“The strength of this team is we have a lot of speed, a lot of athletes,” fifth-year Phoenix coach Walter Polky said.
Polky said his teams run the ball. That won’t change this year, but it won’t necessarily be the tried-and-true “three yards and a cloud of dust” method either.
Starting fullback Dillon Webster has the look of a bruiser, but he has the quick feet of a tailback. Slot receiver Austin Darling (who didn’t play last year) is “just quick,” according to classmate Webster. Senior Caulin Parker returns at quarterback, although sophomore Kayle Stewart took reps when Parker was banged up during the preseason. Webster called Stewart a “really good athlete.”
“This offense, I feel, can really do some damage this year, to any team that we face,” Parker said. “I feel that with everybody healthy we can be a team to be reckoned with.”
The Phoenix have an inexperienced line, but elder statesman Devan Pomeroy said his unit won’t be a weak spot.
“I think we can be a strong line, we just need to come together,” the senior center said. “We will.”
“Offensive line, it takes a little while. It takes more than 10 practices or 12 practices to jel,” said Polky, who added that effort from his line can make up for the lack of experience.
Webster said he thinks the line play on the other side of the ball could be good. As the middle linebacker on defense, he’s hoping the defensive front can help out his cause. Webster, who was a free safety last year, said he’s “no James Ouellette,” speaking of the graduated senior he’s replacing at linebacker.
All of the Phoenix’ offensive weapons also will be called upon on defense, with Parker at “demon” (equal parts rush linebacker and coverage linebacker on the outside), and Darling and Stewart in the defensive backfield.
Polky said the key to the defense is “assignment and alignment.”
“Making the tackles. Not giving the team extra plays. Not giving the team extra yards,” Polky said.
With an overall young team, the Phoenix will get an eye-opening experience right out of the gate, when they host perennial power Wells in the season opener. It’s just one of the key games Webster said his team needs to win if it wants to improve on last year’s showing. Games against Cape Elizabeth (on the road, week three), Yarmouth (on the road, week six) and Leavitt (at home, week seven) are other games the Phoenix have circled. Winning the other games will be just as important, however, and none can be counted on as easy wins, especially for a young team.
Darling, who said he didn’t have much to say during the preseason, did claim that his team has “good potential.”
It was a quick answer for a quick player on what could be a quick-strike offense.
wkramlich@sunjournal.com
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