Coming off of back-to-back state titles and going 26-1 in that time, the Pilots of De La Salle are looking to keep it rolling with a new face under center.
For the last two years, the pilot of the offense was Brady Drogosh; however, with him now at the University of Cincinnati, the Pilots will turn to a new Quarterback. However, Who that will be is still a question; as Coach Dan Rohn said, three guys are competing for that job. Senior Captain Dylan Trondel, Juniors Santie Gasperoni, and Skyler Hunter are the three guys. For Trondel, he was the backup to Drogosh last year, so he knows what is to be expected; Rohn described Gasperoni as a “tremendous left-handed athlete,” and Hunter, who transferred in from Catholic Central this year, also has experience at the Varsity level and has a dynamic arm according to Rohn.
While it will be a new Quarterback, not everyone will be new, as they return five starters on offense and four on defense. None of the returners on offense are as big as Running Back Rhett Roeser. Roeser is a four-year starter for the Pilots, and he will help the new Quarterback out no matter who gets the job and act as a security blanket for his backfield mate. Some other guys to watch on offense for the Pilots are Sophomore Damion King and Junior Phoenix Glassnor, both are Receivers for the team. On defense, some guys to watch for are Cornerback Isaiah Jones, Outside Linebacker/Safety Dalton Drogosh, and Defensive Back Kandakai Sherman.
The road does get more challenging for De La Salle as the Catholic League welcomes in the Catholic schools from Toledo, Ohio, which includes the defending Division 2 State Champ Toledo Central Catholic, who they will play in Toledo on September 15 at 7 pm, but before that De La Salle will open the season on August 24 at 7 pm as they will face off against Davison at Flint Atwood stadium as part of the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic. They will then travel to take on Muskegon on September 1 before playing their first home game against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s on September 8.