Matthew Quatman is expected to be “the main cog in the offense” according to LCC coach Scott Palte.
Richard Parrish | The Lima News
LIMA — With returning starters at 18 positions from a team that went 8-4 last season, Lima Central Catholic is optimistic about what this season could bring.
Last year 24 of the 36 players on the Thunderbirds’ roster were freshmen and sophomores and there were only two seniors in the starting lineup.
That kind of math often doesn’t add up to a highly successful season but LCC pulled that off to earn its seventh consecutive trip to the playoffs with a combination of young players and the two seniors – quarterback Carson Parker and receiver Billy Bourk — leading the way on the field and in the locker room.
Replacing Parker and Bourk and getting more consistency overall will be two big factors in determining how successful the Thunderbirds are this season.
Parker, who threw for 2,178 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushed for 1,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, was second-team All-Ohio. Bourk (37 catches, 927 yards, 9 TDs) was an All-Ohio honorable mention. Both also started on defense.
“Replacing Carson is going to be tough. Billy is a big loss, too,” LCC coach Scott Palte said.
“Those two did a lot. They were two really meaningful dudes. That’s a lot of production and a lot of leadership and skill to replace,” he said.
The search for a starting quarterback didn’t take long. Parker’s brother Brady, a sophomore, will take over that job.
“Brady has done a good job. He’s a good athlete. Obviously, he’s not as physical a player as Carson was but he’s got a good arm. He can throw the ball. His role will be different than Carson’s but he’s a good athlete,” Palte said.
Running back Matthew Quatman will be “the main cog in our offense,” Palte said. As a junior last season, Quatman was third-team All-Ohio when he rushed for 570 yards, caught five touchdown passes, was a starting defensive back and was LCC’s kicker.
Linebacker Caden Falke also was third-team All-Ohio and two-way tackle Gianni McKee and defensive back Josh Young were honorable mention All-Northwest Ohio.
Five of LCC’s returning starters are two-way starters: Louis Knotts at defensive line and offensive line, Mylon Cowens at defensive end and wide receiver, Quatman at running back and defensive back, Falke at linebacker and tight end and McKee on the defensive line and offensive line.
Linebacker Carson Heffner, defensive back Josh Young, defensive end Isaac Leppert, defensive lineman Jaylen Williams, slot back Michael Quatman and offensive linemen Brady Malcom, Andrew Baldauf and Chris Crnkovich are returning starters.
LCC will be part of a league for the first time since the 2012 season after rejoining the Northwest Conference, where it competed from 2006 to 2012 and was league champion five times in seven years.
Among other benefits, being in a league greatly reduces the amount of travel for the Thunderbirds.
Some of the longest trips LCC has taken since the last time it was in a league include Beverly Fort Frye (192 miles), Gates Mill Gilmour Academy (182 miles), Cambridge (176 miles), Mogadore (165 miles), Licking Valley (127 miles), Huron (119 miles), Lucas (106 miles) and Columbus Bishop Hartley (101 miles).
The longest road trip for the Thunderbirds this season will be 42 miles when they go to Fort Loramie. The second-longest trip will be going 36 miles to Crestview. Seven of LCC’s games will be played in Allen County.
“We used to play Fort Loramie and that was the shortest trip on our schedule,” Palte said.
“We’ve had some great experiences, we’ve traveled to some really cool places. We’ve played in a lot of half-empty stadiums. We’ve played some weird teams at weird times where maybe there were five fans in the away stands.
“I think the environment (in the NWC) and having some familiarity with our opponents will be exciting for our kids,” he said. “I was in the NWC for a long time (as a player and a coach). I know how awesome the environment is on Friday night at those places.”
TEAM PROFILE
Coach: Scott Palte (eleventh season)
Division: VII
Last year’s record: 8-4
Ticket information: https://www.flyhightbirds.com/HTtickets
Returning 2023 varsity letter winners: Lausen Flores (Soph., SB/DB), Michael Quatman (Soph., SB/DB), E.J. Jones (Sr., SE/DB), Matthew Quatman (Sr., RB/DB), J.J. Schnieders (Jr., TE/DE), Carson Heffner (Sr., TE/LB), Mylon Cowens (Sr., SE/DE), Josh Young (Jr., SE/DB), Dakota Gerdemann (Jr., SE/DB), Isaac Leppert (Sr., TE/DE), Caden Falke (Jr., TE, LB), Louis Knotts (Jr., OL/DL), Brady Malcom (Jr., OL/DL), Andrew Baldauf (Jr., OL/DL), Chris Crnkovich (Sr., OL/DL), Jayden Williams (Soph., OL/DL), Gianni McKee (Sr., OL/DL)
Top newcomers: Xavier Pernell (Soph., LB/RB), Dom McKee (Soph., OL/DL), Brady Parker (Soph., QB/DB), Jaxon White (Soph., WR/DB), Carter Lester (Fr., RB/LB), Eddie White (Fr., RB/LB)
2024 schedule
(Kickoffs scheduled for 7 p.m.; subject to change)
8/22 — Shawnee
8/30 — Delphos St. John’s
9/6 — Carey
9/13 — at Allen East
9/20 — at Fort Loramie
9/27`at Bluffton
10/5 — Delphos Jefferson
10/11 — at Spencerville
10/18 — at Columbus Grove
10/25 — at Crestview
ONLY ON LIMASCORES.COM
See more about 2024 high school football season at LimaOhio.com/tag/hsfootball24.
