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners — QB/K Trace Brightwell (TAPPS 6-Man Division II District 3 2nd A-D), RB/LB Twister Barrington (A-D), WR/DB James Najvar (A-D), TE/DL Matthew Nelson (A-D), DB Justin Krystinik (2nd A-D) Key losses — WR/DL Noah McClure (2nd A-D), DB/RB Cole Gibson (HM A-D) All-time record — 106-121 Playoff record — 4-12 (11-man: 2-8; 6-man: 2-4)
in Texas Football’s Class A Division II top 10, at 6 p.m. Saturday at Allen Academy’s Baker Field. “You never know when crisis is going to strike, so we’re expected to know every position, every play,” Labowitz said. “The other day at practice I was playing wide receiver, which was totally different. Just than having to block and being on the line and know- then be ready to expect the ing I could have the ball ball.” That deeper understandcoming to me was different
ing is reassuring for Brightwell, who is entering his second season as the starting quarterback. It helps that St. Joseph, which went 7-5 in its return to 6-man, features a large chunk of its core from 2018, including a trio of all-staters in seniors James Najvar and Matthew Nelson, who will line up at wide receiver and tight end, respectively, and junior Twister Barrington at running back. “I feel like last year not everybody really knew fully what we were doing, and I didn’t know fully what I was doing, because we were
See ST. JOSEPH, Page 47
Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie St. Joseph’s James Najvar, from left, Twister Barrington and Matthew Nelson helped lead the Eagles to the TAPPS playoffs in their return to 6-man football last season.
Thursday, August 29, 2019
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High School Football 2019
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