By Sam Kombrink
The Rockhurst Hawklets football team returns eight varsity starters who are focused on building off an early playoff exit last season.
The Hawklets finished last season with a record of 6-4 and lost 17-14 to Lee’s Summit in the Class 6 District Semifinal.
“I knew we had a few holes, but the hard part was we lost three games at the end of the year,” said Hawklets Head Coach Kelly Donohoe, who enters his sixth season at Rockhurst and his 35th season of coaching. He attributes those losses to a walk-off field goal to Liberty North, an overtime loss to St. Thomas Aquinas, and a three-point loss in the playoffs to a better Lee’s Summit team. “So that was a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “But, we have used that as motivation for this year– stay on top of the little things and be very aware of how important the little things are. The result will be different.”
Rockhurst will have some varsity returners who will be two-way players this season.
Leading the Hawklets offense are: Junior quarterback Garrett Miller; Senior running backs Pierce Fisher and Junior Cash Lewandowski; Senior tight ends Kevin Sullivan; Senior fullback Henry Coppinger; Junior wide receiver Blake Thomas, and Juniors Jack Sprague and Declan Sullivan who return to anchor the Rockhurst offensive line.
On Defense, the Hawklets will be led by the Sullivan brothers (Declan and Kevin) who will look to anchor the defensive line.
Coppens returns to lead the linebackers alongside Lewandowski, while Senior cornerback Colin Powell leads the secondary with safeties Max Moylan and Charlie Bernstein, both Seniors.
According to Donohoe, some players are still competing for starting roles and working on getting healthy for its Week 1 matchup at St. Pius X this Friday at 7 p.m.
“A couple of guys are fighting some hamstring issues that are lingering and that’s been a little frustrating, but it’s been a really good preseason,” he said. “The kids are very accountable and we got better through the summer.”
We’re excited to be where we’re at,” said Donohoe. “This is gonna be a good football team.”