2016 Snapshot: Carroll

A little over two years ago Carroll hired former alum Ben Rulli to resurrect its football program. The Patriots had hit rock bottom after a prosperous decade to start the 21st century. Rulli and his troops managed just two wins in his first season. Carroll followed up that performance with five victories in 2015. Things appear to be on the upswing on Linden Avenue.

Carroll ATH Nick Riley (photo from Facebook)

Now the hard part begins as the Patriots try to sustain their modest success. It is not going to be an easy task as Carroll has a ton of raw talent that lacks varsity experience at its disposal this fall. They graduated 24 seniors from last year’s .500 squad. “The Greater Catholic League Co-eds are always a gauntlet and as the season progresses the younger players that will be thrown into the mix early will get better,” an optimistic Rulli says.

The troops have not been completely decimated. The Patriots return all of their starting linebackers and will be strong on special teams with their kicking and return phases of the game. Despite the obstacles that lie ahead expect Carroll to be a competitive and viable foe in GCL Co-eds play. Rulli is the real deal as a coach. His team will be well prepared and eager to get Carroll back to its winning ways.

Division III, Region 12
2015 RECORD: 5-5, 3-4 GCL Co-eds
COACH: Ben Rulli (2-13 @ Carroll, two years; 37-25 overall, seven years)

HONOR ROLL
Alex Story, Sr, K/P – Almost perfect a year ago, Story connected on 28-30 extra point attempts and 6-7 field goal tries for 46 points. Five times he had at least six points in a game. He was named Second Team All-Southwest District for that performance. Story will also handle the punting duties for the Patriots. He is currently getting recruited by Division I programs.

Lamont Harris, Sr, LB – Harris led Carroll with 79 tackles in ’15. He was named First Team All-GCL North for his efforts.

Jacob Rieman, Sr, LB – Rieman was a Second Team All-GCL North selection after getting on 50 tackles as a junior. He is a leader of the Patriots defense.

TOP RETURNEES
Nick Riley, Sr, ATH – Rulli calls Riley “a hard working player who does it all.” Riley played wide receiver, free safety and quarterback as a junior. He finished with six receptions for 101 yards and had 23 tackles.

Carroll RB/LB Fred Butts (photo by Mark Pinto/TriStateFootball.com)

Tommy Lowe, So, LB – Over the last half of ’15 Lowe was too good to keep off the field as a freshman. He finished the year with 20 total tackles and will be one of Carroll’s top defensive players this fall.

Fred Butts, So, RB/OLB – One of the GCL Co-eds rising stars in the Class of ‘19. Look for him to definitely make an impact on the defense. Butts could also emerge as the team’s top running back. He ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns during a four game stretch as a freshman.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(nine appearances, 9-9) – 2010, 2007, 2006, 2005 (Regional Champion), 2004 (Regional Champion), 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999

2016 SCHEDULE
Carroll will face some very good quarterbacks in the first six weeks. The Patriots will have to make these signal-callers one-dimensional. The first four foes on the schedule – Stebbins, Beavercreek, Sidney and Alter were a combined 30-12 in ’15. If Carroll can figure out a way to split those affairs it will put them in the playoff picture. October could be a very promising month with – Badin, Roger Bacon, Purcell Marian and Bishop Fenwick on the slate.

MOVING THE STICKS
The Patriots amassed 3,168 yards of offense and led the GCL North in passing yards in ’15. That was a jump of 1,202 yards of total offense from the season before, Rulli’s first at the helm.

NO THREE IN A ROW
The Patriots have not won three games in a row since ‘10 when they started the year off at 4-0. It was also the last time that Carroll had a winning record and went to the playoffs.

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