PARMA, Ohio — Following a Week 10 loss last October, Padua’s football team wondered what could have been.
The Bruins watched as Rocky River earned the final Division III playoff spot ahead of them by a mere 0.2-point average and upset top-seeded Clyde in the first round. Coach Michael Polevacik and his players thought that could have been them.
It wasn't, in part, because of a back-and-forth finale on the road at Lake Catholic.
Since then, Padua has lost star power to graduation but brings back defensive playmakers Johnny Harris at safety and Mbaimba Tunkara at linebacker. The defense could again be a staple of the playoff-hopeful Bruins.
Meet them in this edition of cleveland.com’s football camp tours. They continue daily throughout August.
Padua Bruins
2018 record: 6-4
Coach: Michael Polevacik (fourth season)
Conference: North Coast League Blue Division
Players to watch
Drew Butler, QB/WR, 5-11, 165, Jr.
Sam Ehrbar, QB, 6-0, 180, Sr.
Mbaimba Tunkara, RB/LB, 6-0, 220, Sr.
Alec Buehner, RB/LB, 6-0, 190, Jr.
Daniel Peterson, WR/S, 6-4, 180, Jr.
Jason Freeman, WR, 6-2, 170, Jr.
Trey DeCicco, WR, 6-3, 180, Jr.
Nick Balla, WR, 5-8, 150, Sr.
Daniel Obloj, OT/DE, 6-0, 215, Jr.
Dominic Biagiotti, C, 6-0, 280, Jr.
Ryan Whitely, OL/DL, 6-3, 245, Jr.
Mike Sulic, OL/DL, 6-2, 260, Jr.
Cam Rogers, DT, 5-10, 260, Sr.
Brandon Wilson, DT/OT, 6-4, 280, So.
Alex Balla, OLB/S, 6-0, 210, Sr.
Buzz Mastrobuono, LB, 6-0, 220, Sr.
Jerome Mason, LB, 5-10, 205, Jr.
Ethan Turner, CB/RB, 5-9, 175, Sr.
Justin Siggers, CB, 6-2, 185, Sr.
John Harris, S/CB/WR, 5-10, 190, Sr.
Patrick McGlashan, S/WR, 5-11, 180, Sr.
Carson Smith, DB, 5-9, 175, Sr.
Outlook: Padua just missed last year's playoffs with a Week 10 loss at Lake Catholic. The Bruins graduated size up front, led by offensive tackle Jimi McAdams (now at Eastern Michigan) and defensive end Colt Jennings. Sophomore quarterback Jaxon French is now at St. Ignatius after starting for the Bruins as a freshman. Butler, who earned starts two years ago as a freshman, and Ehrbar should vie for the starting job. Linebacker Crishawn Long also was lost to graduation and is now at Purdue, but Tunkara and Harris are among the top players in the area at their positions. Tunkara is a two-way starter, who ran for 477 yards and five touchdowns last year while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Harris had six interceptions, including two for touchdowns, last year in nine games.
2019 schedule
Aug. 30 vs. Sandusky
Sept. 6 vs. Holy Name
Sept. 13 vs. Maple Heights
Sept. 20 at Aurora
Sept. 27 at Elyria Catholic
Oct. 4 at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin
Oct. 11 vs. Walsh Jesuit
Oct. 18 at Archbishop Hoban
Oct. 26 at Benedictine
Nov. 1 vs. Lake Catholic
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section.