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League: Catholic League Central Division
Last season: 7-4
Opening game: 7 p.m. Aug. 28 against University of Detroit Jesuit at Southfield-Lathrup

Offense
Key player: Kevonte Martin-Manley, senior, wide receiver

Martin-Manley is half of the Warriors’ veteran aerial assault with senior quarterback Frankie Popp. The duo connected for nine of Rice’s 13 passing touchdowns last season, with Martin-Manley totaling 610 yards on 34 catches.

“Frankie Popp has started for 1 1/2 seasons,” coach Al Fracassa said. “He started last year, and he started three or four games when he was a sophomore. We’ve got confidence that he really knows this offense.”

Rice will have to replace the 1,066 yards rushing they lost with the graduation of Danny Henneghan and will look to senior Jeff DeClaire and junior Jimmy Pickens to fill in.

Fracassa hopes that the presence of Martin-Manley will open things up for his teammates to make plays.

“I expect him to be one of our best players,” Fracassa said of Martin-Manley. “He’s our only Division I college prospect, and there’s a lot the other receivers can learn from him.”

A young offensive line led by senior center Sean Grisan, a captain and returning starter, will be charged with giving Popp enough time to find Martin-Manley.

Marquee matchup: Martin-Manley faces Orchard Lake St. Mary’s senior defensive back Gary Hunter at 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at St. Mary’s.

Defense
Key player: Justin Cherocci, senior, linebacker

Cherocci totaled 193 tackles and five sacks as a junior and is back to lead a linebacking corps that includes junior Tim Hamilton.

Fracassa is hoping to find enough players among his young defensive linemen, such as junior nose guard Levi Richard, to open up holes and allow Cherocci to at least come close to equaling his junior-year totals.

“We’ve got to find some linemen who will go forward at the line of scrimmage and help the linebackers,” Fracassa said. “They have to penetrate to give the linebackers some room.”

Rice returns a veteran pair of safeties to anchor its secondary, with Pickens back for his third year starting and Loran Jaddou manning the other safety spot.

Marquee matchup: Cherocci faces Warren De La Salle senior running back De’Angelo Parris at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at Southfield-Lathrup.

Special teams
Key player: Adam Gorski, junior, kicker

Gorski comes to the gridiron from the soccer pitch. This is his first year with a football team, and he already has the confidence of his coaches.

“He’s going to be real good,” Fracassa said.

Coach’s outlook
While he does have veterans at several skill positions, Fracassa knows that success is usually dictated in the trenches, where Grisan is his lone returning starter. He said he hopes they can develop those players enough to help make it 11 straight seasons in the playoffs.

“We’ve got to find a defensive line,” Fracassa said. “Sean Grisan is a real good center. He snaps the ball in the shotgun, but he’s our only guy back on the offensive line.”

— Brad D. Bates