When Nick Merchut was a senior at Bartlett (Ill.) High School, he caught 17 passes for the playoff-qualifying Hawks.

These days, that’s about two week’s worth of production for the Carthage senior, who has thrived in the pass-happy spread offense employed by the Red Men.

“It’s been tons of fun,” Merchut said. “It’s a receiver’s dream to play in an offense that throws 50 times a game.”

On Saturday afternoon, the Red Men will recognize 19 seniors when they play North Park in the final home game of the season at Art Keller Field.

Among those 19 players will be five receivers — Merchut, Jeff Koeneman, Rick Loisi, Chas Walton and Luke Musselman — who have combined for 527 receptions, 6,513 yards and 70 touchdowns in four seasons.

“The defensive coordinators in the league are going to be very happy in two weeks,” 15th-year Carthage coach Tim Rucks said. “That’s a lot of our yards and a lot of our touches. It’s mind-boggling how much of a big part of our offense they’ve been.

“They’ll be missed. I could coach another 100 years and not find another group of receivers like this.”

Koeneman is the school’s record-holder in receptions (236) and yards (2,736), while Merchut is tops in receiving touchdowns (36).

With two games remaining, the dynamic duo still have a chance to surpass the 1,000-yard mark for the second year in a row.

“We’re both rooting for each other at all times,” Koeneman said. “It’s nice to see the other one succeed.

“Records are nice to look at after the season. It’s fun to look back and feel good about yourself, but the real record is trying to get the wins. We can still finish with a 7-3 record. That’s really what our goal is the rest of the year.”

Thanks to his dependable wideouts, Carthage junior quarterback Evan Jones has posted some eye-popping numbers in his two seasons under center.

After passing for 2,957 yards (250-of-409) and 27 TDs last season, he is on pace to eclipse those marks with 2,737 yards (246-of-373) and 23 TDs this season.

Bending Jones’ ear for more passes has never been an issue.

“We really don’t nag the quarterbacks too much,” Merchut said. “They have to go through their reads. If the ball comes our way, it comes our way.”

Along with Koeneman and Merchut, Loisi has been a trustworthy No. 3 receiver.

While their numbers are not as prolific, Walton and Musselman have been dependable, combining for 40 catches for 390 yards.

The Red Men have a senior personnel package in their arsenal that uses all five senior receivers at the same time.

“It’s rare to find such a collective group of very, very good receivers,” Rucks said. “They’re all very talented. To have them all in one class, we’ve been pretty fortunate.

“I think defensive coordinators have to say, ‘Who do we defend?’ It’s hard to say that you’re going to double cover one because that leaves other areas open.”

Losing five talented receivers at once would make any coach nervous, but Mike Koeneman (Jeff’s brother), Chris Schulz and Tremper graduate Kyle Snell have all seen considerable playing time and are waiting in the wings.

“It’s not like the well will run dry,” Rucks said.