Ches-Mont League 2017 Preview and Team-by-Team Breakdowns

[tps_title]West Chester Rustin Golden Knights [/tps_title]

Knights in unusual spot as they try to rebound from disappointing year

WESTTOWN >> West Chester Rustin is in rare territory, needing to find a way to bounce back from its second losing season in the team’s history.

Last fall was nightmarish for the Golden Knights, who entered the campaign with very high hopes, only to have a first-round loss in the District 1 Class 5A playoffs put them out of their misery.

As 2016 turned to 2017, Rustin went on a journey to find itself once again. 

“I think since January 1 we refocused back to the basics on the team concept of family and all for one, one for all,” Rustin coach Mike St. Clair said. “Sometimes you assume since you have a lot of experience coming back you get away from things you’ve done in the past. We refocused on doing things the way we’ve always done them.”

A recommitted Golden Knights squad could mean trouble for Ches-Mont American Division foes.

“We’ve been working really hard together as a team and looking really good,” Rustin senior Nick Benoit said. “Last year I felt like we had more cliques and it kind of hurt us, but this year everyone is together.”

While no longer blessed with great size all along the lines, Rustin is not exactly small either. Chocked with able bodies that look liked they spent some time in the weight room during the offseason, Rustin could be its typical stingy self, defensively.

The Golden Knights gave up over 20 points a game last fall, something that surely sticks in St. Clair’s craw. St. Clair has taken over the defensive play calling after former coordinator Joe Carr left the team and he will base his attack around a solid group of linebackers.

Seniors JT Aloisio and Nick Joerger, and juniors Sean Hopkins and Owen Walsh will be tested early and often with nonleague games against 6A district runner-up Garnet Valley and CJ Preston of West Chester Henderson to start the season.

“We don’t have the 6-foot-4, 260-pound kids anymore so we have to do it with quickness and toughness up front,” St. Clair said. “Our linebackers are pretty thick and I think have good speed with some experience under their belts.”

Rustin has finished runner-up to Unionville the last two years, its longest drought of a division title since 2006-07, its first two seasons. The two face each other the first Friday of October at Unionville.

“We came back stronger than we were before,” Aloisio said. “We put the work in and came back stronger and we’re together as a team. We’re here to do one thing and I’m happy with the way the team bonded and I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes.”

The Brice is right

With St. Clair switching from calling the offense to the defense, his former quarterback at West Chester East, Bob Brice, will take over the play-calling duties. Brice will have a handful of options at the running back spot with Benoit, Michael Covert, Aloisio at fullback, as well as Collin Hurley and Nick Madonna. Will Pileggi steps in at the quarterback position, and it’s yet to be seen if the former QB, Brice, will open up a traditionally run-heavy offense.

A second chance

Ty Pringle was supposed to be the next great back at Rustin, before a tumultuous junior season appeared to derail his career. As of training camp, Pringle is back practicing with the team, though he’s expected to be ineligible the first four games for academic reasons. If Pringle can stick with it, it could be a great redemption story … and also a major boost to Rustin’s playoff potential.

By Nate Heckenberger; nateheckenberger@21st-centurymedia.com

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