By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

LEAVITTSBURG

LaBrae was 6-4 last season, winning three games by shutout while allowing just eight points in another.

In four losses, however, the Vikings yielded 126 points in what was a feast-or-famine season.

As the team begins its third year under head coach John Armeni, 16 seniors dot this year’s roster.

“What I want to see is those three-year starters and three-year lettermen really step up and become leaders. Leadership is something that we need a lot of,” Armeni said. “Anybody can say the right things and do the right things when you’re winning and things are going right. You really find out what kind of team you have is when things go wrong. Who pulls you back up and gets the team going in the right direction is what we really need to happen. We need those guys to step up as leaders.”

The team returns 20 lettermen with seven starters offensively and eight defensive starters back in the fold.

“For the first time in a long time, LaBrae is breaking in a new quarterback and that seems to be the biggest question mark on offense,” Armeni said. “Carlton Brown, our starting defensive back last year, has emerged from camp as the leader with Dan Hankins and Tariq Drake capable backups.”

Defensively, the team is led by its linebackers, but depth is a concern.

OFFENSE

Only two quarterbacks have taken snaps for the Vikings over the past five years and Brown can become yet another in a long line of exciting QBs for the All-American Conference school.

The team runs a multiple spread and providing protection up front will be Ben McCartney, Conner Wilson, Brison Johnson and Austin Higley, each of whom is a three-year letterman.

Drake, Keevon Harris and J.T. Wolke are the receivers with Arjay Oliver and Joe Percich the running backs.

Their F-back, or converted fullback, in the spread will either be Wolke or Percich’s twin brother, Jacob.

DEFENSE

The Vikings employ a 3-4 defense with Austin Higley, Joe Percich, Brandon Faulkner, Johnson and Rhen McConaughey battling for playing time.

Linebacker hopefuls include Wilson, Andrew Cree (an early verbal commit to Ohio University who had 18 tackles for loss last season), Wolke, Jacob Percich, Dalton Stout and Riley McCleary.

Drake, Harris, Brown and Daran Jones are set to roam the secondary.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Harris, who averaged 41.4 yards per return with two touchdowns and Oliver are the Vikings’ kick return threats. Drake is penciled in to return punts.

The snapper is Johnson, Jacob Percich the punter while Isaiah Carmichael will be counted on for all kicking duties.

OUTLOOK

When Armeni took over three years ago he played a lot of sophomores and several freshmen even lettered.

It was a baptism under fire for many of those players, but each gained valuable experience and they are now ready to make a statement.

“In order to be a big winner, you have to appreciate where you’ve come from,” Armeni said. “Our message to the team this year has been be more consistent. If that happens, then we have a chance to be a pretty good team. We have high expectations of competing for a league title and playoff berth.”