LORAIN — Step by step, year by year, Admiral King’s football fortunes have been on the rise.
Coach Mark Campo’s first year finished without a victory in 2004 but the Admirals improved to three wins in ’05, five in ’06 and six last year. The fruits of Campo’s labor may really pay dividends this year.
“This is the first time we’ve been a senior team since I’ve been here,” he said, noting King has 24 on the roster. “The most we’ve had previously was 12 and of the 24 seniors we have, most of them can play and they have played. We have some experience.”
Admiral King has experience on both sides of the ball. It has size and speed. Some of the discipline problems that cropped up in the middle of last season appear to be behind the Admirals.
“It’s a learning process,” said Campo. “We had some success at the end two years ago. Last year at the beginning we had some success — hit a little lull — we didn’t handle things real well.
“Might have been my fault — kids get a little caught up in winning and what they read about themselves. It was a lesson we learned. I think these kids understand you have to play every time you step on the field and that you have to prepare. The seniors have been fantastic. They’ve been preparing since December in the weight room.”
“We’ve grown stronger as a team,” said senior fullback/linebacker John Gerber. “We can find our holes, run through the gaps and with seven home games — it’s going to be great. We’re looking for a good season. For sure we’ll be above .500.”
That’s right. Admiral King’s schedule has seven home games. The Admirals open with three straight games at George Daniel Field — Toledo Start and Toledo Scott along with Berea — and they finish the year with three home games — Lake Erie League games vs. Warrensville Heights, Bedford and Southview. In between, King travels to Sandusky in Week 4, hosts Marion Harding in Week 5 and visits Shaw and Maple Heights in Weeks 6 and 7.
“Seven home games,” said two-way tackle Sheldon Ball. “You can’t get much better than that. We’ve done a lot of weight-room work — a lot of lifting, a lot of running and after weightlifting getting together — doing things as a team. We have so many seniors back and so many starters back.”
It’s an optimism that has not been felt at Admiral King for a long time.
“We feel like this is going to be our year,” said Chris Kimbro, a two-year starting cornerback. “We’ve put in the work and we’re playing better as a team. We should get over the hump this year. We’re confident.”
“This is definitely the year for us,” echoed offensive tackle Andre James.
King prepared for the season with scrimmages at North Ridgeville and Amherst. Campo was pleased with the progress made.
“We ran the ball well,” he said after the North Ridgeville scrimmage. “I believe you have to run the ball to win. Everything will feed off our ability to run the football. We have to work a little bit on our passing game. Defensively, our Achilles’ heel has been stopping the big play. That’s what we have to work on.”
With the seniors leading the way, Campo feels the past three years have been worth the work.
“They know the system especially the offense for three years, four years,” Campo said. “I think we’re ready.
“The other thing this year, we have competition for positions. These kids know there is somebody right on their heels. They’ve got to bust their butt. It makes us a better football team.”
Admiral King has an air of quiet confidence about it and Campo is anxious to start.
“There are no excuses,” Campo said. “We’ve got to come out and play football. This is what we’ve worked for.”
Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

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