Larger text
Smaller textCentral reloads for another run
Just when the Vikings began to move forward with the players who stayed, quarterback-linebacker Bobby Helt suffered a torn ACL that kept him out for the entire season.
"You can't tell how hard it is to sit through an entire season, but especially one like we had last year," said Helt's teammate and friend, John Pelusi.
"It was a huge loss on both sides of the ball," Central Catholic coach Art Walker said. "Then to watch how he handled himself all year. He was so positive with the team. He was doing everything he could do as a teammate and he was so unselfish."
Helt will be able to do a lot more to help Central Catholic try to defend its championship. He was fully cleared to return to workouts in March and will start at linebacker and play a number of roles offensively for a veteran Vikings team, which returns 13 starters and opens the season ranked No. 6 in the country by The Sporting News High School Football preview.
"I just want to get back on the field," Helt said. "I've been working with the team since March. I've got my explosion back. Everything feels good."
Helt was competing with Shane Murray for the quarterback job when he was hurt, but Murray emerged as a standout rushing and passing threat and he will likely hold onto the job. Helt could play some quarterback, but will also work at fullback, tight end and slotback in the varied Central Catholic attack.
"Coach wants to try to have me and Shane on the field together a lot," Helt said. "I'll probably play some quarterback in more of a running role. We can keep teams off balance with two guys on the field who can throw. We want to try to keep the offense explosive."
That shouldn't be a problem with the weapons the Vikings return, particularly star tailback Eugene Jarvis, who ran for 1,683 yards and 32 touchdowns. Jarvis is also an explosive kick returner and dangerous receiver who finished with 39 total touchdowns.
Pelusi is a Division I prospect at tight end, where Graham Rihn is also a threat. Buddy Skeels, a big-play threat as a junior last year, is not playing this season, but the Vikings have options at receiver. They just need to find three new starters on the line around standout center Jon Herrman.
Helt's return puts Central Catholic in an unfamiliar position defensively -- with depth at linebacker. Nate Williams replaced Helt as a sophomore last year and is back along with Nino San Doval and Julius Hopson, who could move to safety with seniors Dion Germany and Tony Colaizzi are the likely starters at cornerback.
"It's a nice problem to have," Walker said of the returning linebackers. "In my seven years, we've always been a guy short at linebacker and had no depth. Now, we have guys competing there."
Pelusi and Rihn are also keys on defense, where they start on the ends.
Last year's group constantly referred to having chips on their shoulders after being forced to pull out of the playoffs in the wake of a hazing incident, but Walker isn't concerned about a lack of motivation.
"Now, the target is on our backs," Walker said. "Now, everybody is gunning for us. Everybody is trying to work harder than you and knock you off. If you let up at all, it will happen to you."
The Vikings also have one step left to take after losing in the PIAA championship game.
"Our goal is to finish what we started last year," Helt said. "We had a really good senior class last year and we have another one this year. We want to take it one step further and win the state."
