Whether at East Syracuse Minoa or Jamesville-DeWitt, the mission for the varsity football programs at both schools in 2019 is clear – return to a regular habit of winning games.
They’re just trying to fulfill that mission in vastly different ways.
ESM is taking the conventional route. Having won plenty this decade, reaching at least the Section III Class A semifinals six out of seven years, the 3-6 campaign the Spartans went through in 2018 was jolting.
The reasons were simple enough. Lineman Logan Cowell said that the Spartans were “playing as individuals, not a team,” while running back Josh Gilkey said it was physical and mental mistakes that proved the main culprit.
Head coach Kevin DeParde echoed those thoughts. “”We had a lot of leadership issues and suffered the consequences,” he said.
Now, though, said Gilkey, things are fixed. “We’ve got a lot of new guys, and we’ve got everyone in the right spots on the field,” he said.
Another key, said Justin Smith, is “getting all of the younger kids to buy into our system. If we do that, we should be set.”
One of those younger players takes a central role right way. Tyler Bell, just a sophomore, is ESM’s new starting quarterback, and while he’s just 5-foot-9, DeParde said he has “a high football IQ” and has all the respect of his teammates, newcomers and veterans alike.
To make things easier for Bell, much will be put on senior running back Josh Gilkey, who will often be the single back as the Spartans will feature more of a spread offense than in seasons past.
That means more work for receivers like Mike Combs, Nolan Palmer and Nate Pullano, with lots of excitement for what sophomore Rocky El can do with pass catches and returns after a standout spring as a freshman on ESM’s track team.
They’ll work with an offensive line that has two converted skill players. Joe Copp moved from fullback to tackle, while Logan Lemelbaum switched from tight end and also will play at tackle. They flank sophomore center Chris Todd and Logan Cowell at guard, with Michael Cole and Dakota White rotating at the other guard spot.
Cowell returns on ESM’s defensive line, as does Lemelbaum and Cole, while Gilkey anchors the group at linebacker with Copp, Palmer and Jack Hager. Smith and Joe Derby work at cornerback with safeties Warren Canone and Jack Meloling.
Over at Jamesville-DeWitt, the Red Rams are also looking to rebound, this after winning just one game in 2018. But it won’t do so in the chief Class A division.
Along with Fulton, J-D has moved into Section III’s “Developmental League” for rebuilding programs. PSLA-Fowler, Oswego and Phoenix are the other teams in the division.
This means the Rams won’t be going for a sectional title, but there are plans to have a playoff for the top teams in the Developmental League in late October or early November.
Head coach Eric Ormond said his players, especially the veterans, have readily accepted this new challenge. “The seniors were very mature in understanding the situation,” he said. “They’ve accepted and embraced it.
One of those veterans, Ryan Vespi, returns at quarterback, surrounded in the backfield by the likes of Evan Dougherty and Marcus Payne and throwing to a receiver corps that includes returning starter Logan Wing, though many spots remain up for grabs.
Up front, Caleb Patterson and James Richer make for a talented pair of guards, while wrestling standout Alikhan Abdullayev takes over at one of the tackle spots and Jason Pritts lines up at center.
Patterson, Richer and Abdullayev will do plenty on the defensive line, too, while at linebacker many players are in the mix, including Scott Reeves and Mo El-Hindi. Vespi goes both ways, too, starting in the secondary with Wing and Dougherty.
J-D’s opener is not until Sept. 13 – against none other than ESM, who it’s beaten each of the last two years, this after the Spartans get underway this Saturday against visiting Rochester Edison Tech.
Ormond said success for J-D would get measured as much by the effort it puts out as the wins it might record. As for ESM, DeParde said his team must play tough up front in order to succeed against most of its Class A opponents, and also stay injury-free.
“It’s a physical league and the kids understand the challenge,” said DeParde. “If we stay healthy, we can compete with them, and if we can compete, anything is possible.”
