Owen J. Roberts out to find the right mix for upcoming season

It was a mixed bag of results for Owen J. Roberts in the 2022 football season.

The Wildcats finished with a winning record (6-5) overall, but they went 2-3 in the Pioneer Athletic Conference’s Liberty Division. Two of the regular-season losses were to perennial Liberty powers Spring-Ford and Perkiomen Valley, which sent OJR into the offseason with a 56-19 defeat in the first round of the District 1-6A postseason on Nov. 4.

To be sure, those annual rematches are prominent in OJR’s preparations for the upcoming season. So is getting new personnel into place after graduating their top producers in quarterback Michael Reed, running back Hunter Rhoads (1,120 yards rushing, 3rd in PAC), wide receiver Danny Cashman (627 yards, 7 TDs, 3rd in PAC) and edge rusher Brandon Kelley (UConn).

“We’re young in a lot of spots,” said coach Rich Kolka, who’s going into his ninth season at the helm of the Roberts grid program. “But the work ethic is good, and we’re getting good leadership.”

The ‘Cats will play the Vikings and Rams on the road on successive weekends (Sept. 22 and 30). Last year, they were bested by PV 20-13, and Spring-Ford, 37-20; they later fell to the Vikings in the opening round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs.

Another indicator for the Wildcats will be their season opener at Conestoga Aug. 25. The latest installment of the annual lid-lifter resulted in a 31-13 win for the Pioneers in 2022 … another incentive for the locals.

“The loss to Conestoga was tough,” said Doug Keck, a junior working both sides of the ball as a center and defensive tackle. He is part of a solid Owen J. defensive line which returns three players seeing action there in 2022. Seniors Jason Greiner and Colin King, as well as junior Andrew Lehman, will join Keck with King at defensive end.

“We’re a little undersized (on D-line),” Keck said, “but if we play intense football, no line is going to stop us.”

The Cats’ secondary will be bolstered by the return of junior defensive backs Justin Daubert and Troy Swittenberg, both of whom had interceptions last fall. Looking to play huge roles at linebacker will be seniors Derek Hinrichs and Zach Arp, and juniors Lorenzo Satiro and Brody Mazzerle.

Hinrichs, Daubert and Satiro each had interceptions in 2022.

“They developed skills last year,” Kolka said of Daubert and Swittenberg, “and they got stronger in the weight room in the off-season.”

Offensively, OJR has a pair of promising freshmen at the wide receiver slots. Mekhi Graham and Matt Gregory have been clocked in the 4.5-4.6 range in the 40-yard dash.

“They’re athletes first, with good hands,” Hinrichs said. “They have a good mix of height and speed, and skills.”

The freshmen will provide good targets for Hinrichs at quarterback, and senior Logan Brower will be making his varsity debut at running back. Keck will be at center, and senior Trent Long at left guard.

“We’ll be mixing the run and pass,” Long said. “We’ll use the run to set up the pass.”

“After three days of heat acclimation, we’re looking real good,” King added. “The offense and defense are working hard. We need to eliminate penalties and not hold.”

The leadership aspect resonates with Kolka in a big way.

“There wasn’t enough the past two seasons,” he said. “Not all of it is seniors. Younger players are showing leadership.

“We have a solid all-around team,” Kolka added. “Our practices afford players the maximum opportunity to be in shape.”

The Wildcats are particularly keyed on being at peak physical condition for the opener with Conestoga.

“Our first game is (Aug. 25),” King said. “We want to get our bodies fully ready for the game at Conestoga. We have to play well, and with intensity.”

SCHEDULE

Friday, August 25
Owen J. Roberts vs Conestoga, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 1
Owen J. Roberts vs Pottsgrove, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 8
Avon Grove vs Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 14
Owen J. Roberts vs Upper Merion, 7 p.m.
Friday, September 22
Owen J. Roberts vs Perkiomen Valley, 7 p.m.
Saturday, September 30
Owen J. Roberts vs Spring-Ford, 2 p.m.
Friday, October 6
Norristown vs Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 13
Boyertown vs Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 20
Owen J. Roberts vs Methacton, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 27
PAC Crossover vs Owen J. Roberts, 7 p.m.