BYRNE A BOOST TO BACKFIELD
Ravens to host Panthers on Saturday
Danny Byrne has returned to the Essex Ravens with a vengeance. Three years ago, Byrne walked away from the Ravens after a disappointing first season with the team.
“After my first year, I wasn’t in good shape (around 215 pounds), didn’t get a lot of playing time, wasn’t the player I wanted to be, didn’t really enjoy it and didn’t really enjoy football the way I do now,” Byrne said.
He didn’t blame the team for a bad season. He blamed himself and took matters into his own hands. “I started working out,” said the five-foot-10 Byrne, who now weighs 186 pounds. “I changed my body.” After helping L’Essor high school to back-to-back WECSSAA football AA titles, the 18-year-old Byrne is back with the Ravens and has become the team’s No. 1 rushing threat heading into Saturday ’s game against the Cumberland Panthers at University of Windsor Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m. “If I was going to play (for the Ravens), it was going to be my decision, but I missed it,” Byrne said. “The competition level is a lot higher. It’s different then high school.
“Everyone here’s into football. Everyone here’s going full speed and trying to be great. So the competition level is boosted and I love competing at a high level.” Byrne opened the season with 173 yards on 12 carries and two
touchdowns in a win at Niagara. He followed with 276 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown in a threepoint road win over Kingston. “This young man is very talented,” Ravens head coach Glen Mills said of Byrne. “He’s playing really, really well right now. If he stays healthy, he’ll be tough.” Byrne, who is averaging 10.7 yards a carry, said he’s now enjoying his time with the Ravens as much as he did in high school. “To me, I can’t take anything in football too serious,” Byrne said. “If I do, I lose track of what’s important and that’s have fun. “We’ve got an awesome offensive line and it’s fun to get a lot of carries. It’s fun to get a lot of yards. It’s fun for me to get a lot of touchdowns, but at the end of the day you have to enjoy it.” Nearly a month into the season, the Ravens finally get to play their first game at home Saturday after two road wins and a forfeit win over Guelph, which folded its program, in what was supposed to be the team’s first home game last week.
“We were pretty bummed when Guelph folded,” Byrne said. “I was looking forward to playing in front of my family and friends. I’m really excited not to have to take a bus ride and looking forward to it.”
Mills used the week off to review things with his team and allow players a chance to finish up some other high school activities. “As early as it is, a couple of guys are banged up, there were exams and track and field,” Mills said. “There were guys coming and
After my first year, I wasn’t in good shape (around 215 pounds) ... and didn’t really enjoy football the way I do now.
going. We spent most of times reviewing what we did wrong and did well and special teams.”
Off to a 3-0 start, the Ravens are tied for first place in the Ontario Provincial Football League’s West Division with London and Byrne doesn’t want the club to lose its momentum.
“I don’t think we ever take our foot off the throttle,” Byrne said. “Every team is good and with the best players from their respective region. We just have to keep the momentum.”