[tps_title]Roman Catholic Cahillites [/tps_title]
Roman Catholic Head Coach Jim Murphy talks to his team during camp. (RICK CAWLEY)
Cahillites not content with last year’s moral victories
Coming off a dismal 1-9 record in 2015, you would think Roman Catholic head coach Jim Murphy would be pleased with last season’s 4-8 (2-4 league) mark. Murphy, his staff and players went into 2016 with high aspirations, and the fact that three of their opponents were nationally ranked teams did not temper those expectations. You might think they would take some solace in having played respectfully in those three losses. Roman lost a heartbreaker to La Salle, 17-16, and played competitive football against both St Joe’s Prep and Archbishop Wood. But this is a coach and team that plays with pride and take little satisfaction in moral victories. 
Roman Catholic enters the 2017 season with the same mindset.
As Senior lineman Michael Leland puts it, “anything less than a championship will be disappointing”.
With a schedule that includes the Big three perennial powerhouses again as well as Suburban juggernauts Neshaminy and Downingtown East, Roman still has its sights set on the stars once again. Although a few outstanding athletes were lost to graduation, the coaching staff raves about the bumper crop of skilled players waiting in the wings.
Junior Jeff Grosso is poised to take over the reins for Anthony Butler, who threw for a Roman record 128 completions last year. Grosso had only a handful of snaps in 2016, but possesses a strong arm and a good field IQ. Sophomore Saronn Cummings will handle the back-up duties.
Murphy feels blessed with “a strong group at the skill player positions.” Marquise Cooper, who had 427 yards rushing and six TDs in 2016 as a backup to AJ Gaymon, looks like the main weapon out of the backfield. He will be supported by two sophmores with exceptional talent in Brian Burton and Malik Griffin.
The two main wideouts from 2016 — Jordan Haynes and Joey Bristow — combined for 93 receptions, but the coaches feel this year’s crew is more than equal to the task. Malachi Harris, Rodney Michel, Donathan McCants, Ryan Reeder, and TJ Fitzpatrick will create a productive wide receiver-by-committee and contribute to the passing attack.
The offensive line has three key returnees in center Stephen Zakrzewski, Michael Leland and Daniel Fitts. Leland feels the group may “lack the bulk of last year’s bunch, but make up for it by being more athletic” in their blocking schemes.
Defensive coordinator Brian Conroy believes the defense is “as good as any that I’ve seen at Roman.” He sees junior Harrison Frazier-Gibson
(grandson of boxing legend Joe Frazier) as being a linchpin of a top-notch defensive line, along with Zakrzewski, Leland and Fitts and Christian Medford.
According to Conroy, “all are capable run stoppers and can bring pressure to opponents QBs.” The coaching staff is high on sophmore Brian Burton, who saw considerable action as a freshman, and will anchor the linebacking core. Fellow linebackers Kienan Pope and John Paul Stevens can more than hold their own as well.
The defensive secondary is loaded with talent and speed. Seniors Rodney Michel and Donathan McCants have veteran experience and will be teaching the ropes to newcomers Harris, Imir Lilliston, Malik Griffin, and Gaetan Grandelli (who is also a standout on Roman’s baseball team).
The kicking game is first rate in the person of sophmore Ryan Flaherty. Flaherty, whose older brother Shane was a multi-purpose standout last year, continues a fine tradition of consistently accurate Roman kickers.
If the onfield performance in the coming weeks matches the optimism of coaches and players, Roman could very easily improve on their 2016 record. Down the road, with so many talented underclassmen, this squad will only get better with experience and could very easily put Roman head-to-head with the Catholic League elite.
By Rick Cawley; For Pa Prep Live
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