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10/04/2017 12:00 AMThe Old Saybrook-Westbrook (OS-W) football team is off to another superb start in the 2017 season. One of the biggest factors behind the Rams’ early success has to do with the play of Victor Pascoe—an athlete who gets it done through the air, on the ground, and in the locker room as a rock-solid leader.
Victor, a senior at Old Saybrook, was a freshman when the Rams went through a winless campaign in 2014. However, OS-W has been on a winning trend ever since, including an 8-2 record in Victor’s junior year last fall. Now a senior captain, Victor has rushed for seven touchdowns and thrown for four scores, while averaging 10.2 yards a carry at the quarterback position. He’s also snagged two interceptions on defense as a safety for the Rams, who are 4-0 to begin the season.
“I like how football is more of a team game than other sports. In order to have a good play, the lines have to block, the quarterback has to throw, and the backs and receivers have to run and catch. I also like how it’s like life and that you have to keep on trucking after a hit,” says Victor. “The core of this team has been together since 4th grade, so we know each other. This is also our third year with this coaching staff, and the seniors are really the first product of that staff. Our lines have been blocking well, and everyone is contributing.”
Victor and the Rams started off this year on the right foot by posting a 49-14 rout over Gilbert-Northwestern in their season opener. Victor turned in a huge performance in the victory, rushing for 121 yards and three touchdowns to go with 127 passing yards and a TD. On top of that, Victor recorded an interception and came up with a stop on a 4th-and-1 goal-line stand.
“You always have those first-game jitters, but on our second play on offense, I threw a touchdown pass, and then the butterflies went away for me,” Victor says. “The game had a fun atmosphere with our fans, and a game like that helps with your confidence, but you can’t dwell on the past.”
The fact that he plays both under center and in the secondary helps Victor mentally prepare for when its time to hit the gridiron. Victor also applies all the leadership lessons he’s learned throughout the past three seasons in his capacity as a captain.
“At safety, I think about what would I do in a certain situation if I were the quarterback, and then the same thing about a safety when I’m the quarterback,” says Victor. “I was voted as captain by the players, so it’s a really great honor to have. I’ve tried to take what I’ve learned from the former captains and mold it into one thing. I just try to support everyone and make them feel important.”
While acknowledging that Victor is a first-class teammate, OS-W Head Coach Mike Marone is also pleased to see him guiding the Rams to victory given the relentless dedication that he displays 365 days a year.
“Victor Pascoe is a special person and a special football player. He has gifted athletic qualities that will carry us a good distance this season,” says Marone. “I am especially happy for his success because of the tremendous work ethic he puts in during the offseason in the weight room and during summer conditioning drills. Football aside, Victor is the ultimate gentleman.”
The Rams are hoping to make the playoffs this year, although Victor says they’re mostly focused on staying in the moment on a weekly basis. Victor appreciates how those first-year struggles propelled everyone in the program to strive toward reaching the highest plateau.
“We are taking things one game at a time. We have to focus on one game and not get too far ahead. We just worry about having fun and playing hard,” says Victor, who thanks his entire family, his coaches, and his teammates. “We went winless my freshman year, and we had to rethink. It was awful then, but it helped us have a lot of success. We hated that feeling and kept wanting to avoid it. We then went 8-2 last year, so it showed me you’ll find success if you keep working. It helped me never give up.”