Football Feature: Chillicothe Cavaliers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Not too often do you see a group of players like they have in Chillicothe.
There is a group of players suiting up for the Cavaliers who were forced to gain varsity experience as underclassmen. They are a group who don't just want to win now, but who realize winning games is a process and want what is best for the program for not only in '12, but the best for future generations.
A group of two seniors (Luke Barnes and Jack Stetzer) and three juniors (Ryan Mathis, Caylib Holt and Julius Lee) look at this season as a year of improvement, where they want to put the program back in the right direction as they are coming off a 3-7 season.
[[In-content Ad]]"Bottom line is we need to win … we need to find a way to win," Mathis, the junior quarterback said. "I'm just going to try to lead the team the best way I can on offense. I just want to do whatever I can to help us win and have a good season."
His teammates agreed.
"We need to get our wins up and go from there," Holt said.
"I'm not the biggest leader, but all I know is we need to win games," Barnes said. "I'll lead by example and do whatever it takes to do to help the team."
"We need to win games this year, like always. We just need to improve as a team, and if this year isn't it, help the guys on the team get ready for next year because maybe that can be the year," Stetzer said.
"I just want to have a positive year and do better than last year … keep it going," Lee said.
As for two of the seniors on the team, they spoke about how not only do they want to have a positive season their final year as a Cavalier, but what they can do for the future of the program.
“It's going by really fast, faster than anything I've ever been though," Barnes said. "I just want to leave it all out on the field with no regrets at all."
"I have to agree it’s going by way too fast, but I just want to remember the people I’ve met and hope I've made an impact to better the program in the future," Stetzer said.
Last season for this group and their teammates was one of learning as they began the '11 season with five consecutive losses but rebounded in the second half of the year with a 3-2 mark in their final five games. The players didn't let that fact go unnoticed as they looked back at last season, knowing that they learned many valuable lessons they can use for this season.
"Last year gave us experience that a lot of sophomores don't usually get," Mathis said. "Being a sophomore quarterback last year, you don't understand how much that helped me going into this year … by just getting to start last year. Hopefully that can help make us stronger for this year because that experience just helps everything."
"The experience makes you look forward to what's going to happen so you can be more prepared," Holt said.
"It taught us a lot more about unity, how to play more as a unit, and not as an 'I' team," Barnes said.
"Last year showed me even if you keep working hard at something, you can do what you want to do and improve," Stetzer said.
"Last season just showed me varsity is a whole new ball game compared to JV and freshman," Lee said. "We got that experience early, and that will help us the next couple years."
Getting to this point of their varsity career has been a different journey for all five players, a journey that has brought them together as teammates for the upcoming season, which begins against Hamilton Township on Friday, Aug. 24.
"I started playing football a little later than most in the seventh grade," Stetzer said. "I always liked the game, but I just thought I wasn't a football player. I tried, and I was better than I thought. I've stuck with the game because I love snapping the ball and hitting the man right in front of me, play after play after play, knowing I have my best friends right behind me trying to have the same goal as me."
"I started in the first grade … my dad got me into it, started with flag football, and in the third grade played for a team in Scioto Valley called the Jaguars," Lee said. "I love football. It's my favorite sport. I love to win, and I want to compete."
Their teammates also explained their beginnings and why they continue to step foot on the gridiron each season.
"I began in the fourth grade," Holt said. "I got involved because my dad played football, and that's when I started tackle football. I have a love of the game, and to be able to hit someone and knock them on the ground, it's the only sport you can do that in."
"My dad asked if I wanted to play when I was in the second grade. I said 'sure,' and he signed me up," Barnes said about his start in football. "I play because once I start something I can't quit it, and I do love the game more than anything."
"I started playing football around the second grade. I played before that, but in the second grade it was the first time I played as an organized sport," Mathis said. "I have a basic love for the game. I just love to compete, and football is my favorite sport. That's why I put myself through all of it."
As the five players spoke about their beginnings in the sport, they also described why Friday nights are so important to them and how playing under the "Friday Night Lights" is an experience like no other.
"This is a great atmosphere here, and having the whole community watch you play is special," Holt said. "When you make a big hit, the crowd roars, and it's a good feeling."
"Playing on Friday and walking out under the lights … there is nothing better," Mathis said. "Hearing the people scream for you … the whole community watching you play your hearts out on the field, that's what I love about Friday nights."
"The games are so much bigger now that I'm a senior," Barnes said. "I've been a part of it for three years now, and each year, the good part is you get to do it again. We are going to do our best, game in and game out, and no matter what happens, we are going to leave it all out on the field."
Stetzer and Lee agreed about the importance of playing football on a Friday night.
"I know there is a big crowd out there every Friday," Stetzer said. "Though I don't know most of the people, as long as I make my family and friends happy, I know that I was successful."
"Football on Friday is a great feeling," Lee said. "Coming out in front of the whole town, showing the community what you have and trying to win … it's amazing. We have a tough schedule, and we just have to keep working hard and go week by week."
With the players looking forward to their upcoming varsity season, each player did take a trip down memory lane, speaking about memorable moments or the moments they realized they found themselves as a football player.
"Going undefeated a couple times in peewee because having the feeling of not losing a game the entire season, knowing you didn't lose a game, was a good feeling and rarely happens at any level of the game," Mathis said.
"I agree with going undefeated in peewee as one of those moments I won't forget," Holt said.
"Our first win with Coach (Ron) Hinton," Stetzer said. "He played a lot of sophomores back then, like me, and when the game was over, I felt a big part of the team. After the game, it was a good feeling because I felt I made my parents and community proud."
"I don't want to sound like I'm too about myself, but it was more when I was in fourth grade I really started becoming a football player," Barnes said. "I was really successful that season."
"Going undefeated during the peewee days was fun as a team, but my personal favorite season was eighth grade," Lee said. "That was the first time I really showed what I could do as a football player."
Since the players have been a vital part of the Cavaliers' program for the past two to three seasons, they know what a good leader is, and all have their own thoughts on the topic.
"A good leader is someone who inspires when things are down and will get them motivated," Holt said.
"I agree, but you also have to be the one who doesn't do the most talking, but you have to do the walk too. You have to lead by example," Barnes said.
The other three also agreed about leading by example.
"A good leader or a leader in general is someone who is consistently trying to push the team to get better," Mathis said. "When the tough times come, they are the ones who rally everyone and make it positive."
"Leading by example and continuing to push people to their limit is a good leader, in my opinion," Stetzer said.
"I think it's someone who everyone looks up to," Lee said. "People on the team want to be like them, and a leader, like Luke said, has to lead by example."
There is a group of players suiting up for the Cavaliers who were forced to gain varsity experience as underclassmen. They are a group who don't just want to win now, but who realize winning games is a process and want what is best for the program for not only in '12, but the best for future generations.
A group of two seniors (Luke Barnes and Jack Stetzer) and three juniors (Ryan Mathis, Caylib Holt and Julius Lee) look at this season as a year of improvement, where they want to put the program back in the right direction as they are coming off a 3-7 season.
[[In-content Ad]]"Bottom line is we need to win … we need to find a way to win," Mathis, the junior quarterback said. "I'm just going to try to lead the team the best way I can on offense. I just want to do whatever I can to help us win and have a good season."
His teammates agreed.
"We need to get our wins up and go from there," Holt said.
"I'm not the biggest leader, but all I know is we need to win games," Barnes said. "I'll lead by example and do whatever it takes to do to help the team."
"We need to win games this year, like always. We just need to improve as a team, and if this year isn't it, help the guys on the team get ready for next year because maybe that can be the year," Stetzer said.
"I just want to have a positive year and do better than last year … keep it going," Lee said.
As for two of the seniors on the team, they spoke about how not only do they want to have a positive season their final year as a Cavalier, but what they can do for the future of the program.
“It's going by really fast, faster than anything I've ever been though," Barnes said. "I just want to leave it all out on the field with no regrets at all."
"I have to agree it’s going by way too fast, but I just want to remember the people I’ve met and hope I've made an impact to better the program in the future," Stetzer said.
Last season for this group and their teammates was one of learning as they began the '11 season with five consecutive losses but rebounded in the second half of the year with a 3-2 mark in their final five games. The players didn't let that fact go unnoticed as they looked back at last season, knowing that they learned many valuable lessons they can use for this season.
"Last year gave us experience that a lot of sophomores don't usually get," Mathis said. "Being a sophomore quarterback last year, you don't understand how much that helped me going into this year … by just getting to start last year. Hopefully that can help make us stronger for this year because that experience just helps everything."
"The experience makes you look forward to what's going to happen so you can be more prepared," Holt said.
"It taught us a lot more about unity, how to play more as a unit, and not as an 'I' team," Barnes said.
"Last year showed me even if you keep working hard at something, you can do what you want to do and improve," Stetzer said.
"Last season just showed me varsity is a whole new ball game compared to JV and freshman," Lee said. "We got that experience early, and that will help us the next couple years."
Getting to this point of their varsity career has been a different journey for all five players, a journey that has brought them together as teammates for the upcoming season, which begins against Hamilton Township on Friday, Aug. 24.
"I started playing football a little later than most in the seventh grade," Stetzer said. "I always liked the game, but I just thought I wasn't a football player. I tried, and I was better than I thought. I've stuck with the game because I love snapping the ball and hitting the man right in front of me, play after play after play, knowing I have my best friends right behind me trying to have the same goal as me."
"I started in the first grade … my dad got me into it, started with flag football, and in the third grade played for a team in Scioto Valley called the Jaguars," Lee said. "I love football. It's my favorite sport. I love to win, and I want to compete."
Their teammates also explained their beginnings and why they continue to step foot on the gridiron each season.
"I began in the fourth grade," Holt said. "I got involved because my dad played football, and that's when I started tackle football. I have a love of the game, and to be able to hit someone and knock them on the ground, it's the only sport you can do that in."
"My dad asked if I wanted to play when I was in the second grade. I said 'sure,' and he signed me up," Barnes said about his start in football. "I play because once I start something I can't quit it, and I do love the game more than anything."
"I started playing football around the second grade. I played before that, but in the second grade it was the first time I played as an organized sport," Mathis said. "I have a basic love for the game. I just love to compete, and football is my favorite sport. That's why I put myself through all of it."
As the five players spoke about their beginnings in the sport, they also described why Friday nights are so important to them and how playing under the "Friday Night Lights" is an experience like no other.
"This is a great atmosphere here, and having the whole community watch you play is special," Holt said. "When you make a big hit, the crowd roars, and it's a good feeling."
"Playing on Friday and walking out under the lights … there is nothing better," Mathis said. "Hearing the people scream for you … the whole community watching you play your hearts out on the field, that's what I love about Friday nights."
"The games are so much bigger now that I'm a senior," Barnes said. "I've been a part of it for three years now, and each year, the good part is you get to do it again. We are going to do our best, game in and game out, and no matter what happens, we are going to leave it all out on the field."
Stetzer and Lee agreed about the importance of playing football on a Friday night.
"I know there is a big crowd out there every Friday," Stetzer said. "Though I don't know most of the people, as long as I make my family and friends happy, I know that I was successful."
"Football on Friday is a great feeling," Lee said. "Coming out in front of the whole town, showing the community what you have and trying to win … it's amazing. We have a tough schedule, and we just have to keep working hard and go week by week."
With the players looking forward to their upcoming varsity season, each player did take a trip down memory lane, speaking about memorable moments or the moments they realized they found themselves as a football player.
"Going undefeated a couple times in peewee because having the feeling of not losing a game the entire season, knowing you didn't lose a game, was a good feeling and rarely happens at any level of the game," Mathis said.
"I agree with going undefeated in peewee as one of those moments I won't forget," Holt said.
"Our first win with Coach (Ron) Hinton," Stetzer said. "He played a lot of sophomores back then, like me, and when the game was over, I felt a big part of the team. After the game, it was a good feeling because I felt I made my parents and community proud."
"I don't want to sound like I'm too about myself, but it was more when I was in fourth grade I really started becoming a football player," Barnes said. "I was really successful that season."
"Going undefeated during the peewee days was fun as a team, but my personal favorite season was eighth grade," Lee said. "That was the first time I really showed what I could do as a football player."
Since the players have been a vital part of the Cavaliers' program for the past two to three seasons, they know what a good leader is, and all have their own thoughts on the topic.
"A good leader is someone who inspires when things are down and will get them motivated," Holt said.
"I agree, but you also have to be the one who doesn't do the most talking, but you have to do the walk too. You have to lead by example," Barnes said.
The other three also agreed about leading by example.
"A good leader or a leader in general is someone who is consistently trying to push the team to get better," Mathis said. "When the tough times come, they are the ones who rally everyone and make it positive."
"Leading by example and continuing to push people to their limit is a good leader, in my opinion," Stetzer said.
"I think it's someone who everyone looks up to," Lee said. "People on the team want to be like them, and a leader, like Luke said, has to lead by example."