WEST NEWBURY — No one could expect Pentucket to single-handedly replace running back Nate Bunnell's production of a year ago.
After boastfully predicting in the preseason no one in the Cape Ann League would be able to stop him in 2007, no one did. Rushing for 1,309 and 17 touchdowns (23 overall), Bunnell was a man-child, averaging 7.66 yards a carry to become an all-league rusher.
Although head coach Steve Hayden understands he does not have anyone on the 2008 roster with the physical presence or ability of Bunnell, who was known for breaking tackles and running over defenders, he believes the offensive unit as a whole has enough returning players to be successful in his Delaware Wing-T playbook.
Pentucket will put that theory to the test when it opens against North Reading tomorrow afternoon (1:30 p.m.) at home.
"I don't know if you can replace him as far as production goes," Hayden said bluntly. "As a unit we have to be better as a whole overall because we won't be as strong at fullback."
In the Wing-T system, everything starts on the line. Headed by last year's Daily News All-Star Matt Fiore, Hayden has a lot to work with in returning starters Jordan Pinzone at right guard and Nick Motolla at left guard, first-year starter Justin O'Donnell at tackle, Kevin Dunn at left tackle and Marc Lovett at center.
"It starts with the offensive line because if we don't open holes, we're not going to go anywhere," Hayden explained. "If we can cut down on our mental mistakes, work on our technique, and have that desire to go after it, we should be all right. Everyone's getting better, and they've been very coachable. Each guy just needs to know their role."
The second half of the equation is the guys that line up behind the line of scrimmage. Chris Modlish, who emerged last year at halfback as part of the Sachem three-headed monster that also included quarterback Jordan Silva and Bunnell, returns to provide stability at one of the three back spots.
"Modlish is coming into his own with more confidence after breaking out last year (his first full season after being out with an injury), and the team will benefit with Chris there," said Hayden. "If the blocking gets better and we continue to carry out fakes, our offense will run smoother."
As Modlish sees it, though, there will be no feature back the way Bunnell was a year ago. Instead there will be plenty of carries to go around for all three of the running backs.
"We are definitely going to spread the ball around a lot more with the three backs in our system, and everyone is going to get equal carries, which will give us deception running the ball," Modlish said. "Last year teams could key on Nate, but they can't key on any one back now because everyone is going to be getting the ball.
"I think our line is great. They are bigger than a year ago, and they have been opening holes in the preseason," Modlish said. "I'd say we are starting to hit our stride as a team, and I think we played pretty well in our last scrimmage against Peabody."
After some uncertainty in the other two positions, sophomore CJ Lataille has turned heads at the other halfback position, and Dan Johanson has run hard from fullback. Both Silva and Modlish said Lataille looks like the running back of the future at Pentucket. In Hayden's assessment the group has progressed in the right direction in preseason.
"As a newcomer, our sophomore running back CJ (Lataille) is a really good player in our program," Modlish said.
"CJ is the running back of the future," continued Silva, who compiled 308 rushing yards and six rushing TDs in his own right, in addition to his 50 percent completion percentage, seven passing TDs, and 759 yards passing.
"After not knowing who would fill in that position, he has been a big surprise and run well in all our scrimmages."
CAL championships would be nice, but continued improvement is all the coach who has won 60 percent of his games throughout his 27-year coaching career cares about.
"Wins and losses will take care of themselves," Hayden said. "The way I look at it, this is a new team and a new year. We're only concerned about trying to get better, and we're not worrying about anyone else."
