The Centerburg football team is coming off a playoff season win which it went 6-4 overall and 4-3 in KMAC play.
During the season, it outscored opponents 271-207, and it is looking to build on that, facing challenges that include what coach Andy Colella calls "the challenges from withiin."
Last year, the Trojans earned a playoff bid and lost to Nelsonville-York in the first round. The team is coached by Colella, who has been coaching for 15 years. Colella said the biggest point of emphasis for his team is to be consistent on a day-to-day basis by developing good habits while meeting the standards of the program.
The Trojans run a spread offense. Colella said they use all kinds of formations and motions to confuse the defense and force them to defend horizontally and vertically.
“We run it because our kids enjoy it, they’ve bought in, and have been using it for the last 12 years,” said Colella. “We tweak it on a year-to-year basis depending on our personnel.”
The team’s base defense is a four-man front, but the Trojans use multiple defenses as well. Colella said that with the amount of spread offenses that are currently being run, the team needs to have flexibility to defend properly.
Colella said that coaching is all about taking things from others and adapting.
“There's a little piece of all the coaches I've had growing up, coaches I've coached with at Centerburg and prior to Centerburg, and the players I've coached over the years. I have learned from them all and use what I have gained from them,” said Colella. “Football-wise, the people who've had the most impact on me are my dad; coach Paul Hulea; coach Mark Brungard; and coach Bob Rohan from my time as a player and coach at Poland Seminary. While at Centerburg, the two who've had the most impact on me are coach Jim Stoyle and coach Brandon Dodrill.”
Colella said the team will be leaning on its seniors, and this year there are eight: Tyler Johnson, Tanner Hott, Dominic Vargo, John Geiger, Mason Lanthorn, Gauge Stepp, Justis Schultz and Caden Brokopp. Johnson and Geiger were named to the KMAC First Team last season, though the Trojans lost first-teamers Alex Johnson and Jack Gregory.
“Our expectations are to be the best versions of ourselves,” said Colella. “The challenge from within is the greatest challenge of them all. As a whole, I've really been satisfied with the progress we've made thus far. There's still room for a lot of growth, but I like the direction we're moving.”
The Trojans look to start the season on a high note on the road against Utica on Aug. 19.
