York Catholic's Full out with shoulder injury

Before this season, all of the lofty predictions about York Catholic's 2010 season were accompanied by one big if.

The Irish could compete for a YAIAA Division III title, if...

The Irish could contend in District 3 Class A, if...

The Irish could play with most teams in the area, if...

York Catholic could do all these things ... if they stay healthy.

Of course, some variation of that could be said for any football team. Every year, injuries alter the arc of the gridiron season. But the Irish, a Class A team with limited numbers, could be more susceptible than most to the injury bug. All it could take is a sprain here or a tear there to decimate a season.

And while it's way too early to panic, York Catholic is already looking at one key loss.

This time, the casualty is workhorse running back/linebacker Nick Full, who went down with a separated shoulder in the first quarter of the Irish's Week 1 loss to Kennard-Dale. Full will not play Friday in Catholic's pivotal Division III opener against Bermudian Springs. Irish coach J.D. Martin said Thursday he hopes to have Full back in about three weeks.

"Anytime you lose a three-year starter, he's going to be tough to replace because he's got all that experience," Martin said. "We've got young kids, that can play football. People do get hurt, starters get hurt. You gotta replace them."

Full is a key figure, who teams with with quarterback Adam Sentz and receiver Gary Laucks to form the core of this senior-heavy Irish team. Full also missed two games with an ankle injury last year, but still managed to run for a team-best 611 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sophomore Matt Lehr filled in for Full at tailback Friday, and ran for 92 yards and a score on 15 carries.

Where Full's absence would really be felt is on defense. He was a Division III all-star selection last year at linebacker.

Pure speculation here, but a smart target for Full's return might be York Catholic's Oct. 1 visit to Littlestown in Week 5, a team that gave every indication last week it's one of the teams to watch in Division III.

Before that, the Irish have games vs. Bermudian Springs, at Fairfield and vs. Hanover.