The Superior Central High School 8-player football team is likely to open up its passing game this season. In front are Clayton Collier, left, and Zach Bukowski. Middle row from left, James Maki, Emmet Vining, Kyle Frusti, Kyle Wynn, Caleb Nimee, Lucas Swetich, Wyatt Fink, Parker Maki, Michael Getzloff and Wyatt Kulik. Top row from left, head coach Sam Eggleston, Brayden Johnson, George Mannisto IV, Ben Molag, Lucas Kanerva, Collin Burnett, Hudson Cady, Jack Rondeau, Sam O'Neal, Ethan Pizzi, Raymond Robinson, Zach Englund, Kaeden Weir and assistant coach Elijah Pasanen. (Photo courtesy Kim Eggleston)

2019 Superior Central schedule

(* Great Lakes 8-Player East Division game)

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Thurs., Aug. 29 — NORTH DICKINSON, 5 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 7 — at Carney-Nadeau, 2 p.m. ET

Fri., Sept. 13 — at Forest Park, 7 p.m. ET

Sat., Sept. 21 — * PICKFORD, noon

Sat., Sept. 28 — * ENGADINE, noon

Fri., Oct. 4 — * at Rudyard, 7 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 12 — * BRIMLEY, noon

Fri., Oct. 18 — * at Cedarville, 7 p.m.

Fri., Oct. 25 — * at Rapid River, 7 p.m.

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EBEN — Change can be hard, but it’s something the Superior Central High School varsity football team will have to deal with the season.

After losing All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team running back Roubens Fink and All-U.P. Honorable Mention quarterback-running back Beau Rondeau to graduation, the Cougars will look to adjust to more of an aerial attack with its 8-player team in 2019.

SC, which finished 3-6 last season, will look to junior quarterback Kyle Frusti, who’s traditionally a pass-first quarterback.

“Kyle has added a couple of inches at 5-foot-10 this year, and he sort of stepped into that role last year when Beau was hurt in Week 5,” fourth-year head coach Sam Eggleston said. “I’m traditionally a run-first coach, and Kyle isn’t a run-first QB. We had to make adjustments around that last year.

“Kyle had right around 700 (passing) yards in four games, and that’s something we knew we could build on. We plugged him in during the off-season knowing we’ll have to build around that.

“Roubens over three years as a starter had at least 10,000 yards rushing. He probably threw for around 2,000. That’s going to be a massive difference.”

Another key player on defense lost to graduation is All-U.P. Dream Team linebacker Noah Groulx.

Groulx, along with Fink and Rondeau, are quality players who only come along so often, and Eggleston was honest in saying he’s not necessarily looking to replace those guys, because it would difficult to do so.

“It’s impossible to replace three guys like Noah, Roubens and Beau,” he said. “Two were on the Dream Team and one (Fink) was an all-state player. I’m not going to see a replacement for them in the foreseeable future.

“I’ve kind of decided this year that we can’t really approach it as a replacement or rebuild, more of a redesign, I guess. I just have to change my philosophy and approach to the game.

“Those guys were extremely valuable assets who aren’t available anymore. We’ll sort of have to use strategy more than talent to help replace that.”

Another change for Eggleston and the Cougars this year is that they’ll be in a cooperative with Mid-Peninsula after the Wolverines reached out to SC about a possible co-op in the past year. The schools already co-op in baseball and softball, while Mid-Pen hasn’t fielded its own football team since 2012.

“Practice has been different than it has been in the past,” Eggleston said. “We’ve got some coaches between the two schools. For the most part, it’s coming together really fast. I’m happy with the progress. By the time the first game rolls around, we should be in pretty good shape.”

Looking at the depth chart, senior captain Jack Rondeau will be one of Frusti’s primary targets at wide receiver. Another senior, Lucas Kanerva, will step into the tight end position while Mid-Pen’s Zach Englund will work out of the slot.

“Jack has good hands and the ability to catch in traffic,” Eggleston said. “Lucas will be a valuable asset at (tight end), not only with blocking, but coming off the line and grabbing quick passes.

“On his best day, he can be the best athlete on the field. We’re trying to get him to that point.

“Zach is Mid-Pen’s stud athlete these days. He plays baseball and hoops. It’s his first year playing football, but it’s like he’s been playing for four years. He has great hands, a great attitude and has great leadership skills. He can work out of the backfield, too.”

There may be some questions on the line of scrimmage, which Eggleston admits is a younger group. Groulx was a guard who will need to replaced, while Mid-Pen’s Sam O’Neal is an option for that role.

Superior Central seniors Collin Burnett and Ethan Pizzi will both work off the line as well, while junior Kaeden Weir was mentioned as a possible center.

“Technique-wise, Kaeden is the best lineman we have,” Eggleston said. “We’ll be rotating him a little bit with Collin. This year, he’s 6-foot-4, 300 pounds. He’ll need to work on his footwork, but once he gets his hands on you, it’s hard to get away.

“We’ll be helping him out and rotating all three spots. Ethan is a third-year player for us. He’s coming in this year working harder than ever. We’ve got good things on both sides of the ball.”

The Cougars’ nine-game slate will again feature six Great Lakes East conference games, with three nonconference tilts to begin the season.

The first two weeks feature North Dickinson and Carney-Nadeau, on the schedule after a year’s absence.

Forest Park is the third nonconference game before jumping into six league games against Pickford, Engadine, Rudyard, Brimley, Cedarville and Rapid River to wrap up the regular season.

Rapid River claimed the MHSAA 8-player Division 2 state championship at the Superior Dome in Marquette last season, while Pickford was the Division 1 runner-up.

“Rapid River and Pickford only lost a couple of players and both those games are going to be more than competitive,” Eggleston said. “Engadine and coach Howard Hood could have just eight kids and probably make the playoffs. He turns everything into gold over there.

“Brimley has a new head coach (Lester Livermore) and they’re going to be pretty tough, Rudyard kept us out of the playoffs last year, and Cedarville always seems to reload.”

Eggleston said he expects his team to be competitive throughout.

“We expect to be in the mix,” he said. “We’re not quite sure where we’re going to fall, but we at least expect to be in the running.

“We’re looking at games we think are winnable. Games that are tough but we expect to be in them. Once you discount Rapid River, Pickford and Engadine, that gives us a chance in six other games. We want to put up good fights against everybody, show that we belong and hopefully earn enough points to step into the playoffs.”

Eggleston said he’s looking forward to this season, despite having to come up with a new-look offense. He’s hoping it creates a well balanced attack, however.

“This year is going against my nature,” he said. “I have to accept the fact that we’re geared more for passing. It’s a learning year for me on top of trying to teach these kids.

“We won’t abandon the run by any means. We have talented guys to get the ball downfield. We’ll keep defenses a little more honest and spread out. Hopefully we can continue to use the run game to balance the offense.

“I’m looking forward to this year and so is the entire team. We have a bunch of kids who are eager. I can’t even say if they’ll be in the positions they’re in right now by the time the first game rolls around.

“There’s so much for these kids to learn still. They’ll keep themselves competitive by pushing for starting spots and playing time.

“It’s an experiment all the way around. New faces, new offense, new for Superior Central.”

Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.