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BANGOR – Soon after John Bapst head football coach Dan O’Connell appointed his brother Matt O’Connell to the position of offensive coordinator, Matt approached Dan with an idea that will make for a dramatically different look to this year’s Crusaders.
It’s a change Dan O’Connell is hoping will turn his team from a three-win squad, as it’s been for the past two years, to a playoff contender.
Under the brothers’ direction, Bapst is switching to a wishbone offense. It’s a huge difference from last year’s power-I.
“We came up with it kind of as a reflection of the kids we have,” Dan O’Connell said. “We’d rather execute something that puts the kids in the best position to win rather than have something and mold the kids around that.”
What Bapst has is a group of smaller, quicker backs, including a quarterback who looked good despite starting just three games at the position last year.
Kyle Gallant, who started at free safety much of the 2004 season, guided the Crusaders to two wins after QB George Keefe switched to running back.
“Kyle’s a heady kid so he can make those decisions [that come with playing the wishbone],” O’Connell said.
Gallant likes the wishbone, and doesn’t mind the change.
“It’s a better offense all around,” he said. “There are a lot more options coming out of the wishbone. It opens it all up with options and passing.”
O’Connell will also rely on tailbacks Ron St. Pierre, Nick Smith and Mike Healy and fullback Ben Amaral. The variety of players should compliment each other.
“We have some strong, strong backs and some quick backs,” St. Pierre said. “So when we’re running out of the wishbone we get to use the power backs for blocking; the other ones can run by everybody.”
The offensive line will be as important as ever, but there will have to be a change in mentality, O’Connell said. Instead of powering open holes for the backs, the line will now have to be more athletic, stretch the defense, and allow the backs to find the holes.
The Crusaders will be at least 225 pounds across the line.
“I think a lot of people thought we were going to be small on the line this year, but we’ve got a couple of big kids who can move and block,” offensive guard Brian Leighton said.
Bapst’s defense will also shift from a 5-2 base to a 4-4 with a “monster” back – that monster back being Leighton, who had more than 100 tackles last year.
“It puts Brian in the middle so he’s free and has no responsibilities,” O’Connell said. “He’s a straight-up middle linebacker and can run all over the field.”
Leighton, an LTC honorable mention on offense and defense last year, likes the change.
“I’m excited about it,” he said with a smile. “I’m going to get a lot of tackles this year.”
JOHN BAPST CRUSADERS
2004 results: 3-6, 7th in LTC Class C
Head coach: Dan O’Connell, 3rd year
Key players: Ron St. Pierre, TB-OLB, Sr.; Kyle Gallant, QB-FS, So.; Nick Smith, TB-CB, So.; Brian Leighton, OL-LB, Sr.; Ben Amaral, FB-ILB, Sr.; Mike Healy, TB-DE, Sr.; Zach Burnett, TE-DB, Sr.; Ray Solinger, FB-LB, Sr.; Al Ortiz, OG-DE, Sr.; Jim Ouellette, OL-LB, Jr.; Brian McLaughlin, OL-DL, Sr.
Outlook: The Crusaders, who were two close losses away from going 5-4 last year, will be one of several teams fighting for LTC playoff spots. They’ll open with Dexter and close with Orono, which are scheduling changes. Numbers are a bit down this year, with 27 players in preseason. The Crusaders have several receivers competing for starting roles, including Ortiz and former golfer Tom Keefe.
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
Dan O’Connell, John Bapst high school football coach, drills his team during an early-morning preseason practice.
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