BLOOMINGTON - Joe Ring began his sophomore football season at 280 pounds. After struggling with stamina early in the year, the promising lineman was urged to lose some weight by the Central Catholic High School coaching staff. | U Pick 'Em | Photo Gallery

The resulting diet was a boost to the lettuce industry.

"It was a lot of salads," Ring said. "… a whole lot of salads."

By the end of that 9-2 season in 2006, he had traded in his football pants for a smaller size. And suddenly, he was blowing past opposing linemen.

"I watched film from the first game when I was at 280 and the last playoff game that year, and I could see how much faster I was coming out of my stance and how quick I was getting on guys as opposed to trying to muscle them," Ring said.

His 6-foot-1 frame got down to 225 pounds at one point, through acceleration training/treadmill work at Bloomington's Sports Enhancement Center and, of course, the salads.

He played at 235 to 240 last year while starring on Central's 13-1, Class 4A state runner-up team. Now a senior, he reported at 245 and in the best shape of his life, prepared to play every down at defensive tackle and left offensive tackle if need be.

Saints' coach Bobby Moews said 250 pounds "would be about perfect" for Ring, but added, "We don't want him much different from last year, because he was pretty darn good."

Ring was a first-team all-Corn Belt Conference pick on both sides of the ball. He helped the offense average 31.3 points per game, and his 95 tackles included 17 for losses.

He enters his fourth year on the varsity as the leader up front after learning from the likes of Michael Hoomanawanui, Josh Brent and Zach Eyre his first three seasons. Hoomanawanui and Brent now play at the University of Illinois and Eyre is a freshman at Monmouth College.

"Joe was a sponge with the older kids," Saints' line coach Jim Malinowski said. "They have had a huge impact on how much he has progressed.

"As a freshman, when he wasn't in, he was paying attention to what was going on and just absorbing things. He fed off of all of them."

Ring called them his "mentors," and said, "When one would graduate, another kid would step up and I would look up to him."

"I took Mike's desire, Zach was just real aggressive, and J.B. (Brent) had a lot of talent and was a huge help," Ring said. "I kind of picked up technique from everyone and I use that on the field now."

He has become the player others look to on a 53-man varsity team, the largest in Moews' 17-year tenure.

Ring relishes the role, particularly on an offensive line which will have two new starters joining him, Jack Wombacher and Nathan Yelton.

"We have a couple of holes to fill, and I'm trying to be in that (leadership) position and get kids to step up," he said.

Ring has emerged as a leader in the weight room and classroom as well. He bench presses 315 pounds and lifts 420 to 430 in the squat. He also increased his speed during an offseason conditioning program.

Academically, he has performed well enough to have Ivy League member Penn on his list of possible colleges.

"That would be my ideal school," said Ring, who attended a camp at Penn. "I want to get the education. But I kind of want to focus on the season right now. Colleges really prefer to see your senior film. I'll play my game, send it to them and see what they say."

Malinowski said Ring's technique will work in his favor, calling him "as solid as you get" in that regard. He considers Ring to be "the typical Central Catholic lineman" because of his work ethic, attention to detail and aggressive approach.

"He flat out loves to hit," Malinowski said. "It's one speed with this kid, and he doesn't like to do anything but that. He was putting guys on the ground when we weren't in pads, just because he doesn't know how to take time off."

Ring does know how to lose weight, though now it is a matter of maintaining. If pounds begin to mount, he reverts to a familiar game plan.

"I still eat salads," he said.

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Five things to watch

- Ben Heaton missed the first six games last year with a knee injury, but came on strong in the playoffs. Coach Bobby Moews expects the senior receiver/cornerback to make a big impact both ways, saying, "Ben is going to surprise some people."

- Moews anticipates a "tailback by committee" early after losing area rushing leader Ryan Waldron's 1,970 yards and 26 touchdowns. The committee likely will include senior Brendan McCracken, junior Josiah Zehr and sophomore Brad Connor.

- Senior Adam Rebholz returns at quarterback after passing for 1,780 yards, but must sit out the first game for disciplinary reasons. Candidates to replace him on opening night are junior Taylor Jewett and sophomores Kevin Rollins and Dominc Henson.

- Senior Sean Stokes has worked his way back after tearing the ACL and MCL in his knee last year in the second round of the playoffs. Stokes will return to his starting linebacker spot and could see time at fullback.

- Lineman Jay Dachauer has returned to football after sitting out the past two years. The 6-2, 200-pound senior is a leading candidate to start at center. Also, senior soccer player Kendall Cox looks to succeed standout Michael Fenger at placekicker.

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Meet the Saints

Head coach: Bobby Moews, 17th season (16-year record 112-58)

Conference: Corn Belt

2007: 13-1 (8-0 in Corn Belt). Lost to Addison Driscoll, 48-24, in Class 4A state championship game

Roster

SENIORS

Kendall Cox, PK, 6-0, 155; Dan Curran, WR, 5-10, 150; Jay Dachauer, OL, 6-2, 200; Ben Heaton, WR, 6-0, 165; Dylan Johnson, TE, 6-3, 200; Connor Kirkwood, OL, 6-1, 195; Alex Ludwig, OL, 5-10, 155; Brendan McCracken, RB, 5-8, 180; David Murray, RB, 5-10, 205; Blake Rave, WR, 5-11, 165; Adam Rebholz, QB, 6-2, 200; Joe Ring, OL, 6-2, 245; Sean Stokes, RB, 6-0, 205; Jack Wombacher, OL, 6-4, 260; Nathan Yelton, OL, 6-0, 250.

JUNIORS

Duncan Brady, WR, 5-11, 175; Casey Chandler, OL, 6-0, 205; David Heitz, RB, 6-0, 175; Chris Highland, OL, 6-2, 210; Dominique Hilt, WR, 5-10, 155; James Hinderks, WR, 6-0, 175; Andrew Holt, RB, 6-0, 175; Taylor Jewett, QB, 5-8, 170; Jared Kelch, WR, 5-10, 145; Ben McAllister, WR, 6-1, 165; Adam McIntosh, WR, 6-4, 215; Brendan Quinn, RB, 6-0, 175; Rob Seidl, RB, 5-9, 165; Austin Sherwood, OL, 5-11, 215; Chris Stolfa, WR, 5-0, 150; Drew Talkington, TE, 6-4, 190; Joe Wemlinger, WR, 5-10, 165; Josiah Zehr, RB, 5-10, 160.

SOPHOMORES

Michael Bleichner, WR, 6-3, 175; Brad Connor, RB, 5-10, 160; Chris Eakle, TE, 6-1, 200; Sam Eledge, OL, 6-0, 185; Sean Gibbons, OL, 6-0, 175; Drake Griffin, OL, 6-0, 220; Jess Heaton, WR, 5-10, 150; Dominc Henson, QB, 6-0, 150; Connor Highland, OL, 6-0, 230; Gus Hozie, OL, 5-6, 145; Nick Jordan, TE, 6-1, 170; Mike Kistner, OL, 5-9, 210; Matt Klepec, OL, 6-2, 190; Kevin Kniery, WR, 5-11, 145; Dan Lancaster, OL, 6-0, 225; Rob McNeil, RB, 6-0, 160; Alex Miller, OL, 5-10, 175; Baine Rave, RB, 5-10, 160; Kevin Rollins, QB, 6-0, 165; Will Waldron, RB, 5-11, 180.

Schedule

Friday - Prairie Central^

Sept. 5 - U High at ISU^, 4 p.m.

Sept. 12 - Pontiac^

Sept. 20 - At Mount Carmel, 5 p.m.

Sept. 26 - Olympia^

Oct. 3 - At Eureka^, 7:45 p.m.

Oct. 10 - Mahomet-Seymour^

Oct. 17 - At Rochester^, 7:45 p.m.

Oct. 24 - At Rantoul^, 7:45 p.m.

^ - conference game

Games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated

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Football Fever 2008 schedule

Football Fever 2008 will preview every high school football team in The Pantagraph area by taking a specific look at each team with a storyline on each team, schedule, roster and a photo. Check back for preview coverage of your favorite team:

Intercity previews

Today - Central Catholic

Monday - Normal Community

Tuesday - Normal West

Wednesday - University High

Thursday - Bloomington

Area previews

TUESDAY

Iroquois West

PBL

Clinton

Lincoln

Dwight

Tremont

Flanagan

Streator

WEDNESDAY

Fieldcrest

GCMS

Fisher

Le Roy

Lexington

Heyworth

Ridgeview

Tri-Valley

THURSDAY

El Paso-Gridley

Deer Creek-Mackinaw

Blue Ridge

Mahomet-Seymour

Pontiac

Eureka

Olympia

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High School Football Pick 'Em

Can you predict the future? Test your high school football knowledge by predicting the winners of area high school football games every week, and you can win prizes.

Go to www.pantagraph.com/upickem to enter.