|
|
|
There’s a new sheriff in town.
John Dowd, the former Oakfield Alabama varsity football coach, arrived in Spencerport last spring to take over the reigns of a football team that has won just three games in the past two seasons. The difference is already evident.
“It’s been much better to say the least,” said senior captain Rob Riggio. “The attitude has changed a lot, it’s more of a winning, championship-like attitude this year.”
It’s not surprising that the talk around camp is a change in attitude.
Dowd brings his ridiculous 50-12 record and two sectional championships with the Hornets to Spencerport, a town that has never won a title. Known primarily as a soccer town, the new head man wants to share the prosperity with the perennially successful boys and girls soccer teams.
“We can share it with them, it doesn’t have to be just a soccer town,” Dowd said. “We’d like to be known as a football town as well. I’m here for the long haul, but we’re hoping not to have growing pains.
“We’re expecting to come out and be competitive right away.”
There are a couple of things working in his favor.
Dowd has completely overhauled the offense, which was a combination of pro and spread, and instituted his proven successful double wing. The double wing is an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses because it is based on confusion and misdirection.
“Our offense favors smaller, quicker linemen,” Dowd said. “You use a lot of angled blocks and double teaming that actually favors smaller, quicker linemen.
“And we have shifty backs which is all you need.”
Those shifty backs include Riggio, a converted wide receiver, as well as tailbacks Sam Triassi and Phil Ngo. Ngo, who backed up St. John Fisher freshman Cody Miller last season, carried the ball the most in 2009 and believes that the winning can begin now.
“That’s the main focus right now is to make sectionals,” Ngo said. “Knowing that we have a good senior class, last year we didn’t really play together, this year we’re going to strive for a better record.”
Riggio is a returning captain and is one player that Dowd is leaning on to be a leader on the field. He is one of the quickest Rangers with the ball in his hands and he will be one of the running backs in the two-headed monster that is the double wing.
There’s a new sheriff in town.
John Dowd, the former Oakfield Alabama varsity football coach, arrived in Spencerport last spring to take over the reigns of a football team that has won just three games in the past two seasons. The difference is already evident.
“It’s been much better to say the least,” said senior captain Rob Riggio. “The attitude has changed a lot, it’s more of a winning, championship-like attitude this year.”
It’s not surprising that the talk around camp is a change in attitude.
Dowd brings his ridiculous 50-12 record and two sectional championships with the Hornets to Spencerport, a town that has never won a title. Known primarily as a soccer town, the new head man wants to share the prosperity with the perennially successful boys and girls soccer teams.
“We can share it with them, it doesn’t have to be just a soccer town,” Dowd said. “We’d like to be known as a football town as well. I’m here for the long haul, but we’re hoping not to have growing pains.
“We’re expecting to come out and be competitive right away.”
There are a couple of things working in his favor.
Dowd has completely overhauled the offense, which was a combination of pro and spread, and instituted his proven successful double wing. The double wing is an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses because it is based on confusion and misdirection.
“Our offense favors smaller, quicker linemen,” Dowd said. “You use a lot of angled blocks and double teaming that actually favors smaller, quicker linemen.
“And we have shifty backs which is all you need.”
Those shifty backs include Riggio, a converted wide receiver, as well as tailbacks Sam Triassi and Phil Ngo. Ngo, who backed up St. John Fisher freshman Cody Miller last season, carried the ball the most in 2009 and believes that the winning can begin now.
“That’s the main focus right now is to make sectionals,” Ngo said. “Knowing that we have a good senior class, last year we didn’t really play together, this year we’re going to strive for a better record.”
Riggio is a returning captain and is one player that Dowd is leaning on to be a leader on the field. He is one of the quickest Rangers with the ball in his hands and he will be one of the running backs in the two-headed monster that is the double wing.
Because the new offense is mostly running, Riggio could also provide steady hands for a rare and surprising passing play.
“With our class we always had the feeling that our class could turn it around,” Riggio said. “We always think every season that we’re going to make something special out of it, but we’re definitely going to make something special out of it this year.”
Triassi is a third captain and “wing back” who is excited to execute the double wing because of the element of surprise. Though it took the players a minute to figure out how the offense works, they now see why it was so successful at Oakfield.
“The first couple of weeks we didn’t know where the ball was going,” Triassi said. “It’s going to be tough to stop it.”
Dowd has had a smooth transition in the offseason because of the three senior leaders as well as linemen Nick Hall and Joe Buchel. Desperate for a winning season, the players have worked arduously in the summer weight room sessions and captain’s practices.
If there was ever a time to turn around a hard knock program, it’s now.
“I think the kids themselves have been working out harder,” Dowd said. “I get a sense from the kids, that they’re sick of losing and they want to get on the winning track. They want to be the team that turns it around.
“The potential for us to be excellent is there.”
Last 10 years
2009: 1-7
2008: 1-7
2007: 2-7
2006: 4-5
2005: 3-5
2004: 2-7
2003: 0-8
2002: 3-6
2001: 7-1
2000: 5-3
