After ending a 10-year playoff drought last year, the Roncalli football team is looking to avenge its opening-round loss last year.
The Jets went 6-2 last year and looked poised to make a deep run in the postseason.
However, it all ended suddenly when the 3-win Shiocton Chiefs stunned the state with a 20-13 upset win, ending the dream season.
But this year, the Jets are ready, says Head Coach Paul Kinsella.
“A lot of our kids are three, four-year starters and (have) a lot of experience, a lot of maturity,” he explained. “They were able to refocus and lock down and kind of kind of get us back on track where we needed to be.”
The Coach predicted a hard-fought, physical battle.
“They’re definitely small-town football, which is a different feel than some of the things we have,” Kinsella noted. “They’re not super complicated. They’re pretty straightforward and the things they want to do, but they’re pretty good at it. You can tell they’ve been coached hard, and they play hard.”
Senior Sawyer Vandrisse has been a force on both sides of the ball, rushing for over 1,000 yards and leading the team in tackles with 67.
But for him, it’s all about fulfilling a dream he and his classmates have had since they were little.
“We’ve always been told it’s not good enough. Last year obviously wasn’t good enough,” the running back and linebacker explained. “This team is filled with grit and we work hard and we expect big things.”
His classmate, offensive and defensive lineman Hayden Dewane, agreed, specifically noting their commitment to getting stronger.
“We’ve always been lifting, since we were young, starting seventh grade,” he revealed. “Been lifting with my friends ever since, and it obviously shows on the field.”
Kannon Kinsella, who plays tight end and defensive end, has a simple message for the younger players as he and his classmates look to etch their name into Roncalli athletics history.
“I don’t like when people say like do it for the seniors because the seniors do it for them…just do it for each other,” he told SeehaferNews.com.
Coach Kinsella is stressing the importance of being prepared and focused once the whistle sounds.
“If we don’t take care of our business and we’re not ready to play, anything can happen.”
The Roncalli Jets versus the Royall Panthers from Ron Rubick Field will be aired tonight on 1240 WOMT and WOMTRadio.com starting at 6:45 p.m.
