Having that playoff experience on the roster is an enormous advantage in those close games, the confidence that you’ve been there before and knowing how to reach down and gut one out… the problem is the build to that can be slow and painful at times. I always thought the 2019 West team goes further if they had that experience, but they were the trailblazers on a rebuilding path just like this year’s Easton team. But as the young guys on that year’s team came up and were used to playing in big games… even if they were just on the sidelines soaking in the atmosphere, it all helps and they started winning playoff games every year. Fantastic year for Easton and incredible turnaround by Seneca and his staff. A conference championship in your league is nothing to sneeze at, and a big win over P’Burg would be a great ending. We’ll see you next August in Easton.
I was saying to my brother, if you told me before the season that they’d go 10-2, be the top seed in the D11 tournament, and be a missed 2 point conversion away from going to the final, I’d say that was an insanely successful year.
From the thread where they hired Senneca in 2023, I responded to somebody with this: “This isn’t a “can they make state playoffs in 2023” this is “can they be in a position to win state playoff games in 2026.” Well, they probably should have made the state playoffs in 2023!
Also from that thread.
“I do think there’s a chance that Senneca really pops. He knows the game, and he’s got deep connections in Valley football. I’d like to see things like him bringing Frank Lane onto the coaching staff, hiring a DC who is adept at scheming against spread offenses, and making a splash with what he does on the offensive line. And if by year three they have an 8-2 regular season, and it looks like that’s becoming the norm, now we might be off and running.”
1. He didn’t hire Frank Lane, who was the OC at resurgent Liberty. I’d still love Frank to come home someday.
2. Bryan Falcone is still the DC, but I think Matt and his dad have way more say on defense. I still think they could improve on this side of the ball.
3. Mike Fleming (and the elevation of Bob Stroble) has been a splash hire on the offensive line. The kid is really good. Never should have been a head coach as a 25 year old (Wilson keeps doing that) but he gets a lot of credit for this turnaround. And if Seneca has a successful run here and moves on, Fleming might be the next head coach.
4. Year 2 was a 9-1 regular season, so ahead of schedule.
They bring back on offense QB Cole Ordway, WR Andrew Biddle, TEs Kurtis Crossman and Justin Cosover, OLs Algee Macon, Elijah Grovesnor, and Gavin Crosson. Macon, Crossman, and Crosson were all league players, and Ordway improved a ton. Cosover might end up in the Will Day spot next year as the bigger running back, he played fullback coming up. Sean McPeek probably takes over one of the big receiver spots after playing tons of defensive back as a sophomore. Real question on offense is running back, do they potentially move freshman QB Zahviay McGurn to play there if he’s going to sit another year behind Ordway, or does that slow his development as the next quarterback? Three offensive line starters coming back is huge. I wonder if Crossman bulks up more and ends up at tackle or if they have somebody else in mind.
Defensively, back is DEs Algee Macon, Kurtis Crossman, and Anthony Diaz, and DBs Sean McPeek and Andrew Biddle. Cosover at linebacker and Skyler Fowlin at defensive back (he was their 3rd corner) seem like obvious guys to step in. Again, really nice group in the trenches with probably the best two returning defensive linemen in D11 not named Robert Edwards. But a lot to replace there.
t.co
t.co
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