SPEED WINS

DOVER — When athletic director Ryan Brown was approved in May to coach the St. Thomas Aquinas football program, he wouldn’t say he’d retain the spread offense that had been built and flourished the last six years under Eric Cumba.

A former Division III lineman, prep school head coach and college assistant, Brown said he wanted to get a better feel for his personnel before making that big coaching commitment.

But he’s gotten his feel. The spread offense will stay.

And quarterback Shawn DeKorne and receiver/running back Tim Bouchard are two reasons why it could thrive.

A preseason that included scrimmaging against Spaulding and Marshwood on Monday, plus a planned date at Kearsarge on Thursday, has added some plays to the no-huddle, spread repertoire, but retained lots of the things that made it work under Cumba, who exited with a record of 51-12 and a pair of state championships after his teaching position was eliminated.

The guys running the plays say they appreciate that.

“All the stuff I’ve learned has been from the spread offense we’ve been running the past few years,” said Bouchard, whose first year playing football was as a St. Thomas freshman. “He’s been doing good, asking, ‘How do you guys want to do this compared to last year?’ It’s been a pretty smooth transition for us.”

A returning quarterback is an immediate asset for a Division II team, especially one that likes to pass. By all accounts, DeKorne had a decent debut season, stepping in as a sophomore following the departure of the record-setting Steve Hedberg and completing 48-of-101 passes (47 percent) for 782 yards, eight TDs and five interceptions.

“The toughest thing was probably trying to replace Steve; that was pretty tough,” he said. “I was a sophomore, coming in for a guy who’s playing Division I ball (as a back-up at UNH). I think a little of that got in my head.”

Missing four games late in the season due to injury stunted his development, he felt. The campaign ended with a 28-6 loss at eventual champion Plymouth in the Division II quarterfinals.

“The four weeks (out) definitely hurt,” he said. “The first few games I played I felt like I improved each game.”

“He’s a competitor,” said Bouchard. “Last year, I just don’t think he had as much confidence as I’d like him to have. This year, if he puts the confidence and execution together, he’s a dangerous player.”

Message received.

“I am more confident,” said DeKorne, who has also bulked up. “I have more trust in my receivers and my line. I’m more confident all-around, knowing the plays and knowing the defenses. I’m definitely studying a lot more.”

“He’s an extremely competitive young man,” said Brown. “As he plays more … he’s got all the talent in the world. One of the things he’s doing better is learning how to channel that.”

While DeKorne will play under center and nowhere else, Bouchard will find himself at many spots on the field.

Last season, he emerged as a go-to guy on offense, catching 22 passes for 344 yards, and also running the ball plenty. He was a first-team All-Division II selection at wide receiver.

“Tim is a kid who, obviously, we have to get him the ball,” said Brown. “He’s a playmaker. We’ve got to hand it to him and we’ve got to throw it to him.”

“When I get the ball to him,” said DeKorne, “I feel confident he’s going to do some crazy things."

At running back, Cade Bausman, Nick Tosatti and Edwin Estevez are the other top candidates for carries. Estevez, Jack Benelli, Lucas Banaian and Derek O’Brien round out the receiving corps.

Defensively, Bouchard will play free safety. Where the Saints were hurt the most through graduation was on the lines, which were stout these past couple years, especially in the Division II title season of 2015, though senior Gavin Scoon is an enviable returning anchor.

In a sense, this preseason has been a clean break for the Saints from that glory two years ago. Many of those players have moved on and there’s not a huge senior class. Throw in a new coach and it’s a new day on Dover Point.

A sunny one.

“We don’t have as many numbers for seniors this year, but I like how many people from the junior and sophomore class have stepped up and are doing pretty good in starting positions,” said DeKorne.

The Saints still plan to do things fast. DeKorne and Bouchard are the two guys setting the pace.

“Both of them are, obviously, incredibly talented as athletes go,” said Brown. “They both have the ability to change the game. They do things instinctually that other kids don’t.”

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS SAINTS

League: Division II

Coach: Ryan Brown, 1st season

2016 result: 7-3, lost to Plymouth in Division II quarterfinals

Last playoff appearance: 2016

State championships: 1963, 1974, 2015 (Division II); 1999-2001, 2006 (Division IV); 2011 (Division V)

Dates to circle: Sept. 15 (at Souhegan), Sept. 30 (Windham), Oct. 6 (at Milford)

Snapshot: Brown takes over a team that has been an annual Division II contender, winning 51 games over the last six years, and will continue to run a no-huddle, spread offense that’s made the Saints one of the league’s highest-scoring teams. “Personnel-wise, the kids have been well-coached in that scheme and our personnel kind of fits that,” he said. … Defensively, first-team All-State DB Edwin Estevez and free safety Tim Bouchard should help form one of the league’s best secondaries. … The brand-new coaching staff includes Dave Bryant, Rich Clough, Chris Stamoulis and Jeff Butts … The opener is Sept. 2 at Sanborn.