High school football 2024: Senior duo ready to lead Elyria Catholic

Bryan Kelley may be the only returning senior starter on Elyria Catholic's offensive line this season but that doesn't phase him one iota. "It just means I've got to step up and be a leader for all the younger guys," Kelley said. "Last year was an all-senior line. I was the only junior. We need to be a little more aggressive up front." Kelley will start at right tackle this season. He's following in the footsteps of his father, Dan, a 1988 EC grad who was named All-Ohio in 1987 when the Panthers went 9-4 and made the Division III playoffs under Bill Groomes. The Panthers won the regional championship that year but lost 23-0 to powerful Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the state semifinals. Mooney went on to win the state title a week later. Elyria Catholic coach Chase Farris believes Kelley's leadership is invaluable to the team's success. "He cares for the guys," Farris said. "Doesn't say too much. Just comes in and chops wood and carries water. He brings the work ethic. He comes to practice every day and gets after it. He leads by example. He was the youngest guy on our line last year. Now this year, he's the oldest guy. "Everything starts up front. How they go, the team goes, so they have to go in there and just work and be those guys that set the tone every day." Kelley will provide protection for senior quarterback Darrell Shumpert Jr., who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury. Shumpert was 11-of-23 passing for 123 yards in EC's season-opening loss at Liberty Benton. "I started the first game and then injuries happened," said Shumpert, who had to rehab his shoulder to be ready for this season. "I have a great athletic trainer in Jamie (Schupbach). He helped me a lot. My parents were right on top of it. I appreciate them so much." Farris has no qualms about Shumpert being ready and able to handle the quarterback position this year. "He was ready to go Week 5 last year," Farris said. "He just couldn't play due to the transfer rules. We're equipping him with tools to be able to manage the game. We're excited to see him take off with it. If we didn't trust him, he wouldn't be out there." Kelley figures the offense will be able to run and pass effectively under Farris, a former Ohio State offensive lineman in his second year as Panthers coach. "I feel our running game will be a lot better than last year," Kelley said. "We'll be a lot stronger and I think it'll be a good mix of run and pass. We'll definitely be able to run the ball more effectively than last year. "It's really nice to have (Farris). He teaches us what to do and everything. Our goals are to win more, obviously, and to play more as a team." "We all want to play to his standards," Shumpert said. "Coming from Ohio State, we want to play up to what he knows we can play up to." "Everything that we're looking to do, it just comes along with growth," Farris said. "We have a tough schedule this year. There are no gimme games on the schedule at all. We've got to be ready each and every week and give your best effort — from the coaches, the players — how we both have to lock in and focus. It's amazing to see the growth in the program just from last year. We have almost 80 kids now." EC finished 3-7 a year ago in the final season of the now defunct Great Lakes Conference. The Panthers technically are playing as an independent this season although they'll have All-Conference selections from the rejuvenated North Coast Conference. The NCC won't be in full force until next fall in football. "We'll take it one game at a time," Kelley said. "The people we're going to play are going to be a lot better than last year. I look forward to the competition." "Last year wasn't what we wanted," Shumpert said. "That's not the easy way, the tradition, the winning excellence. We want to get back to that. "We're definitely going to run the ball but I think we're going to see more passes. We've got the guys who can do it in Connor Petrus and Zavier Castillo and a couple other guys. I'll do whatever I can to help the team." Contact Tim Gebhardt at (440) 329-7135 or timothygeb@msn.com.