On a clear, cool October evening at Patterson Field in East Liverpool, the Linsly middle school football team erupted into jubilation, having just completed a perfect 8-0 football season by defeating the host Potters, 22-8 on Wednesday evening.
While winning them all is certainly a good enough reason for any team to celebrate, the Cadets also had reason to take a moment and appreciate not only what they’d done, but how they’d done it which made things so special.
“The work this group put in – from summer lifting & conditioning sessions, through August practices and into the grind of each week – was a joy to be a part of. Our goal is always just to be the best team on the field each week and to see them achieve that was very special to all of us.”, said Head Coach Kevin Kendzerski, who piloted the Cadets to perfection in his third season at the helm.
While the Cadets knew they had talent coming into the season, the challenge was to get game ready as quickly as possible to prepare for a long season and difficult schedule.
In their opening game against an always-staunch Indian Creek team, the would-be perfect season almost ended as quickly as it began. While the Cadets took an 8-0 lead into the half, a Redskin scoring drive that gobbled up the entire third quarter ended with a failed conversion attempt, preserving an 8-6 lead for the Leatherwood eleven. Even as Linsly attempted to put the game away, an untimely turnover set up Creek in the red zone where it took a final minute interception to preserve win number one.
Following that narrow escape, the Orange & Black set sail on a four-week wrecking path, leaving in their wake Buckeye Local (34-6), the Jr. Knights (48-0), Pleasants County (42-16), and Toronto (44-8). While the scoreboard tallies were lopsided, injuries played a part throughout that stretch and left the Cadets shorthanded, prompting lineup changes and thrusting younger team members into roles on gameday.
“We hit a stretch in the season where each game we were losing a starting player to injury. Every time that happened, our remaining players took on an even bigger role, a younger player stepped in, and we didn’t miss a beat. Our coaches made sure that the next man up was always ready to go.”, said Kendzerski.
In game six, facing a road challenge at Beaver Local, the Cadets found themselves somewhat outsized, but managed to execute to perfection, pulling away late in an 18-6 game that the Head Coach described as “the moment we formed into a complete team from the first whistle to last.”
After a 36-0 drudging of Weir, the stage was set for a showdown with East Liverpool. The Potters were undefeated in BMC Conference play and captured the large school division championship while the Cadets had already garnered the title in the small school division. While the BMC doesn’t conduct football playoffs, this matchup would serve as a de facto championship game with both teams seeking ultimate bragging rights with a win.
Momentum favored the Potters early as they took advantage of Linsly turnover before a deep pass found the endzone to put them ahead 8-0, leaving the Cadets trailing for the first time this season. The struggles didn’t end there, as the Linsly offense struggled to move the football against a suffocating East Liverpool defense.
Late in the second quarter, Kendzerski’s crew found themselves in unfamiliar territory. Trailing and without a first down, he noted, “You don’t see many middle schools swarm to the ball on defense like East Liverpool. We noticed a few things we thought were there but would need some tweaks to make them work. During a timeout, Coach (Jason) Wade made an adjustment to our blocking scheme, and we just told them to take a deep breath and execute.”
It turned out to be the right move as the ensuing Cadets drive found paydirt late to tie the game at eight in the waning moments of the second quarter. Linsly then started the second half on offense, and clicked off an almost seven-minute drive to find the endzone again, making it 16-8. After a defensive stop, the Cadets cashed in once more, extending the lead to 22-8, where it would remain, to clinch the 8-0 season.
All told this season, Linsly outscored its opponents 252-50.
Kendzerski said of his players effort throughout the year, “From day one until the end, this team was willing to do whatever it took to be the best they could be. The desire and effort they showed every day of the season is something a coach dreams of, and I consider myself lucky to be a part of it”.
He also remarked that the squad wasn’t comprised simply of a single player who was the focal point with a supporting cast around them, but rather a team where all his stars shined bright. A point proven well by the show of versatility the Cadets unleashed.
“Throughout the season, this group allowed us to make any call at any time on both sides of the ball and have the confidence that they were going to execute the way they were taught to. We weren’t a one man show, by any means. It takes an entire team to win, and these guys are living proof of that. From the first team to the scout team, everyone here contributed to make this the great season that it was.”
A stellar passing attack was spearheaded by Connor Nelson at the quarterback position. The Linsly receiving corps, never short on targets, featured Dominic Fato, Roman Sauvageot, Skyler Hunter, and Rocco DeFranco.
In the backfield, Georgie Mamakos and Brock Humphrey did the damage from the tailback spot and Bruno DeFranco lined up in any number of positions to rush and receive his way to an outstanding season.
Blaise Holt and Tairee Smith were called upon as 7th graders to fill in when injuries plagued the team mid-season.
Elliott Wade anchored the offensive & defensive line, along with eighth graders Carson Sauvageot, Cooper Riesbeck, and Evan Murray. Donte McCabe and Gunnar Glasser also saw significant time on the offensive & defensive lines, respectively as seventh graders.
The team roster was rounded out by Colton Swoyer, Alex Wood, Evan Cottrill, Maguire Palian, Gabriel Crile, Dash DeFranco, Chase Valentine, Casey Yanko, and manager Konner Hunter.
Kendzerski was assisted on his coaching staff by Dave Riethmiller, Jason Wade, Scott Holt and Eric Cottrill.
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