Cary football preview - 2010

Cary Imps

Last year: 5-7 (3-5 lost to Southeast Raleigh 34-14 in the first round of the 4-A playoffs)

All-Conference players graduated: CB Lucas Edmisten (1st team); OL Cody Gauthier (2nd team)

All-Conference players returning: DE/LB Phillip Ochieng, (1st team); RB DeAndre Henry (2nd team); DT Raphael Bernard (2nd team); LB/S Tommy Robinson (2nd team)

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Cary has been to the playoffs in each of coach Ben Kolstad's six seasons. But in recent years, the Imps have had gone 9-15 as a lack of depth has plagued the program.

But those days are behind Cary.  And this year could be as good of a year the Imps have had in some time, as they return eight starters on both offense and defense.

Cary held five opponents last year to seven points or less — including each of their last three games. But the Imps ended the year with back-to-back losses of 7-3 and 7-0, which tells you what the focus is to be on for a successful 2010 season: putting points on the board.

"Our defense is definitely our strong point. We try to build that before we build anything else," Kolstad said. "We want to be able to play good defense and try to run the football."

Cary was one of most run-heavy teams in the area last year, but expect a slight change this year as the Imps will ditch the wishbone and embrace more I-formations and single-back sets.

"We've thrown the ball better this spring and in summer drills than we have in a long time," Kolstad said.

Getting away from running the ball altogether is not in Cary's plans. Not with junior DeAndre Henry returning after rushing for 1,431 yards last year at 6.9 per carry. He added nine touchdowns.

My'Shuan Fogg, Kwavon Taylor-Greene and R.J. Banks also return to Cary's backfield which produced most of the points last year. But this year, Kolstad knows he needs more balance.

Although senior Nick Lansing started most of the season last year, he was replaced by junior Connor Chase in a first-round playoff loss to Wilmington Hoggard. The goal is to find which player will be able to get the ball out to possible playmakers like Chuboy Umeadi, Darrell Hamilton and tight end Jackson Gomez.

"We've got some guys who can catch the ball and we feel like we can throw the ball a little bit," Kolstad said. "[Lansing and Chase] are two guys that have been going back-and-forth battling for the [quarterback] job. Whichever guy performs better in the scrimmage is the guy who will start against Broughton."

Cary defensive coordinator Andy Kolstad — Ben's brother — had great success in his first year taking over the unit. With eight returning starters, the Imps could have a stifling presence on "D."

"We're hanging our hat on our defense this year," Ben Kolstad said.

Cary will miss Lucas Edmisten, who led the Tri-Nine with four interceptions. But Tommy Robinson (62 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception) will lead the way at safety in the Cary secondary. He was a linebacker last year who led the team in tackles.

"He's just been everywhere," Ben Kolstad said of Robinson.

On the defensive front, Cary brings back massive Raphael Bernard (50 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two sacks) at nose tackle. Formerly a defensive end, Phillip Ochieng (54 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, seven sacks) will play linebacker after making two straight all-conference teams.

"It's been a good move for us because people could target where [Ochieng] was with his hand down. But now we're moving him all over the place," Ben Kolstad said. "It's also a good move for him because he's 6-1, 205-210 pounds and you don't play defensive end at that size. But he could probably play linebacker at the next level."

Throw in performers like David Polleta (51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack), Lennie Paul (40 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks) and Joshua Stewart (39 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks), and Cary looks stout on defense across the board.

Special teams is in solid hands with kicker/punter Will Gillfillan, the 2008 Tri-Eight special teams player of the year. Gillfillan struggled some last year after hitting 5-of-6 field goals in 2008.

With so many pieces coming back on offense and defense, Cary could be a "dark horse" team in the Tri-Nine Conference. But the difference in that will be the passing game — will it be enough to keep other teams honest and move the ball on long-distance downs?

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