Lowellville might

spread the field

By Dan Hiner

dhiner@vindy.com

Lowellville

The Lowellville football team will have a new look in 2019, assuming the system works.

The Rockets added Struthers graduate Gary Muntean to the coaching staff. It’s the former Wildcats quarterback’s first coaching job since setting records at Wooster.

If the system fits, the ground-and-pound days of Lowellville football could go by the wayside.

“If our guys grasp the concept of getting the ball out on time, then we could be dangerous,” Lowellville football coach Doug Velasquez said.

The Rockets went 3-7 last season, their fourth straight losing season. Eight players graduated from the 2018 team. There are approximately 26 players on the roster, slightly down from last season.

“Small school like this, that’s probably what’s it’s going to be every year,” Velasquez said.

Offense

With Muntean at the helm, the Rockets will spread the field more than in years past. But who will be the quarterback?

Four-year staring quarterback Jake Rotz graduated. Junior Cole Bunofsky and freshman Vinny Ballone have split time under center early in camp.

“Cole’s really had a nice camp and Vinny Ballone’s a freshman that’s really a great athlete, and he’s picked things up pretty fast. The two of them, I think we’re in great hands.”

Bunofsky saw the field quite a bit last season. Velasquez said Rotz “took less snaps last year than he did in the past.”

Vinnie Kacir returns after suffering a broke collarbone prior to camp last season. He’s expected to be a key player in the backfield for the Rockets this season. He was a All-Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference first team selection in 2017.

With questions at some skill position, the Rockets will lean on their offensive line.

“This is probably the first year we had offensive line-type bodies,” Velasquez said. “I mean we got 260s up there in the middle and some 240 guys. All of those are coming back.”

Defense

While the offensive line is the centerpiece of the offense, the defensive line has some questions.

Velasquez is confident in the unit, but said the team needs to focus on gap responsibility in 2019. The return of Francisco Rivera Ocasio will help.

The junior lineman suffered an ACL injury in the second game of the season. Velasquez said the offseason lifting program helped add some bulk to the lineman, so the tight ends and H-backs should contribute on the edge.

“If we can control those gaps and allow our linebackers and safeties to run, then we’ll be OK,” Velasquez said.

The coach believes the return of Kacir will be felt the most at linebacker.

“We’ve done some passing scrimmages and he knows the defense, he knows our checks,” Velasquez said. “That’s gonna help out a bunch.”

Senior Michael Donatelli will return to help lead the secondary.

Special Teams

Everything is up in the air on special teams. The Rockets lost their long snapper, kicker and punter.

Velasquez didn’t name any players as the favorites. So the positions will be filled as camp progresses.

The Rockets coach said the inexperience could help the units since there won’t be too much pressure.

“Right, wrong, indifferent, I’ve never placed a whole lot [of concern in the special teams],” Velasquez said. “I’ve always said I don’t want our special teams to cost us games.

“I’m not gonna rely on them to get field position. I’m just want them to do their job, not give up any big touchdowns or anything like that andwe’ll be OK.”