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09/13/2021 12:00 AMAfter being away from the gridiron for nearly two years, Branford football Head Coach John Limone said that the Hornets felt like they were home upon returning to the field this season. To build up that home and see his team achieve its third-straight winning season, Coach Limone knows that the Hornets need to be flexible and continue improving every day.
“For all of us, it felt like we came home. For our players and coaches, it’s such a huge part of our life. To get back out on the field, that’s what we were all looking forward to,” Limone said. “High school football is a lifestyle. It felt real good to be back out there. The kids have great energy. They’re excited to be back.”
Branford got its first taste of regular season action when the team faced Amity for its 2021 opener on Sept. 10. Although his squad took a 21-0 defeat, Coach Limone said that the Hornets fought hard until the final whistle and still have the potential to enjoy a solid season.
“We certainly looked like a team that hadn’t played in 21 months. Every single kid was in their first varsity start. We just have to play better and coach better if we want to get where we want to go,” said Limone. “It came down to red zone opportunities and turnovers that we didn’t cash in on. It was a tricky night, but I was happy with the level of competition. There’s good things on the horizon.”
The Hornets are being led by two senior captains, David McDonald and Cam Paleski. McDonald is a tight end/linebacker, while Paleski plays running back and linebacker. Coach Limone feels that both players are stepping up as leaders and filling the captain’s role admirably.
“Both of those guys are great kids. They have been great leaders for us so far,” Limone said. “Having missed their junior year, you’re a little worried if those kids are ready to take the next step. But they’ve been awesome. I couldn’t be happier with those guys.”
Junior Zachary Turbert is guiding the Hornets’ offense as their quarterback this year. Coach Limone said that Turbert is making strides under center and has displayed good arm strength and athleticism thus far. Branford’s backfield trio includes Paleski and fellow running backs Jermaine Smalls and Nathan Chieffo, who are both juniors.
In terms of pass catchers, Limone said that McDonald has looked great at the tight end position and is commanding that role. In a crop of talented wide receivers, Branford’s coach added that senior John Frawley is standing out.
The Hornets’ offensive line features senior Nathan Mathis and junior Calvin Bacote. Mathis is a tackle, and Bacote plays all over the line, mostly at guard. Coach Limone said that both athletes are leading the team in the trenches and providing the Hornets with a solid foundation up front.
On defense, McDonald is a standout at outside linebacker for Branford. Junior Drew Schwartz, who plays defensive end, has also been looking good thus far this year. The Hornets’ linebacking corps also includes Paleski and Smalls, who are the starters, alongside sophomore backups Cole Snider and Jeter DeCusati. Coach Limone feels that his linebackers are a major strength of his team.
Limone added that Branford has numerous playmakers in the secondary, specifically senior Kevin Lee, junior Chase Barnikow, and sophomore Nathan Florio. The Hornets’ defense features upperclassmen and some younger players, and Limone believes that mixture will help the team both this year and in the future.
“We’ve got a lot of guys playing across the board in terms of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. It’s a good mix in terms of age group, especially on defense,” said Limone. “They’re coming along how they should.”
Following his team’s loss to Amity, Coach Limone said that Branford will focus on the fundamentals going forward. While the Hornets featured a veteran team in 2019, none of the players on this year’s roster have significant varsity experience. Limone expects his team get up to speed as it continues gaining experience, and he feels that the results on the field will ultimately reflect that growth. Whether it’s on offense or defense, Limone wants the Hornets to be flexible and willing to play different brands of football, depending on both the opponent and the circumstance.
“The name of the game is flexibility. We try to have multiple schemes on both sides of the ball,” Limone said. “In this era of football, it’s about lining up to what you see and putting yourself in the position to succeed. We’re doing multiple things on both sides of the ball.”
Branford went 6-4 during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. As the Hornets dive into the 2021 campaign, Coach Limone wants his players to follow in the footsteps that those teams created, while building the Branford football program both on an off the field.
“A lot of hard work and pride went into having two winning seasons in a row. The bar was raised. We just have to continue getting better every week. With experience, execution will come,” said Limone. “The kids just want to push the program forward like the guys before them. They just want to improve the culture of this program. They want to leave it better than they found it.”
2021 Branford Football Schedule
Home games at Branford High School
Sept. 10: Amity 21, Branford 0
Friday, Sept. 17: at Foran at 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24: vs. Notre Dame- West Haven at 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 1: vs. Bethel at 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 15: vs. Lyman Hall at 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 22: vs. Brookfield at 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 5: at Avon at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 12: at Guilford at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 18: vs. Jonathan Law at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 25: at East Haven at 10:30 a.m.