OBSERVER Photo by Rob Szot Dunkirk quarterback Phil Messina scrambles during a game against Fredonia last season. Messina looks to lead Dunkirk to victory in the 2019 season's first game tonight, on the road against Olean.

Heading into week one of the 2019 season, the Dunkirk Marauders football team is surrounded by several question marks. With a team of mostly new players, head coach Mike Sarratori has to figure out his unknowns. Fortunately for him, his team is off to a good start mentally.

“We had a good week of practice. With so many young and new kids, it’s hard to know where we are right now but the kids are excited and motivated, and we’ve had some good, long practices,” Sarratori said.

Coming off a season that featured the Marauders coming out hot to a 6-0 start, led by the potent rushing statistics of the now graduated Quantavis Kleckly, the Marauders dropped their bid for a perfect season with a loss in the last game of the regular season to rival Fredonia, then losing on the road in the playoffs the very next week.

Despite how the season ended for the Marauders, there were several positives to take away from last season, and while Dunkirk lost a lot of players last season, one of those positives is who they returned.

Dunkirk brings back starters at two of their most important offensive positions are occupied by returners, in quarterback Phil Messina and running back Earl Stewart.

Stewart, now entering his senior season, is part of a crowded but capable backfield, but Stewart may be the one expected to carry a majority of the load.

“We have three guys that are close, I really could put any one in. I’m looking at starting Stewart. He’s a second year starter, with all of the athletic ability in the world. We need him to show some leadership especially with only three returning starters,” Sarratori said.

With Messina though, the focus will be on him to step into the biggest leadership role entering his junior season.

“We need him to take a big step this year. He has a year of experience now and he’s a good strong, kid with a great brain. We’re looking for him to take a positive leadership role,” Sarratori said.

Sarratori and the Marauders will take on a familiar program that has given them some trouble over the years, as they’ll make the trip to Olean to take on the Huskies.

“They have an experienced quarterback, a heck of a wide receiver, a good, strong running back, two linemen that are big strong kids and a linebacker that loves to roam the field. They have a great program, no matter the results they put up, they’re well coached. We usually have trouble with them,” Sarratori said.

Thanks to that familiarity, Sarratori knows what to expect from the Huskies program, and it comes down to one thing: stopping their spread offense.

“They run out of the gun most of the time and we’re very young both ways. We have to make sure we know our assignments. That’s one of the hardest parts of a young team is knowing your assignment and not just running around in chaos. That’s tough to do against a well coached spread offense,” Sarratori said.

Faced with the multitude of question marks, the Marauders have to focus on what they know best, which is sound, defensive football. With a full season ahead for this young team to grow, their first stepping stone is before them tonight.