Knights Football Poised for Success in 2011

The Knights open the 2011 football season Friday night against Mount Paran Christian, which gave them all they could handle last year.

Pace came away with a nail-biting 36-34 win, on their way to a 9-2 season that resulted in the school’s first berth in the state playoffs. Unfortunately they drew perennial powerhouse Lincoln County in the opening round, and the Red Devils overwhelmed the Knights, 49-6.

“That was a tough loss, but it was also a good experience,” said Pace head coach Matt Hall.

Hall has high expectations for this year’s squad, despite the loss of several star players to graduation, including Will Brewster, Josh Swan, Alex Davis and Arthur Omilian.

Brewster was the Knights’ starting quarterback last season but will be playing for Amherst College this fall. Omilian signed with Northwestern University as a place kicker. Swan and Davis, the leading receivers on last year’s team, will be playing college basketball this year for Southern Illinois and Oglethorpe, respectively.

“We lost a lot of talent, but we have some good players returning too,” said Hall. He expects to start four seniors and one junior on the offensive line, which should open up plenty of holes for sophomore running back Denzel Franklin.

Franklin posted 902 yards and eight touchdowns last season as a freshman, despite limited carries. “We’ve changed our scheme a bit this year in order to get him the ball more,” said Hall. “We’ll line up in a modified I-formation.”

In addition to Franklin, the Pace squad will count on leadership from senior linebacker Bentley Lellyetton and senior quarterback Jonathan Webster. All three players participate in multiple sports at Pace, which is fine with their coach, who was a two-sport star as a student at Amherst.

“I love both [baseball and football] and I encourage all of our guys to participate in more than one sport. The seasons do not overlap, and we do not conduct spring practices for football,” said Hall.

In addition to his football coaching duties, , succeeding Pace legend Charlie Owens. “It’s an honor to follow in Charlie’s footsteps,” said Hall. “I’m looking forward to coaching baseball in the spring, but right now I’m excited about the start of football. The kids have worked hard [in the preseason]. Now it’s time to line it up and see what we have.”

Kickoff for Friday night's home game against Mount Paran is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Riverview Road Athletic Complex.