For a Jamesville-DeWitt football program that is continuing to build a strong foundation for success, the 2016 season offered a reflection of that work – and a reminder that the hardest parts still lay ahead.
Even a 5-2 regular season, and a first-round Section III Class A playoff game, could not spare the Red Rams from an early exit at the expense of Carthage. That 28-14 loss gave J-D all the motivation it needed long before the 2017 schedule came out.
Then the Rams got a look at that schedule – and found that Carthage was the first opponent, again on home turf. This game on Friday carries more importance because Section III did away with the National and American divisions in Class A after New Hartford moved to Class B.
That leaves eight teams in Class A, and J-D will face all of them in a regular season expanded to eight games. The longer season means that only the top four finishers will continue into sectional play, and the Rams don’t want to get left out.
For head coach Eric Ormond, the big challenge is not about finding out the mindset of his team. Unlike previous years, he said that “collectively, they are more serious” about their tasks, which is helpful at the outset.
One big task is finding out who will start under center. Throughout August practices, three players – Adam Honis, Nick Brotzki and Brian Vespi – took snaps, and any one of them could end up at quarterback. What happens there affects other positions, said Ormond, so it’s better to have depth than have it all depend on one signal-caller.
Whoever does get that job will have the unique “Flex-Bone” system to work with, one that adapts to the style of the signal-caller, whether run-oriented or pass-oriented. The hope, said Ormond, is that the offense remains balanced and doesn’t depend solely on throwing or running the ball.
J-D has a solid ground game on hand, with Mike Anderson returning at tailback, Luke Smith and Jake Wright offering depth, and all three potential quarterbacks capable of taking off at any time. At wide receiver, Pat Murad, Zack Goodson, Scottie O’Bryan and Shane Wright are on hand.
There’s experience up front, too, with Stephen Baker, Ben Fleet and center Anthony Ciccione all returning on the offensive line, joined by Max Chirco and Corey Rinaldi. Amid J-D’s 3-5 defensive alignment, Rinaldi, Fleet and Baker form the core of the line.
Jake Wright, at linebacker, is a four-year starter, and that group will feed off Wright’s vast skill. Anderson is here, too, as is Mark Toscano, while Honis and Brotzki could see more action if not tied up with quarterback duties.
The Rams have a chance to have a stingy defense, returning both Smith and Goodson at cornerback, while Vespi roams at safety.
Again, the J-D schedule doesn’t provide favors, even with two home games to start with. Following Carthage, Auburn pays a visit Sept. 8, and the trip to ESM follows a week later, three games that will heavily define just how far the Rams can go.
As always, said Ormond, success will depend not just on performance, but good fortune in avoiding injuries. Do that, and J-D might finally reach the level of greatness the likes of ESM, Whitesboro and Indian River have enjoyed in recent years.
