By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

LOWELLVILLE

The Lowellville Rockets enter their second season under head coach Doug Velasquez with high hopes.

Hired a year ago and just two months prior to summer sessions, Velasquez felt like he didn’t have an adequate adjustment period the first time around in order to implement his system.

With a full year and an entire offseason now under everyone’s belt, Velasquez’s lofty goal is to not only advance to the 11th week of play (the Rockets’ last playoff appearance was in 2014), but host a playoff game.

“Last year the offseason went by so fast, but this year our staff has had an entire year to work with the players and that has helped everyone as we get ready for the upcoming campaign,” Velasquez said.

The Rockets graduated just four seniors from last year’s 0-9 squad, a team that scored just 116 points (12.9 per game). Lowellville failed to score in double digits four times and was shut out twice.

OFFENSE

The Rockets have three quarterback hopefuls in Jake Rotz, Matt Hvisdak and Dylan Sallaz.

Dom Layko and Nate Solak will rotate at tight end with Micah Mamula-Zarlingo and Evan Zupko the wide receivers.

Running backs include Hvisdak, Sallaz and Joe Ballone as they operate out of the pistol and double wing, hoping to get as many touches to their breakaway threats.

The line includes guards Liam Boyd and Adam Danzo at guard, Jake Jarvis and Carl LaRosa the tackles, Brandon Pazel (who started as a freshman a year ago) at center with Vinnie Kacir and Dylan Durkin adding much needed depth.

DEFENSE

The front line will showcase Jarvis, LaRosa, Solak and some younger players at tackle with Solak, Boyd and Durkin seeing the bulk of playing time at end.

Kacir started all nine games as a freshman at inside linebacker and will be joined by Layko on the outside.

The secondary features Rotz, Sallaz and Zupko at safety with Hvisdak, Ballone and freshman Anthony Sanchez guarding the corners.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Durkin is expected to handle the punting and placekicking duties with Achili Minch and Mamula-Zarlingo adding depth.

Minch, Ballone and Sallaz are the punt and kick returners with Hvisdak the holder and Solak taking on the long and short snapping duties.

OUTLOOK

Last season saw the end to the ITCL, but the Rockets won’t skip a beat affiliation-wise as they move over to the newly-formed Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference, which also includes former ITCL foes McDonald, Western Reserve, Sebring, Springfield, Mineral Ridge and Jackson-Milton. Waterloo is the other member of the new eight-team league.

“This might be the first year of the MVAC, but most teams were ITCL members. We just need to win some games early, get on a roll and maintain that momentum,” Velasquez said. “Winning our home games is also very important.”

After going a combined 11-10 in 2013-14, the Rockets will now look to improve on their 1-18 mark of the past two seasons.