Talented and experienced across the offensive line, at wide receiver and at running back, St. Thomas’ offense will be relying on an inexperienced quarterback this season to allow the unit to be all it can be.

Based on Saturday’s spring game at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, there is work to be done at that vital position.

Sophomore Amari Powell is in line to replace last year’s starter, Cade Sexauer, who was lost to graduation. While he made some good throws in the controlled scrimmage, Powell’s lack of accuracy was glaring.

“If I hadn’t seen a high level of accuracy through the first four weeks of spring ball it would have been a major concern,” head coach Glenn Caruso said. “I didn’t think Amari had his best day. Most of his inaccuracies come from the waist down, and the footwork — or the lack there of. We’ve got to work on that.”

Powell didn’t disagree with his coach’s assessment.

“Today we weren’t really clicking, in terms of the receivers and running backs,” he said. “I definitely have to do a better job with that. It’s been a good spring, but today just didn’t go the way I wanted it to. I’m disappointed in myself. The team did a great job.”

Caruso and Powell would like to write it off as just a bad day.

“In the first two scrimmages I think he shined very bright,” Caruso said. “It wasn’t even the throws he made, it was the interceptions he didn’t throw or the sacks he didn’t take.”

Generously listed at 6-foot-1 on the team roster, Powell also had some balls batted down at the line of scrimmage on Saturday, which could be another area of concern. Prior to Saturday, Caruso said Powell’s play had improved in that area — and in general — as spring ball progressed.

“I think vision in the pocket was a big one,” he said. “He is first and foremost a pocket passer who can run, and you have to find ways to create visual windows for him. Also, as a (redshirt) freshman, your job is not about stats, it’s about winning the starting job. In order to do that you have to be able to run the offense efficiently.”

Caruso said that, as of right now, Powell is the starter. The current backup, sophomore Travis Plugge, also had a rough day.

“I thought Travis had a really below-average day today,” Caruso said. “Very below average. And he just came off his best week. That’s disappointing. But he’ll compete in the fall. But also, the two quarterbacks we have coming in, Michael Rostberg and Tak Tateoka, will be competing for reps, too.”

Nate Elmes, a transfer from Minnesota-Duluth, was also provided an opportunity to vie for the quarterback job this spring but has been moved to tight end.

Caruso said it is unlikely that either of the incoming freshmen will be able to earn the starting job by the season opener. But a scenario could play out, he said, where one of them emerges as the backup by Week 1 and takes over as the starter sometime during the season.

Briefly

>> The Tommies defense won the day after coming off what Caruso said was a rough week. The defense was a force last season, and a majority of its starters return.