St. Paul Program On Rise
Thursday August 9, 2001
Mike Forman, Victoria Advocate Sports Writer
St. Paul Football Schedule | Return to Shiner Home Page | Victoria Advocate On-Line Article
SHINER - All that's necessary to demonstrate the dramatic changes taking place at St. Paul is a simple body count. The Cardinals will begin the 2001 season with 32 players on the roster. That's a far cry from the 15 head coach Don Hamel had eight years ago and up from the 23 he started with last season.
"It's unbelievable," Hamel said. "We feel like we're making great strides here." The biggest stride Hamel hopes to make this season is improving on last year's 6-6 record that included a first-round TAPPS Class 2A playoff loss to Muenster Sacred Heart.
"We're expecting big things," Hamel said. "These kids are growing up and our line should be so much better."
Frank Tilley/Advocate Photo Editor Don Hamel and his St. Paul Cardinals have hopes of making a lengthy playoff run this season.
The Cardinals had only three seniors on last year's squad and return eight starters on both offense and defense.
Hamel expects the biggest improvement to come on defense, which will take a more aggressive posture. "I think our defense will be hell on wheels," Hamel said.
Hamel credits assistant Sammy Burnett for installing a system he played in under Gordon Wood at Brownwood and utilized while coaching at Brenham. We'll vary in situations," Hamel said. "We won't just line up in one spot. It will be an aggressive defense. We're not going to sit back and wait for people to come."
The Cardinals plan to attack with a line that includes Justin Molina, James Kresta, Andrew Soto, Lee Vrana and Thomas Arriaga. Hamel and Burnett are also taking a close look at 6-foot-4, 216-pound Nathan Bailey, one of seven players who have transferred from Gonzales over the last few years.
Eric Patek and Rayce Wurz return at linebacker and could be joined by Garrett Valis, who had six interceptions as a defensive back last season. Even if Valis changes positions, the secondary will still include John Paul Patek and Justin Matias, who had six and five interceptions last season, respectively.
"We've got experienced people in the backfield on defense and offense except at quarterback," Hamel said. Matias, a sophomore, is expected to start at quarterback, where he served as a backup to John Picha last season.
"He got some valuable experience when Picha was injured," Hamel said. "He's a smart kid and he also has football smarts." Matias is smart enough to get the ball in the hands of Valis, who rushed for 1,268 yards from the tailback position last season.
"He's just a hard-nosed kid that plays hard," Hamel said of Valis. Matthew Machacek or Eric Patek will play fullback and John Paul Patek is expected to line up at wingback.
The line returns intact with Wurz at center, Molina and Soto at guard and Arriaga and Brent Gindler. "We have about five or six kids who are going both ways, " Hamel said, "but hopefully, we can get away from it."
One factor Hamel can't get away from is time. St. Paul, like many TAPPS teams, opens the season on August 24 against Concordia Lutheran.
"The kids think we're going to be good," Hamel said. "There are a lot of people out there and a lot of people with experience. All those things are coming together."
Mike Forman is a sports writer for The Victoria Advocate.
Contact him at 361-580-6588, or by e-mail at mforman@vicad.com.
St. Paul Football Schedule | Return to Shiner Home Page | Victoria Advocate On-Line Article (text only)
GO CARDINALS !
© Copyright
BaerCom - Shiner, Texas 2001