Football Feature: London Red Raiders
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
The team concept for the London senior trio of Kyle Fisher, Dustin Coffey and Brandon Samons is not only important, but a concept they will make sure is a part of the LHS football program for not only this season, but for many years to come.
Knowing they have a lot against them coming up this season, this group of young men not only accept the challenge handed to them, but embrace it with a quiet but strong demeanor as they prepare for their '12 season, the last time they will play football as a Red Raider.
[[In-content Ad]]"I've played football all my life. I've just kept doing it, played with my friends. I started playing in a youth league in Columbus, then I started at London in middle school," Fisher said. "Senior year, I just want to make it fun and make memories I'll remember forever by just having fun with my friends."
"I was in third grade when I first started playing football here in London. My dad has always been big into sports, and he's the one who got me started in football," Samons said. "I'd like to have a winning season. I'm tired of being average, and I'd like to see us go out there, play the game and have fun."
Coffey also looked back at how he began the sport.
"I first got involved with football by watching it on TV, and my dad got me involved with it. I would just watch it every Sunday," he said. "I started around the seventh grade and have continued to play ever since. I'm the same way as Brandon, I want this year to be fun with my friends. I want the memories and to have fun … that's all I want."
This trio of London seniors are proud to represent their community and town when wearing the red and white colors of their school on Friday nights, a night which they said no other sport can compare to.
"Friday night, there is nothing like playing football under the lights with your friends … going to battle with them," Fisher said. "They’re your friends and teammates … that's what they are there for."
"I like being around the guys, and playing football with them every year makes me keep wanting to come back each season," Coffey said. "I like the experience of playing football.
"Football drives London, and football is probably the biggest sport in the town. The community really supports us."
Samons expanded on his answer of not only playing on Fridays under the lights, but playing for and representing the Red Raiders.
"Football is a way of life. Once you get started playing the game, it's hard to stop," he said. "It's just the feeling you get every Friday night under the lights … all that work you put in for the feeling you get when you win, it's just an incredible feeling.
"Being a part of the family at London, everyone is close. It's always been that way. It's good to have that bond with who are like your brothers out on the field."
Fisher spoke about the biggest differences in being a senior compared to their underclassmen years, as did Samons.
"The biggest difference in being a senior is we can't goof off as much as we used to. We have to set examples for the younger guys," Fisher, the starting quarterback, said. "Being a good leader is not really yelling at your teammates but picking them up when they are down. Showing teammates how to do things the right way. To be a good leader, you have to speak with your teammates the right way."
"It's different because you have a lot more respect from your teammate and coaches when you are a senior on the team," Samons said. "It's a good feeling being out on the field, knowing teammates are looking up to and following you.
"Being one of the leaders now, I'd say a good leader is someone who everyone respects and knows who will never do any harm to the team."
As each player looks forward to the season in their own way, all three players gave detailed accounts of how they play their position on the football field as Fisher is the quarterback and safety; Coffey is a wide receiver and defensive back; and Samons is a tight end and linebacker.
"Wide receiver is a fun position to play. I like playing the position because when the ball is thrown in the air, it's like slow motion to me," Coffey said. "The feeling of catching the ball is the greatest feeling ever. You don't have to be good, but you have to be smart at wide receiver. At defensive back, it's a hard position to play because you don't have to be athletic, but you have to be more reactive to the ball."
Fisher spoke about the pressures of being a quarterback, while playing safety on defense.
"Playing quarterback, everything goes through you, and everything is your fault, good or bad," he said. "You have to take the blame, but you are the leader, so it comes with the territory. At safety, you are the last guy of defense. I like defense because I like to tackle.
"Last year, we learned how to win some games. We didn't get big-headed, we stayed humble. The more we play, the more we come together as a team."
Samons spoke on being a tight end and linebacker.
"They call me a 'hybrid lineman' at tight end because I'm on the line half the time, and I'll play wide receiver the other half," Samons said. "I do a lot of blocking, but I'll go out for passes.
"Defensively, I'm more of an outside linebacker. I'll go into a lot of coverages, and I'll go into a lot of blitzes. I'm a defense guy … I like scoring, but I like getting the big hits even more."
London opens the 2012 season at home vs. Urbana.
Knowing they have a lot against them coming up this season, this group of young men not only accept the challenge handed to them, but embrace it with a quiet but strong demeanor as they prepare for their '12 season, the last time they will play football as a Red Raider.
[[In-content Ad]]"I've played football all my life. I've just kept doing it, played with my friends. I started playing in a youth league in Columbus, then I started at London in middle school," Fisher said. "Senior year, I just want to make it fun and make memories I'll remember forever by just having fun with my friends."
"I was in third grade when I first started playing football here in London. My dad has always been big into sports, and he's the one who got me started in football," Samons said. "I'd like to have a winning season. I'm tired of being average, and I'd like to see us go out there, play the game and have fun."
Coffey also looked back at how he began the sport.
"I first got involved with football by watching it on TV, and my dad got me involved with it. I would just watch it every Sunday," he said. "I started around the seventh grade and have continued to play ever since. I'm the same way as Brandon, I want this year to be fun with my friends. I want the memories and to have fun … that's all I want."
This trio of London seniors are proud to represent their community and town when wearing the red and white colors of their school on Friday nights, a night which they said no other sport can compare to.
"Friday night, there is nothing like playing football under the lights with your friends … going to battle with them," Fisher said. "They’re your friends and teammates … that's what they are there for."
"I like being around the guys, and playing football with them every year makes me keep wanting to come back each season," Coffey said. "I like the experience of playing football.
"Football drives London, and football is probably the biggest sport in the town. The community really supports us."
Samons expanded on his answer of not only playing on Fridays under the lights, but playing for and representing the Red Raiders.
"Football is a way of life. Once you get started playing the game, it's hard to stop," he said. "It's just the feeling you get every Friday night under the lights … all that work you put in for the feeling you get when you win, it's just an incredible feeling.
"Being a part of the family at London, everyone is close. It's always been that way. It's good to have that bond with who are like your brothers out on the field."
Fisher spoke about the biggest differences in being a senior compared to their underclassmen years, as did Samons.
"The biggest difference in being a senior is we can't goof off as much as we used to. We have to set examples for the younger guys," Fisher, the starting quarterback, said. "Being a good leader is not really yelling at your teammates but picking them up when they are down. Showing teammates how to do things the right way. To be a good leader, you have to speak with your teammates the right way."
"It's different because you have a lot more respect from your teammate and coaches when you are a senior on the team," Samons said. "It's a good feeling being out on the field, knowing teammates are looking up to and following you.
"Being one of the leaders now, I'd say a good leader is someone who everyone respects and knows who will never do any harm to the team."
As each player looks forward to the season in their own way, all three players gave detailed accounts of how they play their position on the football field as Fisher is the quarterback and safety; Coffey is a wide receiver and defensive back; and Samons is a tight end and linebacker.
"Wide receiver is a fun position to play. I like playing the position because when the ball is thrown in the air, it's like slow motion to me," Coffey said. "The feeling of catching the ball is the greatest feeling ever. You don't have to be good, but you have to be smart at wide receiver. At defensive back, it's a hard position to play because you don't have to be athletic, but you have to be more reactive to the ball."
Fisher spoke about the pressures of being a quarterback, while playing safety on defense.
"Playing quarterback, everything goes through you, and everything is your fault, good or bad," he said. "You have to take the blame, but you are the leader, so it comes with the territory. At safety, you are the last guy of defense. I like defense because I like to tackle.
"Last year, we learned how to win some games. We didn't get big-headed, we stayed humble. The more we play, the more we come together as a team."
Samons spoke on being a tight end and linebacker.
"They call me a 'hybrid lineman' at tight end because I'm on the line half the time, and I'll play wide receiver the other half," Samons said. "I do a lot of blocking, but I'll go out for passes.
"Defensively, I'm more of an outside linebacker. I'll go into a lot of coverages, and I'll go into a lot of blitzes. I'm a defense guy … I like scoring, but I like getting the big hits even more."
London opens the 2012 season at home vs. Urbana.