Kennard-Dale

By Ryan Dixon

For GameTimePA.com

Shortly after he was hired, first-year Kennard-Dale coach Patrick Weider laid out some goals.

He wanted to align the youth program with the varsity program, and he wanted to change the mindset of his team.

“We’ve never really had our youth program aligned, and it is now aligned,” Weider said. “They are going to be running our system, and we are incorporating a lot of stuff together.”

And for a varsity team that has won only one game in the past two years, changing that losing mentality into a winning one will start in the head.

“Our kids have to believe,” Weider said. “Nothing will change until we have some success. Our kids, initially when bad things happen, they duck their heads and get down. By the end of team camp, we got better and better with it. I think our kids are starting to believe in the system and what we’re doing. It’s going to take time, but we are going to be successful.”

Offense

Quarterback >> Kyle Amrhein returns for his third year under center. The senior threw for 541 yards last season and seven touchdowns. “I’m excited to throw the ball. It’s all about confidence,” Amrhein said. “The line will be the key to our offense.”

Running back >> Mike Young graduated and took his 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns from a season ago with him. Kendall Wales and Josh Eaton racked up a combined 205 yards last season and will be the go-to tandem this year.

Receivers >> Junior Austin Jenkins led the Rams with 235 receiving yards last season. “We have the ability to throw the ball,” Weider said. Versatile junior Justin Fitchett returns as well. Fitchett racked up 282 rushing yards, 172 receiving yards and even managed 89 yards throwing.

Offensive line >> Coleman Hamilton and Dan Creter return to once again open the holes up front, but the Rams need to replace three lineman from last season. “It is a huge hole. We have two returning starters that are pretty good. We have some lineman that can fill in there,” Weider said.

Defense

Defensive line >> Hamilton, who averaged more than three tackles a game, returns to anchor the line. The Rams defense surrendered 350 points last season. “It’s a double-edged sword. I think our offense didn’t always put our defense in the best spot,” Weider said. “It’s a balancing act. Defensively, it’s simple: We have to get off blocks and make tackles. We need to be more physical and be able to match up better.”

Linebackers >> Eaton picked off two passes last season and averaged more than three tackles a game.

Secondary >> Jenkins intercepted two passes and averaged more than four tackles a game last season.

Special teams

Eaton gained 239 yards on 15 kickoff returns last season. Four different K-D players punted last season, including Amrhein and Fitchett.

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Save the date >> For all the Rams’ home games. A year after playing three Friday night home games, the Rams will have all five of their home contests under portable lights this season.

Bottom line >> The Rams were minus-7 in the turnover ratio last season. They lost 13 fumbles and threw 14 interceptions. Those numbers all need to get better, and they should with skill players returning. Weider alluded to a different vibe around the program, and said he is confident that his team will say, “Enough is enough. We have to win some games here. It’s got to start with one win and go from there.”