Dave Leasure knows starting sophomores typically means grim things for a football program. But the Fox Chapel coach didn't have many options when it came to playing young players last season.
The Foxes had 15 players go out in three weeks with injuries. Fox Chapel had to improvise, which meant playing underclassmen. Leasure hopes the extra experience will allow the Foxes to improve on their 2-7 record from last season.
"No. 1, we have to stay healthy," Leasure said. "We are younger than we have been in the two deep, but I think we are more talented. The old saying is that for every sophomore you start, you may as well chalk up a loss. But the sophomores we're going to start are solid players."
Wide receiver/free safety Gianni Fusaro, linebacker/fullback Sam Resek, cornerback Caleb Portis and offensive tackle Dom Fabrizi will contribute as sophomores.
Bringing the young guys along are other players who are used to adjusting on the fly. Fox Chapel senior Max Melocchi agreed to switch from quarterback to wide receiver in the offseason.
"I told coach when I walked in after the offseason, whatever is best for the team," said Melocchi, who is committed to Carnegie Mellon. "We had three guys playing quarterback last year. My best asset is playing receiver and H-back."
The Foxes will lean on Joey Geller, who passed for 575 yards last season at quarterback. Nathan Johnson has also seen time under center. Leasure said it is nice to have several options who can be signal callers.
"History has shown we've needed more than one quarterback," Leasure said. "The past two seasons we've played three."
Thomas Billings, a 6-foot-5 tight end, will be a top target in the passing game. He is returning after a knee injury. Fox Chapel returns four starters on offense, including center Kaleb Hartman and lineman Aidan Elwood.
Foxes kicker Harran Zureikat, a Georgia commit, was recently chosen to compete in the Under Armour All-American game.
"I'm excited to see how our team performs this year," Elwood said. "We've had a lot of working guys over the summer doing all of our after school workouts."
Fox Chapel is hoping to challenge for a spot in the playoffs out of the Northeast Conference. The Foxes are in a conference with defending WPIAL Class 5A champion Pine-Richland, Penn Hills, North Hills, Plum and Shaler.
Leasure said he wants the program to move up a tier.
"We've spent the last two years in the bottom tier," Leasure said. "Two years ago, we were at the bottom. The natural progression is getting into the middle tier."
* Fox Chapel snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over East Allegheny in the season finale.
* Foxes kicker Harran Zureikat committed to play at Georgia next season.
* Fox Chapel will open against a City League opponent, Allderdice, for the second consecutive season.