Aug 27, 2002 By :jim Wexell For The 3 min read

Carmichaels has always been a running team under John Menhart and that much won’t change this season. The way the coach is talking, though, change can be expected in the won-loss record. “I think we’ll be better than we were last year,” Menhart said. “The whole backfield’s back. So are three linemen who’ve started a couple years for us. We have a lot of experience.”

Carmichaels finished second to Monessen in the Tri-County South Conference last year, and then missed another chance to break through the win column in WPIAL playoff games. Because of a potent backfield, both circumstances could change for the better this time around.

“We have four backs who, I think, can go the distance at any time,” Menhart said.

Colby Giles was the leading rusher last season with 839 yards on only 66 carries.

“Colby’s fast. He has great speed, a 4.55 kid,” Menhart said. “He’s a real smart kid and he’s been there. He’s played since the seventh grade.”

Bobby Hathaway (6-1, 220), who gained 661 yards on 70 carries last year, is the other halfback.

“He’s a big strong kid with good speed. He ran a 4.6 40 at one of the camps this summer. That’s good speed for a big kid,” Menhart said.

Junior Josh Grim stood out at a recent scrimmage, giving Carmichaels three speedy halfbacks. The fullback, Justin Zielensky, also has good speed.

“Hopefully we can spread people out because Giles and Grim catch the ball real well,” Menhart said. “If they’re single-covered, we’ll throw to them. If we get defenders out of the box, we’ll run.”

The quarterback, Jono Menhart, is the coach’s son, but the two can be very different at times.

“The good thing is he’s not like his dad when he’s playing,” Menhart said.

“He gets excited but a lot of times, when he runs off the field, you wouldn’t know if he threw an interception or a touchdown pass. He has a good grasp on things. He stays calm, is hard to rattle.

“His dad, on the other hand, is a whiner and complainer who’d rather be heard than seen on the football field.”

Jono Menhart threw for nearly 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns in making the all-conference team last season. His top receivers this year will be Jeff and Jared Lapkowicz, Don Hewitt and Tyrone Pinson.

Up front, the two starting tackles and right guard Gary Johnson (5-10, 210) all return.

Steve Penich (6-4, 260) will begin his third season as the starting right tackle, while Josh Novotny (6-5, 240) returns to start at left tackle.

Jake Hathaway (6-0, 195) will be the new center, and either Eric Riley (5-10, 200) or Matt Dickey (5-10, 240) will play left guard.

The same group will surround nose tackle Andrew Penich (6-5, 350) along the defensive line. The linebackers around Zielensky will be Hathaway and Jared Lapkowicz. Menhart, Giles and Grim will man the secondary.

“Our linebackers are all experienced and can run,” Menhart said. “Offensively, we’ve got to come together up front.”