THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bishop England High School Athletics

It was simple mistake, really — a blown defensive assignment during an early morning preseason scrimmage that was an obvious product of inexperience. The Bishop England defender exited the field noticeably frustrated. Practice under the summer sun was wearing on him. The opposing team was far more seasoned and from a school much larger in size. “Hey, that’s OK,” Bishops coach John Cantey called out. “That’s what we’re out here for. Learn from it.” It was a glimpse into one of the many teaching moments the youthful Bishops have endured this preseason Just three of 22 starters are back from a team that won seven games last year. Of the 4,259 total yards of offense the Bishops tallied last season, just 585 came from players still on roster. Seven defenders made 50 or more tackles last year. Just one is back. “Right now, we’re teaching them how to put their socks and shoes on,” Cantey joked. “We’re kind of starting from scratch but we have a lot of young guys who are eager to learn and eager to play hard. So we just have to get them in the right spots and positions and coach them up. “We’re learning on the fly right now but they’re catching on.” Replacing the legend of four-year starter Leo Albano probably isn’t possible. He was one of the best to ever wear the Kelly green. The all-state quarterback, now a freshman at Notre Dame, graduated last spring as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. Will Daniel isn’t Albano. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Just a sophomore, Daniel — the son of Bishops offensive coordinator, Jim Daniel — has shown flashes well beyond his years. He isn’t yet the same runner that Albano was but his heightened passing prowess may be better suited for a Bishops’ offense that’s become more spread than triple option these days. Daniel saw limited action as a freshman, throwing his only pass for a 34-yard touchdown and averaging better than 5 yards on his 16 carries. “Will already has a pretty strong arm and he has the ability to become that dual threat,” Cantey said. “Leo was almost like an extra coach on the field. Will is the son of a coach so I think he has a lot of that in him. There’s a little more maturity there and a better feel of what’s going on than you would expect from a sophomore.” Bishop England does have back its receiver in senior Chris Dengler. The Old Dominion baseball commit is one of the best athletes on the football team. He averaged better than 15 yards per reception last season and scored three touchdowns. Dengler may also play some cornerback too because as Cantey puts it, “he can just make plays.” “We need him to be a big playmaker for us,” Cantey said. “He’s so athletic, we have to get the ball in his hands.” Sophomore Michael Long will try to carry a running game that’s replacing its top four rushers from last season. Long is already one of the strongest players on the team. He averaged better than 5 yards per carry in limited action as a freshman. Senior lineman James Busche will anchor both the offensive and defensive fronts. Drew Owens and Sammy Gress both have experience at linebacker. Junior cornerbacks Sullivan Claire and Sawyer Thompson are both back. Claire was tied for team lead in interceptions last season, while Thompson tied for second. Claire will likely also play some receiver, as will safety Gerald McCoy. Both showed promise this summer during seven-on-seven passing competitions. Cantey is realistic. He isn’t excepting to build a contender overnight. Constructing a winning season takes careful crafting. This offseason has certainly required even more of that from him and his staff. More teaching means fewer reps at practice. It’s a tedious endeavor but one that, executed correctly, can be even more gratifying. “The younger guys, they have to understand it’s a process,” Cantey said. “We’re going to make a lot of progress from now to Week 1 to the end of the season. Go back and watch Week 1 of those [2011-12] state championship seasons and you’ll wonder ‘how did we win a championship with those guys?’ It’s progress each week that makes the difference. “And it’s that growth, when you’re able to see kids develop and gain confidence and win that’s the most rewarding for a coach.” Back at the scrimmage, the Bishops have been getting pounded on for nearly two hours now. It’s been a roller coaster of morale with more dips than peaks. Then it happens. The opposing running back reels in a screen pass and quickly cuts back against the defense. He’d done something similar earlier in the scrimmage and broke loose for a sizable gain. This time, though, a Bishops linebacker is there waiting. The collision in the backfield is loud. The two players ricochet in opposite directions. The running back crashes backward. A 2-yard loss. “Yes,” Cantey lets out in satisfaction. “All right. Now we’re learning.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bishop England High School Athletics

KICKOFF 2018: YOUTHFUL BISHOPS LEARNING ON THE FLY

FRANKIE MANSFIELD

Moultrie News | 8/14/2018