By Doug Chapin

dchapin@vindy.com

VIENNA

With just four returning regulars on offense from a 5-5 season, Mathews will rely on senior quarterback Cobie Pratt to carry a big load.

“We are going to go as far as he takes us,” third-year coach Mike Palumbo said about Pratt, who rushed for 458 yards and passed for 751 last year. “I hate to give the kid all that pressure but he’s a good athlete and a good leader. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

The Mustangs want to follow up on the progress they made in 2013.

“The year before we were 1-9 and we were pretty much getting blown out every game. It was a pretty long year,” Palumbo said about his first year. “This past year we went 5-5 and we were more competitive. We lost to Southington, who made the playoffs last year, on the last play of the game. And we lost to Grand Valley by two, the league champs.

“Every game we were in we were competitive and we got better week to week. That’s all you can ask from your kids.”

OFFENSE

Pratt will be joined in the backfield by junior Bryan Leippley, who gained 678 yards in five starts a year ago. Senior Justin Marshall will rotate in at tailback as he did a season ago.

Mathews loses 1,000-yard rusher Austin Arnal to graduation as well as receiver Wyatt Ford, who had 34 catches.

Heading up the receiver corps this year are junior Robbie Helmick and freshman Andrew Grimmet.

The Mustangs’ offensive line is led by two-year starter Dylan Glancy. The Mustangs graduated four offensive lineman from a year ago but expect to be solid. Fellow juniors Logan Culp, Alce Romesberg and Zach Ger will join Glancy.

“Our offensive line is all juniors so they’ve been with the program,” Palumbo said. “If they can jell as a group we can probably make a little noise. We’re going to rely mostly on our running game offensively.”

DEFENSE

On defense, the same set of linemen will play in the Mustangs’ 4-4. Leipply returns at linebacker along with junior Noah Shreves. Seniors Mike Kennedy and Mike Taylor also are expected to start at linebacker. The secondary returns Helmick, Marshall and Pratt, all of whom have started for two seasons.

OUTLOOK

Going from being competitive to winning those close games is the next step for the program, though Palumbo’s goals remain simple.

“If we can get better week to week, the wins will come and we’ll see where we end up at the end of the season,” he said.