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Ready
Sophomore Ethan Davis will be the starting quarterback for the Woodstock Academy Centaurs when they open the season at Ledyard Sept. 13. Photo by Marc Allard.
Incredibly positive.
Those are the words used by Woodstock Academy football coach and athletic director Sean Saucier to describe the atmosphere surrounding his football program right now.
“The kids that are here started something last year, especially the younger ones, there was an incredible vibe on the froshmore team last year. They finished with a winning record, and five or six of those kids are now with us and they’re bringing it with them,” Saucier said.
The varsity program finished with only one win in 10 games. But that hardly affected turnout.
The Centaurs had some 74 come out for the beginning of practice.
That was the largest turnout among teams in northeastern Connecticut.
The majority of those have hung with the program through conditioning, meaning it’s unlikely many will depart now.
It also means the Centaurs have a good, solid, young core with 20-plus players from both the freshman and sophomore ranks working to climb the ladder.
The varsity team will eventually be the beneficiary of all those young bodies, but it’s not faring too badly either.
“It’s going pretty well,” said senior Luis Miranda. “We’ve been getting a lot of stuff in. I’m really liking what I’m seeing. I like the new offense that we have. The new defense is great. I feel like we have a really complete team this year. I think we can make a good run.”
Saucier has especially been pleased with the skill position players the Centaurs have.
It begins with a new quarterback. Sophomore Ethan Davis takes over the offense from the Derek Thompson/Nick Bedard combination.
The Centaurs finished with just over 1,000 yards in passing last year with Thompson (88-for-162) getting 971 of those yards and seven touchdowns.
Saucier is probably looking for some bigger numbers this season.
The Centaurs have some targets to work with including Miranda (28 catches, 263 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Bedard (7 catches, 100 yards). Tre Ayotte, Bryce Lambert and Dan Suitam will also serve as receivers and the backfield corps can also catch the ball.
Davis’ ascension to the starting role also opens the door for Saucier to use Bedard in more of a “slash” role. His primary position will be slot receiver but don’t be shocked to see the senior behind center or in the backfield.
Bedard completed 27 of his 45 passing attempts last year and also rushed for 346 yards, second-best on the team in addition to his receiving responsibilities.
“If Nick does need to play quarterback, that’s not a bad option. But, this allows us to use Nick and his speed and play-making abilities on the field,” Saucier said.
Gavin Savoie (71 carries, 348 yards), the team’s leading rusher, will again be in the backfield, teamed with Ian Welz (50-200). Travis White, who did carry the ball 16 times for 93 yards, will be the big back.
“We’re trying to preserve both Ian and Gavin. They will split some carries and we’re trying not to play those guys on both sides of the ball,” Saucier said.
The big question mark rests up front. The line was hit pretty hard by graduation. Blake Kollbeck, Jack Hovestadt, Nathan Price and Patrick Barrows are all gone.
Currently, sophomore Everett Michalski is starting at left tackle with junior C.J. Burrows on the right side. Senior J.J. Bain has been doing well as the anchor of the line at center with classmate Gavin Lanning at left guard and another senior, Seth Libby, likely starting at right guard.
Defensively, the linebackers will have to shoulder a lot of the burden.
The Centaurs are confident with that group which has White, starting for a third year, in the middle.
Bain will be alongside White in the middle with Savoie on the outside, splitting time with Welz, and Miranda will move from strong safety to the other outside backer.
“We stuck Luis on an edge and he’s been doing a nice job there,” Saucier said.
In the secondary, Bedard returns at cornerback with Suitam at safety and Lambert at the other corner.
Once again, the trenches are the concern. Burrows, Ayotte and Libby will work on the ends but the middle is a little questionable. “We have a couple of different alignments that takes a lineman off the field and puts another backer on,” Saucier said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Football schedule:
Fri., Sept. 13: at Ledyard 6 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 21: vs. Windham 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 28: at Amistad Academy noon
Sat., Oct. 5: vs. Plainfield 10:30 a.m.
Sat., Oct. 12: at Capital Prep/Achievement TBA
Sat., Oct. 26: vs. Stonington 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 2: vs. Nonnewaug 1 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 9: at Bacon Academy noon
Sat., Nov. 16: vs. Waterford 1:30 p.m.
Sat., Nov. 23: at CREC Co-op 11 a.m.
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