The Alexander High School football team needs to step up to fill the roles vacated by last year’s seniors. But the rising starters have experience of their own.
After losing star tailback Cody Lawson, quarterback Mike Chapman, kicker Josiah Yazdani and seven other seniors, the Spartans knew heading into this year that younger players would have to carry the load.
After a 2-0 start to the season, including a 62-22 win against Huntington last week, the Spartans are starting to prove they are able to replace talent with players ready to tackle the task.
“A lot of kids played last year due to injury,” coach Sean Arno said. “With the senior class graduated, a lot of those kids were hurt last year throughout the season and kids were forced to step up.”
Preparation in the offseason might have also contributed to Spartan success because Arno said his team worked hard during the summer in order to be prepared for the fall.
“We had a tremendous offseason — the best ever since I’ve been here,” Arno said.
In last week’s blowout of Huntington, Arno said his team played well but that the key to continued success will be taking it one game at a time.
“I’m telling you it’s, ‘Here’s the opponent, take care of the business,’ and that’s what their focus is,” Arno said.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s game against Unioto, the Spartans hope the experience those players gained last season can carry over to a win.
“The opponent that we’re facing this week hit us at a bad time last season — we had a lot of injuries — and beat us in overtime by one point,” Arno said. “So hey, we’re not looking ahead other than this weekend.”
The Spartans will take on the Sherman Tanks in a rematch of last year’s overtime loss. After Alexander faces Unioto, the team will hit the road for a two-game road trip.
All Athens-area teams in the Tri-Valley Conference Ohio Division this season have started the 2011 campaign 2-0.
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