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St . Joseph
Afterswitchingto6-manlastseason,Eaglesfeelbetterpreparedtochasemoresuccessin2019
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By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com
St. Joseph went through plenty of changes when it switched to 6-man football lastseason, andseniorcenter 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.
ROSTER
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
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
FACTS
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 Playoffappearances (11) — 6-man (3): 1999-2001; 11-man (8): 2006-11, 2013-14 Returning lettermen — 15 (6 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners — QB/KTrace 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 Playoffrecord — 4-12 (11-man: 2-8; 6-man: 2-4)
was totally different. Just beingonthelineandknowing I could have the ball comingto me was different than having to block and then be ready to expect the ball.”
Thatdeeperunderstand
ingisreassuringforBrightwell, who is entering his second season as the starting quarterback. It helps thatSt. Joseph, whichwent 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 lineupatwidereceiverand tight end, respectively, and junior Twister Barrington at running back.
“I feel like last year not everybodyreallyknewfully what we were doing, and I didn’t know fully what I wasdoing, becausewewere
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 Thursday, August 29, 2019
