Rockets may be young but speedy talent is still there

Burlington Central will go as far in 2008 as its young offensive and defensive lines allow.

The Rockets return some experienced players from the 2007 playoff squad that went 6-4 and finished second in the Big Northern Conference's East Division. Most of those veterans return at linebacker, the defensive secondary and the offensive backfield.

Since most football games are won or lost at the line of scrimmage Central's offensive and defensive linemen - all juniors and sophomores with one exception - must step in and play like they've been there before.

The only returning lineman with starting experience is junior Tim Seyller (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), who will play offensive tackle.

A higher level of maturity exists in the backfield, where three seniors are ready to run the option behind talented sophomore quarterback Tim Maroder (5-9, 170). He was an all-Big Northern East special mention selection following his eye-opening freshman season as a running back and defensive back.

When Maroder isn't using his considerable speed and strength to gain yardage on option keepers, he'll hand the ball to seniors Max Kling (5-7, 160), Nick Smith (5-10, 160) and Tommy Gast (5-7, 135). Kling is a straight-ahead, run-you-over fullback who can pound it in traditional Central style, whereas Gast and Smith possess breakaway speed.

"Nick Smith, I think, will surprise some people this year," Central coach Aaron Wichman said. "He's super fast and quick, so if you get him through the hole, he'll have a lot of long runs this year."

Size-wise, these Rockets are closer to stinger missiles than cruise missiles. Only four players on the varsity weigh over 200 pounds, fewer than the program's freshman team boasts. However, this is one of the physically strongest groups Central has fielded in a while, according to Wichman, and the offensive scheme in recent years has favored speed and quickness over size anyway.

"We're just going to have to get over that," Kling said of the size factor. "Hopefully, our linemen will use their speed and do what we have to do. We're pretty underestimated this year, but we're looking to have a good season like we do every year."

Maroder will use his speed at safety to stop any leaks in Central's 4-3 defensive alignment. Junior Kevin Kellish (6-1, 175) returns to the secondary and will double as Maroder's No. 1 target at wide receiver. Gast returns at one cornerback spot to solidify the pass defense. Junior Tim Botsford (5-9, 165) will play the other corner and could see time at quarterback.

Senior linebacker Frank Wleklinski (5-11, 160) started half of last season in place of the injured Jason Wagner. He'll be flanked by senior Jeremy Lee (5-11, 165).

The Rockets believe they'll be vying for a Big Northern East title in the final two weeks of the season when they welcome league contenders Hampshire and Harvard to Rocket Hill.

"Our expectations are always the same, program-wise," Wichman said. "We'd always like to be playing for a conference championship, we'd always like to represent the conference well in the playoffs and play well at home. These guys know that and they just roll with that every year."