There is a palpable excitement at Bishop Ford based around a veteran group that has plenty of experience and enjoyed success a year ago en route to a CHSFL Class A title. The players want to compete for a different crown this time around.
“With all the experience we are getting back, I don’t think we could be any better going into this year,” junior halfback Dante Aiken. “As far as we took it last year, I feel we can take it further.”
Falcons coach Jim Esposito has tried to curtail any concrete expectations for this group despite 17 starters returning on both sides of the ball. It features players with the most experience and explosiveness the program has seen in recent years, a group which finished one win out of the mix for a Class AA playoff spot a year ago.
All of it will start with third-year quarterback Xaviah Mattocks, who led Ford to big wins over Cardinal Hayes and St. Francis Prep – in the final – a year ago. Esposito believes Mattocks is ready to be a pocket passer, scramble less and now has total command of the offense. He could be throwing 20 passes a game, a rarity for what usually is a run-heavy attack.
“I’m not running around in the backfield anymore,” Mattocks said. “I’m standing there delivering passes and getting my tight end and receivers the ball.”
He will have plenty of weapons to spread the ball around to. Aiken moves permanently into the starting tailback role, his spot at times last season after an injury to graduated star Devon Mitchell. Powerful and shifty, he is capable of breaking big runs and has the best attitude of any player Esposito says he has coached in recent memory. Rayquan Williams will play fullback, Marcus Shider see see time at split end and Gonzalez and Antonio Clark are set for tight end.
“Usually we are more geared to being a running football team,” Esposito said. “This year we are going to be a little more balanced.”
They will work behind an experienced offensive line, with Devonte Linton back at center, George Clemente at right tackle and Walter Ferdinand at left tackle. All three will play on the defensive line as well. Gonzalez, Williams and Aiken will also see be given the chance to contribute at linebacker. Lockdown cornerback Malik Warren, who broke his wrist in June, is expected to be back and play alongside Rolando Ellis in the secondary.
“We got to stay away from getting hurt, which we can’t control,” Esposito said.
The coach has tried to keep his players’ hopes in perspective, saying they haven’t defeated teams like St. John the Baptist, St. Peter’s and Xavier in five years. Until they do, any talk is just that. This group is ready to take on that challenge and reach the CHSFL Class AA playoffs.
“I’m tired of settling for less,” Gonzalez said.