25 Teams in 25 Days: St. Patrick Fighting Irish

“Last year wasn’t our best and this year we’re really looking to turn it around and we’re going to get some wins this year,” said senior offensive lineman Brady Gopffarth. 

“I believe we can do it. If we flip that switch, we got it,” said senior defensive lineman Luis Reyes. “We have a really high chance of winning at least a few games this year. I believe we do.”

Despite not winning a game during the 2024 season, the St. Patrick Fighting Irish are choosing confidence when looking forward to the new season. Second year Head Coach Nathan Encrapera owes it to everyone’s drive and competitiveness.

“The level of competition at practice and the pushing and shoving a little bit and just the desire to win has really established itself over the past twelve months,” said second year Head Coach Nathan Encrapera. “We compete in the weight room. We compete out here, whether it’s sprints or whatever we’re doing, we just want to create that competitive atmosphere. We have a lot of depth in a lot of different places on the field so they have that competitive nature on both sides of the football.”  

A big thing factoring into the high level competition is of course playing time. With multiple spots open on each side and a bunch of eager underclassmen, everything’s fair game.

“Essentially we’re going to have five returners on offense and five on defense,” said Coach Encrapera. “On the defensive side we lost our secondary, but I’m really excited about the guys. We’ve got some new guys and really in truly some of the young guys are the most competitive guys we have, so they’re fueling a lot of this. A lot of the freshmen and sophomores are fueling a lot of this competitive nature.” 

Another addition fueling the fire is new faces on the coaching staff. Players are excited about the new leadership and have already seen progression in their position groups.

“We brought in Jonathan Perry from Western Illinois University. He was a defensive coach up there and coached on the west coast a little bit,” Coach Encrapera said. “We also brought in Hal Reeser who is a 17 year college coach, so I want those guys that have recent college coaching experience to be on the staff to give these guys a really clear image of if they want to play at the next level, they can tell you exactly what they need to do and how you need to get there.”

“There’s been a big difference now that we have Coach Perry and Coach Hal,” Reyes said. “We have a lot of new plays, a lot of new training and just a different practice. I think we’re going to come a really long way with the coaching that we have now and I think we have a high chance. Before, I didn’t have faith in this team, but now I believe we can do this with this team. A lot of our speed has increased as well as our strength not only physically but also mentally. We read the plays and want to carry out our job as best as possible.“

“Our linebackers are doing great on our reads and getting to the ball as a team. We’re really working on everybody getting to the ball and we’re getting stronger in the weight room,” Gopffarth said. “Our offensive line is learning how to get their blocks better and going a great job.”

“I see our linebackers filling the gaps well. They’re starting to learn how to read a lot better and that’s something we’ve struggled with in the past and I think we’re really going to improve on. Our offensive line has finally figured out how to move. We now don’t have kids that are 14 years old out there, so it’s a big improvement just off of the age,” said senior offensive lineman Elijah Isgar.

“Defensively I think we’re going to give off a lot of different looks. We’re going to blitz a lot and we’re going to put pressure on a lot of offenses,” said Coach Encrapera. “Offensively we’re going to throw it around a little bit. We’re going to make defenses defend all 53 and a third and spread it out as much as we can and I think we’re going to be able to run the ball a lot. Liam Richards is good and probably one of our better players regardless of the class. He’s a sophomore. Regis Crocker is going to come in as a senior and he’s probably been our most consistent receiver, and then Satchel Mercier, Layton Davis and William Gunn nursing an injury are the three guys in the quarterback position that we’re looking at.”      

With a changed mindset, competitive nature, and additions to the staff, St Patrick is set to improve in several different areas and they’ll make you believe in Fighting Irish football again.

“I’m looking forward to having a great season this year,” said Gopffarth. “We’re having a lot of improvement in the weight room and all of our guys are getting better everyday, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and our offense is getting better everyday as well.”

“I’m just looking forward to making the best out of my last year, probably playing football and just making it the best I can,” Isgar said. “I’m just going to try to bring a lot more effort than I have in years past and really step up in a leadership role and finally fill that spot.”

“We’ve always kind of had that mantra where we want to be the best team at the end of the season and we want to make it to the tournament and see how far we can go,” said Coach Encrapera. “There’s going to be a lot of learning along the way and we’re going to get a lot of different guys chances to show what they can do and keep that competitiveness going in the roster and I think just going out and competing. I think they’re looking forward as much as any team I’ve ever coached, and I think they’re excited about playing football come August 29th.”