REGIS JESUIT RAIDERS
Coach: Mark Nolan, 4th season
Last year: 5-5 (lost in first round of Class 5A playoffs)
League: Class 5A Continental Conference
Players to watch: Matt Houghtaling, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, QB, soph.; Zach Heath, 6-3, 180, QB, jr.; Chase Bertinelli, 5-8, 190, RB, sr.; Grant Neal, 5-11, 220, RB/DL, jr.; Jalen Williams, 5-10, 187, RB, jr.; Chukwuma Obinnah, RB, 6-0, 210, soph.; Robert Orban, 6-6, 215, TE, sr.; Austin Skinner, 6-3, 285, OL, jr.; Mitch Howard, 6-3, 275, OL, jr.; Tim Lynott, 6-2, 265, OL; Michael Guenther, 6-1, 240, DL, sr.; Antonio Broadus, 6-3, 235, DL, sr.; Eddie Gonzales, 6-1, 238, DL, soph.; Cole Plummer, 6-0, 220, DL, sr.; Alessio Lopez, 5-11, 225, DL, sr.; Joe Bozeman,5-11, 195, LB, jr.; Kameron Butler, 6-0, 210, LB; Quinn VandeKoppel, 6-1, 210, LB, jr.; Gunner Patterson, 5-11, 185, LB, soph.; Will Deines, 6-1, 185, DB, jr.; Shane Moody, 5-8, 175, DB, sr.; Daniel Talley, 6-1, 180, DB, jr.; JJ Kilgore, 5-11, 185, DB, jr.
2012 Outlook: After a run to the Class 5A state championship game in 2010, last season was much more of a roller coaster in many ways for coach Mark Nolan’s Regis Jesuit program. The Raiders lost a tight first round playoff game to Fairview and enter the 2012 season unranked in preseason polls, but Nolan doesn’t mind that spot a bit given all the young talent he’ll have on the field in his fourth season at the helm. A big offseason commitment in the weight room, massive numbers out for the team and palpable team chemistry, Regis Jesuit is optimistic for the upcoming campaign. Size and depth along the lines on both sides of the ball is one of the biggest strengths for Nolan’s team, which will work in almost an entirely new set of skill players on offense. Junior fullback Grant Neal and senior tight end Robert Orban lend experience. Defensively, the Raiders should be able to get to the quarterback behind senior lineman Antonio Broadus and a swarming group of linebackers. Track speed in a variety of places makes Regis Jesuit dangerous.
Quoting the coach: “We had a great offseason in the weight room and we have phenomenal freshman and JV teams last year, so those kids move up to be varsity kids. We’re very excited about this group and they have tremendous chemistry. They have believe in one another, so we are bonded and ready for battle. …It’s perfect that we’re off the radar with a younger group of guys. We just go out and do our deal.”
Schedule (home games in all caps, played at Lou Kellogg Stadium): Thursday, Aug. 30 — vs. Rangeview at Aurora Public Schools Stadium, 6 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 7 — HORIZON, 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 14 — at Mullen, 7 p.m.; Friday, Sept. 21 — CHEROKEE TRAIL, 7 p.m.; Thursday, Sept. 27 — vs. ThunderRidge at Shea Stadium, 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 5 — DOUGLAS COUNTY, 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 12 — vs. Chaparral at Sports Authority Stadium, 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 19 — MOUNTAIN VISTA, 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 26 — HIGHLANDS RANCH, 7 p.m.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555