ST. MATTHEWS — Listen to Adam Jarecki the first time around and you get the idea that the Calhoun Academy Cavaliers are not going to be a good offensive team.

In fact, you get the idea they are going to be bad, hurting ... in trouble.

“We just don’t have a lot of depth at the skill positions,” he says in an awe-shucks manner that almost makes you feel sorry for him.

But, then Jarecki follows that up by talking about his senior quarterback, Elite 11 selection Andrew Robinson (6-4, 200), who passed for 1,877 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

“He throws the ball real well, no doubt,” Jarecki said. “He had an exceptional year last year, and we expect that type of production out of him this year.”

Team Robinson up with do-everything senior Trez Wienges (5-10, 176), who will play receiver and running back, senior tight end Taylor Culler (5-11, 170), junior split end Matt Arant (5-7, 140) and speedy sophomore Bryan Love (5-8, 155), senior Jimmy Reed (5-6, 140) and junior Caleb Chappell (6-0, 150) working out of the backfield and you don’t feel so bad for Jarecki.

They will run behind a line that is returning several experienced players in junior William Granger (6-1, 200), junior Adam Carter (5-10, 290), sophomore Andrew Harter (6-1, 260) and senior Josh Davis (6-6, 315). So, a little clarification may be in order. Thin doesn’t mean Calhoun doesn’t have the athletes, according to Jarecki, thin just means they don’t have many proven players behind the athletes.

“We feel like we do (have some talent on offense),” Jarecki said. “We feel like we are going to be able to run the ball a little bit, but the key for us is going to be the defense. Our offense was about as good as it could get last year, but if you have to score 100 points to win, you are in trouble.”

Leading the way on defense for the Cavaliers will be returning senior linebacker Jake King (6-3, 205). Wienges will play next to him there. Up front, junior Preston Williams (5-11, 250), senior Ashton Shuler (5-10, 150), junior Waylon Williams (5-8, 280), and seniors Patrick Taylor (5-10, 193) and Robert Davis (5-8, 200) will play on the interior of the line. Chappell, Culler and Corbin Kline will play the ends.

In the secondary, Arant and Love will be joined by Reed and sophomore Jordan Rucker (5-10, 140).

King will handle the kicking and Wienges the punting.

“We will see, Jarecki said. “It’s a long year. The key is to hold people down so we will get a chance to score some points. We feel like we can throw it a little, but again, the key to the whole season will be what the defense does.”

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