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07/20/2020 12:00 AMIn 2019, the Old Saybrook-Westbrook (OS-W) football team had a challenging season with plenty of bright spots. The Rams ended up with an overall record of 3-7 to go with a mark of 3-3 in the Pequot Conference Sassacus Division. OS-W also defeated Morgan in the 19th annual Shoreline Cup Thanksgiving matchup. In 2020, the Rams expect some significant turnover after graduating 10 seniors, but are hoping to improve on last year’s results with a talented younger crop of players.
This week marks the beginning of conditioning training for OS-W. Head Coach Mike Marone and his staff will be helping his players prepare their bodies for the physical rigors of the upcoming season, whatever form that will take.
“Coaches are there, and we’ll be running the workouts. It will smaller groups. All the coaches will be available and each will be taking a small group. It’s really conditioning without footballs. It’ll be strictly running, otherwise we would have to wipe down everything that we touch if we were using additional equipment. Can’t hit a bag and then wipe it down for every single kid, or we would be there forever. We just want them to run and get in condition for Aug 17 opening.”
Coach Marone will be looking to his senior captains, receiver/defensive back Davonte Mitchell and receiver/quarterback/defensive back Anthony Glorioso, to help set the example for the rest of the squad.
“We have two returning starting seniors, and they are our captains. There are other seniors that have indicated that they want to return to the team, and other seniors that will be new to the team this fall,” said Marone. “Davonte Mitchell’s contributions last year were as a receiver for a team that runs the triple option. He’s a very good kid. He’ll play both side of the ball this year. Anthony Glorioso is going to be ready to go. We’re hoping to come up with a quarterback through the younger kids, but if they’re not ready, then Anthony will be the quarterback. His biggest strength is his speed and versatility.”
One of the biggest challenges for Coach Marone before the outset of the season has been the diminished contact he’s been able to have with both his existing athletes and potential recruits. With school canceled in March, much of the early contact that Marone would have had at the middle school level hasn’t been able to happen.
“I’ve had limited contact, and for some there’s been no contact. I’ve spoken to and called many players, but I don’t know definitively who’s showing up yet,” Marone said. “We’re handling it as it comes, and we’re prepared as if everybody was coming.”
Of course, Marone is concerned that many of the Rams will be starting from behind the 8-ball. Athletes have had a long layoff from organized physical activity with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc to everyone’s ability to workout in public spaces like gyms. In the limited contact that Marone has been able to have, he feels confident that the Rams will be in good shape.
“This is really late. When it comes to conditioning, you can’t make up for lost time. These kids aren’t going to be stronger than they were in January. If you don’t condition all summer, you’re not going to catch up,” said Marone. “You start from zero and go forward, but everybody’s in the same boat. I haven’t directed them to do it, but I know that the kids have been working out on their own time.”
Marone believes that OS-W is in a better position than they were last season because the team’s offensive and defensive philosophies have been firmly established. Besides some slight adjustments, most of his returning players should have a good handle on the Rams’ approach.
“The benefit is that we have established a program where our offense is the same. There are no changes. I won’t have to do a lot of teaching,” Marone said. “The defense is going to be basically the same, but there are always some nuances to add because of the skills of other teams. We should be the same team as last year and the year before. When we come back, the kids will know what we will be working on.”
The Rams will have their fair share of returning linemen this year. Last season had several Rams learning their positions on the field, but this year, Coach Marone anticipates that many of them will be year older and more comfortable in their positions. Some of the mainstays on the line will include juniors Richard Potvin at center, Evan McIntyre, and Gregor McCormick. Other returning juniors who should make an impact are Charlie McMahon and Andrew Carter.
“We had three lineman and two kids who weren’t lineman that filled in. That was tough last year. Our freshman and sophomore classes are the future of our team. We had some good juniors that are going to play and start for us this year too like Gregor, Charlie, and Evan,” Marone said. “It looks like there are about seven juniors this year. So it’s a small class. The sophomores are going to be the strength of the program with 15 of them coming back. In that class, there are some very good football players.”
Marone believes that the Rams’ biggest strength is their love of the game. That should translate once they take the field. Marone just hopes that the state continues to trend in the right direction to keep the hopes of a fall season alive.
“I’m going to be looking forward just having a football season to start. That’s the biggest thing. Once that’s determined, we’ll do whatever it takes; wear masks, social distancing, and all that. Our state is doing really well, so I hope they’re able to pull this off,” said Marone. “The kids in our town that play football are true football players. The ones that come out, love to play, and because of their desire and great attitude and effort, we’ll be just fine. That will lead us to a winning season. That’s the goal.”