2020 Team Previews: Berks Catholic Saints (3)

Written by: David Mika on Tuesday, August 11th, 2020. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Head Coach: Rick Keele

Assistant Coaches: Phil Bennethum Jr., Chama Carwll, Terrance Derr III, Neil George, Jasen Esposito, Bill Hess, Keith Leamer, Mike McKeone, Carl Schupp, Logan Schupp, Dave Stahler, Alex Swavely, Kevin Wright

Team Name: Berks Catholic Saints

2019 Record: 8-5

Key Starters Lost: Abdul MacFoy RB/KR, Jase Fowler C/DT, Jackson Gofus OL/DL, Jack Burke RB, Bobby Hughes RB/LB, Owen Wolfe TE/FS, Andrew McConnell WR, CJ Carwll RB/LB, Andrew Chiarelli OL/DL, Riley Adams OL

Offensive Starters Returning: (9) Jr. QB Brad Hoffman 6’3 205, Jr. RB/WR Christian Cacchione 5’11 175, Sr. RB/WR Connor Gundersen 5’10 170, Sr. RB Colby Newton 5’7 215, Jr. OG Luke Hughes 6’3 220, Sr. C/OG Mark McFadden 6’2 240, Jr. TE Tyler Givens 6’3 220, Sr. WR Will DeYoung 6’2 165, Sr. RB Justin Smalls 5’10 195

Defensive Starters Returning: (10) Jr. LB Aiden Gallen 6′ 215, Jr. LB Gabe Navarro 6’1 220, Jr. FS Christian Cacchione 5’11 175, So. DT Jacob Collazo 6’4 300, Jr. DE Luke Hughes 6’3 220, Sr. DT Mark McFadden 6’2 240, So. CB Josiah Jordan 5’10 155, Sr. DE Colby Newton 5’7 215, Sr. OLB Justin Smalls 5’10 195, Sr. DT Roman Donahue 6′ 240

Special Team Starters Returning: (1) K Alex Zavala 6′ 200

Key Newcomers:

So. DB/WR 5’11 175 Luke Brenner
So. OL/DL 6′ 230 Luke Bennethum
Fr. LB/RB 6′ 175 Gabe Davis
Fr. DB/RB 6′ 150 Marvin Armistead
Jr. DB/QB 5’10 170 Mitchell Gatz

Key Stats:

+18 in turnover margin in 2019
8-5 Record (8-3 vs PIAA opponents)

2020 Offensive Outlook: Returning Luke Hughes and Mark McFadden each of whom played significant time last year on the offensive line is a welcome change for the program. That experience coupled with Brad Hoffman returning at QB and Colby Newton at FB offer more experience than the Saints are accustomed to returning. Christian Cacchione is electric with the ball in his hands, Justin Smalls offers great physical tools and physicality, and Connor Gundersen’s ability to read blockers makes the offense dangerous. Hoping Will DeYoung is able to return from a knee injury and contribute at WR. Gabe Navarro and Tyler Givens filled in at TE some last year and that should help. Overall need more out of the passing game to compete with improved schedule in section 1.

2020 Defensive Outlook: Lots of depth up front and experience at LB and in the secondary. Jacob Collazo, Mark McFadden, Luke Hughes, Colby Newton, and Roman Donahue will anchor the defensive line. Aiden Gallen and Gabe Navarro with only get better at inside linebacker after playing a lot as sophomores. Josiah Jordan and Christian Cacchione return with lots of experience in the back end of the defense.

2020 Special Teams Outlook: Alex Zavala returns and that experience helps. Cacchione, DeYoung Gundersen, Smalls and Jordan are threats to return kicks. The team speed will make kick coverage a strong point.