Printer Friendly Version - Branford Football Looking for the Right Blend to Contend

Running back/linebacker Jackson Seward (left) is back for his senior season with the Branford football team and will serve as the Hornets’ lone captain this year. Branford kicks off the 2018 campaign with a home game against Lyman Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17. Also pictured for Branford is No. 77, sophomore Justin Osler. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

The Branford football team features an interesting mix of savvy veterans and varsity newcomers as the Hornets get ready to hit the gridiron for the 2018 season. On the one hand, Head Coach John Limone’s squad is returning some experienced players to key positions. On the other hand, Branford also has a boatload of sophomores who are diving into varsity fray for the first time. Limone said the Hornets are looking for their underclassmen to gain pivotal experience that will benefit the team in future seasons, but he also thinks that Branford has enough talent to put its fair share of wins in the books this year.

“When you look at some of the key positions like quarterback, middle linebacker, and strong safety, we have experience, and we also have some experience up front. But we also have a lot of sophomores who are learning the speed of varsity. I think it’s a really good mix, and I don’t think it’s too ambitious to say that we can win and develop at the same time,” said Limone, who enters his sixth season as Branford’s head coach following a 3-7 campaign. “Now, do I think we’re loaded for bear and can win eight or nine games and make the playoffs? Well, that’s to be seen. But I think we have a lot of potential, and it’s exciting to see the kids enjoying playing the game. It’s an exciting time for us.”

Branford kicks off its season with a home game against Lyman Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7. The Hornets will be led into battle by their six-athlete senior class that features fullback/linebacker Jackson Seward, two-way linemen Robert Olejarczyk, Sam Laska, and Max Warner; wide receiver/cornerback Rob Lionetti, and tight end/linebacker Chris Bouton. Seward is serving as Branford’s lone senior captain this season. Last year, he ran 89 times for 483 yards with nine touchdowns, in addition to recording 72 tackles on defense to make the All-SCC Tier 3 Team as a linebacker.

“Jackson is a difference maker for us. He’s physical, fast, and he’s been starting since he was a freshman. He’s always had the ability to lead by example, and now he’s figuring out how to be that outward leader,” Coach Limone said. “I don’t say this often, but I consider Jackson one of the best players in Tier 3 right now. We know the toughness he brings, we know the athletic ability he brings. He’s a spark plug.”

Junior Sean Kelly is back for his second go-round as the Hornets’ starting quarterback. As a sophomore, Kelly completed 75 passes for 1,276 yards with seven touchdowns and finished his season with an excellent performance in Branford’s 37-0 win versus East Haven on Thanksgiving. He also rushed for five TDs on the season. Much like Seward, Coach Limone had glowing reviews for Kelly as the QB gets ready to lead Branford down the field this fall.

“Sean has stepped into a big-time leadership role. He takes football seriously. He watches a lot of film and has gotten a lot better,” said Limone. “Sean is tough, physical kid with a tremendous arm. He’s more athletic this year and become a real student of the game. We really like him. We think he’s a special kid and, with the fact that he’s a junior and already has 10 games under his belt, we expect big things out of him.”

Along with Seward, Branford’s stable of running backs features three tailbacks in junior Spencer Landsbach, sophomore Kamryn Holes, and sophomore Nick Chieffo, each of whom saw a bit of varsity time on offense last season.

Last year’s top wide receiver, Danny Thomas, has graduated, and so Branford has several new receivers who are vying for spots. Senior Lionetti, juniors Aiden MacNeil and Cristian Torres, and sophomores Mekhi Barnette and Luke Volpe form the Hornets’ receiving corps. Senior Bouton is starting at tight end and will be backed up by sophomores Spencer Lyon and Cooper Robinson.

Branford returns three starters on its offensive line: junior left tackle Ian McDonald, junior center Rocco Lopez, and sophomore left guard Justin Osler. Sophomore Dan Schwartz will start at right tackle, while fellow sophomores AJ Robinson and Ryan Hanniford are both in the mix at right guard.

Overall, Coach Limone thinks that his offense will feature a more balanced attack than it did last year.

“We are very balanced in terms of the run and the pass right now,” he said. “We feel like Sean can shoulder more of the load for us, especially running the ball. We love our tailbacks and think we have threats in the backfield. Losing Danny is a tough loss, but we think we’ll be more spread out, which is a good thing. We have some experience, some kids are young, but there is a lot of athleticism.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the Hornets will rotate several players on the line, including Olejarczyk, McDonald, Osler, and Bouton (a linebacker who plays up front), who were all a part of the rotation last year, too. Lopez, sophomore Dylan Pyle, and sophomore Jamal Geathers are also defensive linemen for Branford.

Seward and Landsbach return to start for the Hornets at linebacker, a position at which Chieffo, junior Austin Bui, AJ Robinson, and sophomore Amari Phillips (who’s also a fullback) are competing for the other starting slot.

In the secondary, Lionetti will again start at cornerback, where Barnette and Torres are battling for the nod to start. MacNeil, who had three interceptions last year, is a returning starter and will slide over from free safety to strong safety, with Holmes starting at free safety. Volpe and sophomore Peyton Tracy also play safety for the Hornets, who will see junior Eli Hanlon handle the kicking and punting duties this year.

“I think we’re a little more athletic than we’ve been on defense. Holmes gives us another dynamic athlete back there,” said Limone. “The key for us will be to learn the game-plan and how well we prepare, but I think we can be good on D if we put the work in.”

In addition to his head-coaching duties, Limone also serves as Branford’s defensive coordinator. Gary Gravina is the offensive coordinator, fellow former Hornets’ head coach Mike Tracy coaches the linebackers, and Billy Ryan is the quarterbacks/cornerbacks coach. EJ Sattelberger is the special teams coordinator and also coaches the running backs, Padriac Keefe is the JV head coach and also coaches the varsity tight ends and defensive linemen, and Ryan Ferguson is Branford’s practice schedule coordinator.

• Branford is once again competing SCC Tier 3 with Bassick, East Haven, Guilford, Harding, Law, Lyman Hall, and Sheehan. Last year, the team went 3-3 in Tier 3 play. This season, the Hornets will play Lyman Hall, Law, Sheehan, and East Haven; in addition to facing Notre Dame-West Haven and Amity, who are in SCC Tier 1 and Tier 2, respectively; as well as non-conference opponents Stonington, North Branford, Pomperaug, and East Lyme. Branford’s game against North Branford will mark the first time the two crosstown foes have played since 1985.

• The teams in SCC Tier 1 are Cheshire, Fairfield Prep, Notre Dame-West Haven, North Haven, Shelton, West Haven, and Xavier. The SCC’s Tier 2 teams are Amity, Hand, Foran, Hamden, Harding, Hillhouse, and Cross.

• In the 2017 season, Branford notched victories against Law (45-21), Creed-Career-Whitney (23-6), and East Haven (37-0). The win against East Haven came in the 76th annual Thanksgiving Day meeting between the two rivals and gave the Hornets an all-time lead of 39-33-4 in the series.

Sean Kelly gained critical experience while playing quarterback for the Hornets as a sophomore last fall. Now, Kelly is looking to use what he learned last year to help move the sticks as he steps under center for his junior campaign. Photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound