EAST CHICAGO CENTRAL CARDINALS
COACH: Jay Novak.
COACH’S RECORD: At school: 3-8 (second year); Overall: 6-25 (fourth year).
LAST SEASON: Lost 18-12 to West Side in sectional opener.
KEY RETURNEES: RB/QB Devonte Jones, TE/DE Charlie Cleveland, OL/DL James Caradine, OL/DL James London, LB/HB Zach Harris, WR/DB Malee Jackson, HB/DB Derrick Robinson.
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KEY LOSSES: TE/DE Kenny Clark, WR/S JaDoun Williams, OL Brenden Monroe.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 21 Hammond
Aug. 28 at Lake Central
Sep. 4 Roosevelt
Sep. 11 Gavit
Sep. 18 at Clark
Sep. 25 Morton
Oct. 2 Indianapolis Northwest
Oct. 9 Bowman
Oct. 16 at Griffith
SEASON OUTLOOK
Novak received an early reminder of his team’s youth during the 2014 season. The first play from scrimmage in the season opener against Hammond resulted in a fumbled snap that eventually led to a Wildcats’ touchdown.
“We were still learning how to play a varsity game at that point,” Novak said.
It was the story of the season for a Cardinals team that had only one returning starter from the 2013 regional championship team. Now, a seasoned East Chicago Central hopes a year of taking its lumps pays off.
Jones returns after rushing for 1,129 yards and passing for 1,051 a year ago. The Cardinals have nine returning starters on offense and 10 on defense.
“We scrimmaged some of the big boys this summer,” Novak said. “Last year, we scrimmaged anybody that we could. We’re trying to set our bar a little higher.”