Brandon’s football team will have to carry on without one of their leaders.
Senior Chad Rabideau, who was expected to be in the mix at tailback this season, has transferred from Brandon because of his father’s job transfer, Brandon head coach Ron Gill said Wednesday.
“We had a little setback,” he said of Rabideau’s transfer. “He was a captain and he was real important to us.”
Brandon’s other captains are seniors Justin Tripp, Matt Ruppert, Nate Perry and Joe Turcsak. With Rabideau’s transfer, Perry and junior Derek Foyt will share time at tailback, Gill said.
The Blackhawks opened at Mt. Morris Thursday, Aug. 28; they play their first home game Friday, Sept. 5 against Warren De La Salle at 7:30 p.m.
Senior Devin White and junior Andrew Burch will man the quarterback spot for the Blackhawks, with tight end Ruppert, wide receiver Turcsak and junior split end Robert Carpenter providing receiving targets.
Defensively, the Blackhawks’ strength is in the secondary with White, Perry, Foyt and Carpenter holding down the fort.
Gill said the Blackhawks will have their hands full with Mt. Morris.
“They’re a very hard-hitting team and had a great year last year,” he said. “We’re going to have to play our very best and eliminate mental mistakes.”