Team Preview: St. Dominic

Back-to-back seven-win seasons have helped earn the St. Dominic football program a measure of respect as one of the better small school programs in the St. Louis area. But when you break down last season’s 7-5 record, which included two losses to Class 4 runner-up MICDS, a loss to Class 6 Fox and a late one-point loss to Farmington, it looks even more promising. "We ran into some gauntlets sometimes between playing a state runner-up twice in MICDS and then a Fox team that was really impressive," Coach Blake Markway said. The challenge for the Crusaders this fall, however, will be to keep it going despite losing 23 seniors to graduation, including record-setting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="37297" first="Gabe" last="Serri"] and the team’s top seven offensive linemen. Markway said the program prides itself on development and while they have guys, particularly on the offensive line, who will be inexperienced this fall, they won’t be young players. "We have confidence they’ll be ready," he said, noting that the offensive line coach is Jim Schottmueller, who had a long and successful run as McCluer North’s head coach before retiring. Here is a quick look at some players of the players to watch... <strong>CLASS OF 2022</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96184" first="Ryan" last="Schwendeman"], 6-4, 240, TE-DE</strong> Markway said Schwendeman is the highest recruited athlete he has had during his time at St. Dominic. Schwendeman’s offers include Murray State, North Dakota and Robert Morris and his interest could surge as more schools get a look at him. St. Dominic’s all-time leader in receptions, Schwendeman earned all-state honors in football and basketball during his junior year. The big tight end had 48 catches for 660 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago and added 46 tackles, two sacks and an interception on defense. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11715137/5fb2a46e4ba7d70930130ece" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172146" first="Cameron" last="Whitt"], 6-4, 225, TE-DE</strong> Another tight end-defensive end with good size, Whitt enables the Crusaders to use two tight end sets and allows for Schwendeman to line up in the slot or outside while he stays anchored to the line. Whitt had 26 receptions for 414 yards and three touchdowns as a junior. Markway said he is being recruited by several Division II schools. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11715146/5fb6a306ab926204a41335e2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96828" first="Justin" last="Schnelt"], 6-2, 235, DT</strong> Markway expects a strong season from the strong Schnelt, who he said dropped a lot of weight since last season and turned into a more effective player. "He’s quick off the ball and he has good strength," the coach said. "He’s aggressive and powerful." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11715136/5fbf32e05b3d55098c4582a4" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172148" first="Matthew" last="Willenbrink"], 5-11, 165, CB-WR-QB</strong> Markway called Willenbrink one of the three best athletes on the Crusaders squad and the best cornerback they’ve had in a few years. The versatile rising senior could see the ball in a number of ways this season, including as a quarterback, wide receiver and returner. He recorded 35 tackles and two interceptions during his junior season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11715135/60bada8a38635b0cd099aa07" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172149" first="Anthony" last="Anderson"], 5-10, 240, DL-FB</strong> The coach called Anderson the strongest kid on the team and plans to unleash him on unsuspecting defenses this year after he carried nine times for 95 yards and a touchdown last season. "There aren’t going to be a lot of people who will want to tackle him this year," Markway said. Anderson, who also plays volleyball, will play all over the defensive line as well. He had 17 tackles and one sack as a junior. <strong>CLASS OF 2023</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101693" first="Jackson" last="Overton"], 5-7, 155, RB</strong> Overton was one of the area’s most productive players a year ago when he rushed for 1,351 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. Markway said Overton recently recorded 40-yard dash times of 4.52 and 4.53 seconds at camps and see the ball in different ways this year, including playing receiver and returning kicks. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13082046/5f91b233dfd8b908d4d80865" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103422" first="Nash" last="Kell"], 6-1, 205, LB-OL</strong> Kell is likely to start at middle linebacker after being a rotational player a year ago as a sophomore. He could also end up starting on the offensive line as well, likely at center. "He has good size," Markway said. "He’s athletic and physical." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13082045/605d7920d45e160bd08d1fce" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Kelly Welby, 5-10, 165, QB</strong> Welby was the starting quarterback on the freshman team two years ago and the starting quarterback on the JV team a year ago, along with being the primary backup to Serri. Now he’ll get the shot to lead the offense, though Willenbrink could also see time at the position. "He’s very, very accurate with the ball," Markway said of Welby. "Gabe was a 60-plus percent accuracy guy and Welby has that as a strength. He has a nice touch on the ball." As a sophomore, on varsity, he completed three of five passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101708" first="Sam" last="Cross"], 5-8, 170, RB</strong> Markway said Cross wasn’t eligible until late last season because he transferred from Zumwalt South, but the coach has high hopes for him. "He’s going to be very good," Markway said. "... He’s a powerful runner for his size." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14012539/5fb32dff17629b0ad81cc4c9" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>CLASS OF 2024</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172153" first="Thomas" last="Pulliam"], 5-11, 170, S-RB</strong> Markway noted Pulliam as being one of the sophomores who has stood out during the offseason. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14981009/5f7d1c8432ddeb0ee847c5b3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong>Follow Nate Latsch <a href="http://www.twitter.com/natelatsch">on Twitter at @natelatsch</a>.</strong></em> &nbsp; &nbsp;