Braves boast better depth, speed for 2010 campaign

The outlook is pretty positive for the Flathead Braves football team in 2010.

"It's not that we're the fastest team in the state, but we're deeper and faster than last year," said fourth-year Flathead head coach Russell McCarvel.

The improved depth comes from simply having more kids - Flathead has more than 80 boys out for football this year.

Of those, 19 are seniors and 38 are juniors.

"We have a nice deep group of juniors. It's going to pay off in games," McCarvel said.

Flathead, 2-8 in 2009, returns eight players who started at least one game on offense and three who started at least one game on defense.

"I really think the whole AA has increased depth. There's nobody on our schedule that we can say ‘we're for sure going to beat those guys,'" he added.

"So we have to make sure we are ready to go every single week. We are faster this year and I think we're practicing faster," he said.

There have been a couple of changes to the way the Braves do things.

Defensively, Flathead has switched to a 3-4.

Senior lineman Connor Thomas is loving the change.

The 2009 Flathead offense was able to score decent points last year - 12 per game. But the Brave defense gave up 34.6 points per game.

"We couldn't really stop anybody. This gives us an extra linebacker, a quick guy in there to fill the hole or drop back in pass coverage. I like it a lot.

"We're a lot faster and we have it together a lot more," Thomas said.

"Our defense has made a big stride forward. At least, on paper it looks really good. We'll put it to the test (tonight)," he added.

"But everyone is working really hard. Both sides of the ball are looking really good," Thomas said.

"I'm very excited. I've been looking forward to this since last year," he said.

McCarvel has been particularly pleased with the way the all-state lineman is handling himself through the first weeks of practice.

"He's hustling hard," the coach said of Thomas.

"His leadership with the younger kids, the less experienced players ... I've been very impressed with his leadership," he said.

Up front with Thomas will be Luke Scholer (5-foot-11, 230 pounds) as well as Tanner Theil, Kirk Davis, Garret Yarde and Austin Jones.

The linebackers will be faster and deeper than last year, according to the coach.

They will be led by Travis Ozegovich and Cody Stinger. Others vying for time will be Steve Olbert, Alex Rudolph, Albert Olszewski, Larry Francis, Tevin Groshelle, Connor Hagel, Tyler Fister, Robert Rush and Madison Managhan.

Depth in the secondary will also be a strength. Fans should expect to see many players there, including George Sherwood, Dillon Larsen and Michael Donahue at corner. Also vying for time at corner will be Connor Eaton, Robert Simmons and Sam Bolster.

There will be new faces at safety. Those include seniors Austin Bowen, Jake Matelich and Jeff Markavage. Juniors will be led by Sidney Schenck, Josh Erickson, Brandon Gilpin, Evan Eickert and Gage Palmer.

Offensively, the Braves will rely greatly on four guys - the offensive line. They are seniors Thomas, Austin Bradley (5-11, 260), Luke Scholar and junior Travis Oakson (6-0, 258).

Flathead returns big names at the skill positions.

Mike VanArendonk (6-1, 185) is back at quarterback, Sherwood (6-4, 201) returns at wide receiver and at running back is Ozegovich (5-9, 205).

Van Arendonk completed 85 of 170 passes last year for 910 yards and six touchdowns.

"Mike has made great strides," the coach said.

Sherwood caught 24 of those for 391 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 16.3 yards per catch. Ozegovich ran for 673 yards and scored five touchdowns as a junior - and was also the team's leading receiver with 25 catches.

Others who will see considerable playing time include junior running backs John Collins, Groshelle, Francis, Managhan and Juston Windom; senior wide receivers Gaige Mower, Ian Gillespie and Jeff Maravage and juniors Matt McLean and Drew Crosby.

McCarvel also expects the tight end spot to be a strength for Flathead.

The returning starter there is Braxton Nimmick (6-4, 215). Also seeing time will be Austin Jones, Nick James and Hagel.

The Braves open the regular season at 7 p.m. tonight when they play host to the Butte Bulldogs.

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Flathead Schedule

Aug. 27 - Butte, 7 p.m.

Sept. 3 - at Helena Capital, 4 p.m.

Sept. 10 - Billings West, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 16 - at Missoula Sentinel, 7 p.m.

Sept. 24 - Glacier, 7 p.m.

Oct. 1 - Bozeman, 7 p.m.

Oct. 8 - Missoula Big Sky, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 - at Great Falls CMR, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 - at Missoula Hellgate, 7 p.m.

Oct. 29 - Helena, 7 p.m.More speed, more depth, more experience.