High school football 2009: Columbia Raiders
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COLUMBIA STATION — Last season, Columbia coach Jason Ward turned his team over to freshmen and sophomores.
The result was a 1-9 record — 1-6 in the Patriot Athletic Conference — that was very disappointing.
However, all those freshmen and sophomores are now battle-tested sophomores and juniors, which allows Ward to feel the tide’s about to turn.
“When you start eight sophomores and two freshmen on both sides of the ball, a 1-9 record isn’t much of a surprise,” said the fourth-year coach. “But, they all started at least nine games last season.
“We went to them early on and made a commitment to them to build around them and get them that Friday night game experience they normally wouldn’t get. I’m sure it will pay off in the years to come.”
Ward used freshmen at quarterback (John Banyasz) and running back (Brandon Heidinger) last season, and sophomores at wide receiver (Brian Severo, Brandon Clark — who led the team in receptions — and Anthony Jaeger).
“We have a lot of guys and a lot of talent coming back that should improve our record,” Ward said. “We set a goal to go 1-0 every week, and we certainly feel we have the talent to do that. If we take it week to week, we can stay grounded. The rest will take care of itself.”
However, the Raiders only have three seniors on the roster. Senior co-captain Ethan Garafolo, a wrestling state qualifier at 215 pounds last season, is back to anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. The rest of the leadership and experience will come from the junior class.
“I feel that you usually play varsity when you’re a junior or senior,” said junior co-captain Nick Cooper, an inside linebacker. “But, not as a sophomore. Having that extra year of (varsity) experience under our belts will be helpful, but also knowing what it’s like to lose is motivating. We don’t want to experience that. We’re motivated to win.”
Ward said that going through the pain of a 1-9 season with many players not quite ready for varsity could have resulted in a lot of them quitting. But he got a 100 percent turnout from his junior class this season.
“We’re a tad on the young side, but that’s OK,” Ward said. “Coaches like to say they’re only as good as their junior class, and I can say with confidence that we can stack ours up against anybody’s, that’s for sure.”
The junior class has been playing football together since the pee-wee leagues. Based on that, they feel a strong bond with one another that translates on and off the football field.
“It’s the love of the game and the love we have for each other,” Cooper said. “I love all these guys, but my class, we have a special bond with each other. We never quit and never give up on one another. We always find ways to pull through and win in the end.
“Even though it’s been a struggle so far, we all can come back for this year and next, and build on what we’ve learned. I’m really looking forward to this season.”
Also, with an underclassmen-laden team, they can establish their own traditions and wipe the slate clean for future players.
“If you can show the underclassmen that you can have a grade full of players who stick together and lift each other up, that carries over for years,” Cooper said. “Someone has to step up and be leaders when there isn’t many upperclassmen, and that can be seniors or freshmen.”
His young players share the optimism that Ward has as well. The Raiders could very well be the most experienced team, based on returning seniors, in the area next season. However, they are expecting results a little bit sooner than that.
“Every year, you learn what you have to do to win and what you have to do different from before,” Cooper said. “Every turn that we take, we take it in a good way. We learn from our mistakes of the past and present.
“I feel that if everyone does their part and believes in the team and themselves, things will turn around here.”
Columbia Raiders
- Coach: Jason Ward, 4th year
- Conference: Patriot Athletic, Stripes Division
- 2008 record: 1-9, 1-6
- Fast fact: Ward is looking to reverse the slide his teams have had during his first three years at Columbia — 6-4 in 2006 and 3-7 in ’05.
Schedule
- Aug. 29: at Cle. C. Cath.
- Sept. 4: at G’wich S. Cen.
- Sept. 11: Newbury
- Sept. 18: Black River
- Sept. 25: at Keystone
- Oct. 2: at Clearview
- Oct. 9: Oberlin
- Oct. 16: Buckeye
- Oct. 23: at Brooklyn
- Oct. 30: Lutheran West
Contact Dan Gilles at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.
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