A remarkable building project took the West Genesee football team from zero wins in 2016 to an appearance in the Section III Class AA championship game just two years later.
Now, the task repeats itself.
When the Wildcats take the field Sept. 7 in its season opener at Horseheads, it will do so with 20 new starters. Most of the senior class that revived WG’s program has moved on, leaving it to their successors to maintain that high standard of performance.
Head coach Joe Corley said that the bond formed by those players in their youth football days built up to 2018 and keyed that trip to the sectional final.
“They were a family from a very young age,” said Corley. “We were so blessed to have it peak when it did (last year).”
Not even a defeat to Cicero-North Syracuse could dim what they had accomplished. To put a perspective on how good this group was, 12 different graduating seniors are now on various college football rosters this fall. Not even the 2007 state championship team could match that feat.
They are gone, though, and it’s up to a new group of starters to take charge, though, as Corley pointed out, many of them were on the roster a season ago and learned plenty from their elders about what it takes to compete and win.
Anthony Dattellas has taken over at quarterback, replacing Tyler Cook. Dattellas is already a proven varsity athlete, having helped WG’s boys lacrosse team reach the 2018 state Class A final before starting at safety for the football Wildcats during the fall.
Now Dattellas is under center, and is ready for it. “He provides tremendous leadership,” said Corley. “He’s the guy firing players up, controlling the huddle and playing in space. He has a great presence.”
To Dattellas himself, the secret of leadership is simple. “I play for the name on the jersey, not the number,” he said.
What helps is having junior Exavier Brumfield back at tailback. WG’s top rusher a season ago, Brumfield is expected to have plenty of carries this fall, and will have to prove his durability to go with the knack of breaking off big runs at any time.
When Dattellas throws the ball, he’ll often look for John Benson, who leads the Wildcats’ group of receivers. A starter on last winter’s state Class AA championship basketball team, Benson will draw lots of defensive attention, which should open things up for Nick Louise or other receivers.
But the prime challenge for WG is replacing every starter on both front lines.
On the offensive front, James Plunkett, Mike White, Jake Thomson, Mumin Hussein and Shawn Sakran all graduated. It’s up to tackles Majd Almlaiti and Peter Dwynell, guards Jack Hickey and Ahmir Gambino, and center Ryan Kot to step up right away.
Similarly, not having the likes of Areece Appleton and Cole Wade on the defensive line puts a lot on a new set of starters there, though Benson is likely to lead the group.
It’s a bit more settled at linebacker, where seniors Malin White and Dan Becker return. White said that the off-season was a productive one for his team, pointing out that 30 to 40 returning players were at weight-room sessions on a regular basis.
Even with his full-time quarterback duties, Dattellas will remain a starting safety, joined by Muhanad Hussein, while at cornerback the rotation should include Kevin Grobsmith, Jaiden Montalvo and Jack Sakran.
And no team in Section III might have a better kicker than Riley Small. He’s a threat any time the Wildcats get inside an opponent’s 30-yard line, with a career long of 44 yards and an ability to perhaps split the uprights from further back.
WG remains in the tough Class AA-2 division, meaning that its path runs through, among others, C-NS, Fayetteville-Manlius and Baldwinsville. What’s more, the Wildcats have just three home games, including the Sept. 13 home opener against Corcoran.
Corley said that the current players, having seen what their predecessors do in bringing WG’s program out of the basement, are bent on carving out their own winning legacy. Dattellas agreed.
“When we play with high intensity, I don’t know if anyone can beat us,” he said.
