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Quarterback: At a recent scrimmage, one Buccaneer' supporter described the quarterback situation this way, "Brady Reck is the franchise this year." That's a pretty bold statement, but with the tools Brady brings to the playing field, it's not far off from being accurate. Brady has a strong arm and can throw any route with accuracy. It may be that the Buccs will go as far as the right arm of Brady Reck takes them. The Buccs did manage to succeed during the two games Reck missed last season thanks to the athleticism of Ross Mohler, but having to move Ross from wideout to quarterback in 2003 is the last thing the Buccaneer faithful want to see.
Running Back: For the first time in the past five years, the running back position is in unproven hands. Senior, Matt McCord takes over as the feature back and has performed well in the past. Last season, when Boomer Schmidt went down, Matt came in against Mississinawa Valley and Bethel and performed at a high level. He has proven he can come in and carry the load for a game, but an entire season is another story. If anyone came make the transition from tight end to feature running back, it's Matt McCord. He's big (6'3", 194 lbs.) and deceptively quick. Matt's counterpart at running back will be ran by committee. Senior, Ben Adams, junior, Mike Varno, and sophomore, Nick Christian will all three share time in the backfield, joining McCord. Varno and Christian are very aggressive runners while Adams provides a change of pace with his quickness.
Wide Receiver: Seniors, Ross Mohler and Dusty Rhoades may be the most dangerous pair of receivers in the conference. Mohler has been performing at a high level since he first had his opportunity to shine two years ago in the playoff game against Williamsburg. Ross rarely drops a pass and has the height and athleticism to out-jump defenders for the ball. Rhoades is very sure handed and quick. Dusty came into his own as a junior before an unfortunate injury ended his season. Prior to the injury Rhoades caught nine balls and never dropped a pass. Juniors, Matt Fulks and Justin Owens provide depth and more options when the Buccs decide to spread the field.
Tight End: Senior, Jared Hague is just solid. He can stretch a defense with his improved speed and open a hole for a running back with his blocking. Jared has worked as hard as anyone to improve and his speed has become his most valuable asset. Sophomore, Zack Deeter provides depth and could see time opposite of Jared in certain situations.
Offensive Line: Seniors, T.J. Warner and Dan Morrow are the cornerstones of the offensive line. T.J. is in his third year as a starter and Morrow saw significant time last year due to injuries. Sophomores, Logan Brown, C.J. Potter and Brian Ely solidify the line with youth and athleticism. The Buccs do have depth as well with seniors, B.J. Barnes and Travis Bone. Barnes is crafty and in the same offense for the fourth straight year. Bone returns after a year away from football to provide strength and physical play in the trenches.
Defensive Line: Again, Dan Morrow and T.J. Warner are the cornerstones. Morrow is an animal at the nose. He had a breakout season in 2002 and the Buccaneer' coaching staff is looking for a dominating season from number 53. Warner will be perched next to Dan to provide a solid run defense. Those who are familiar with Buccaneer football know T.J. has the mentality of a football player and the physical tools to be one of the best in the area. Joining Morrow and Warner are seniors, Matt McCord and Jared Hague. McCord is very quick off of the corner and has the speed to drop into coverage while Hague has a knack for making the big play. With Travis Bone and C.J. Potter providing depth, the defensive line is quick and aggressive.
Linebackers: The Buccaneers have a complete overall at the linebacker spot. Sophomore Logan Brown leads the way with his speed and power. Logan has the tools and the work ethic to become a dominating player. Brown is physical and fearless, similar to his predecessor, Boomer Schmidt. Junior, Mike Varno steps in at the other linebacker spot after contributing last season in a back-up role. Varno has a nose for the ball and has proven to be solid throughout recent scrimmages. Joining Varno and Brown will be Kevin Wright at monster.
Defensive Backs: Seniors, Ross Mohler and Dusty Rhoades spearhead the secondary as excellent cover corners. Rhoades plays with more finesse while Mohler uses his physical advantages on opposing wide receivers. Both are sure tacklers and have the capability to take the ball the other way for Buccaneer' points. Nick Christian steps in to man the safety position while Matt Fulks and Ben Adams provide depth. If freshman Gene Studebacker can get healthy, the Buccs have another weapon in the secondary.
Special Teams: The Buccaneer' kicking game will be handled by junior, Matt Fulks. Fulks has a powerful leg and has worked throughout the off-season on his accuracy. Matt give the Buccs' coaching staff another option to salvage points on stalled drives near the 30-yard line. He will benefit the Buccaneer coverage teams by putting the ball deep in opposing territory.
Coaching: The Covington School Board made the right decision this past spring in hiring the man they did for the head coaching position. Kevin Finfrock has worked hard in promoting football to the Covington youth, which will pay dividends down the line. He also brings familiarity and stability to the current group of players. He's made practices more personable and you get a sense of unity from the kids. Also, Doug Swartz and Dave Tobias return as assistance so the entire system remains in tact. Swartz takes over as defensive coordinator and Tobias works with the quarterbacks and secondary. Tom Barbee joins the coaching staff after a few years away from the high school game. Coach Barbee worked with the junior high the past few years and was once a high school assistant in the '80s.
