By John Raffel
Kyle Szymanski is in his senior season as a running back and safety for Sacred Heart Academy. He’s a second-year starter at both positions. He was set to be a starter as a sophomore at outside linebacker until he was injured.
Midway through the season, Szymanski said there have not yet been any major running plays from the line of scrimmage. “Against Nouvel, I had a hundred and some rushing yards, but I was quarterback, and we did a lot of QB power and QB leads,” he said.
Szymanski has showed the ability to be a power running back, with a certain amount of dangerous speed.
“I’m not going to break an 80-yard run, but I’ll get six yards without a doubt,” he said. “I have the ability to see the field. I don’t have the explosiveness of other running backs. I have to use my blockers to get my yards, pretty much.”
Szymanski has definitely shown improvement from last season. “I’m more elusive this year,” he said. “Just the experience factor, I know what I’m doing out there. I can read my blocks a lot better this year.”
As a safety, he offers the Sacred Heart defense a lot of run support. “I do pass coverage, but a lot of it is downhill focus on the run game,” Szymanski said. “I would definitely say my pass coverage abilities [are strong]. Last year, I had seven picks. It really helps the defense to know that any deep threat is covered.”
Szymanski had one interception in the team’s first four games.
Of the two positions, Szymanski said that he’s used more at running back, but he’s “better at safety.”
Last season, Sacred Heart started out 0-3 in the nonleague part of its schedule but won all five of its Mid-State Activities Conference games and made the playoffs at 5-4 before losing to Fowler.
It’s looking to be that type of scenario again this year. The Irish lost their first three games to Beal City, NorthPointe Christian, and Nouvel Catholic Central but opened the league slate 56-0 over Montabella and 16-14 over Carson City-Crystal and are bidding for the MSAC crown.
“Our first few games were pretty tough,” Szymanski said. “The game against Carson City, I think, is for the MSAC title. With our strength of schedule, we can get in [the playoffs] with five wins. But it’s good to get that sixth win [to automatically qualify].”