The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Several teams seeing large turnout this year
Congden looking for maximum effort at all times from his Canastota squad
Canastota, Chittenango and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill all had more players than usual for the first week.
CANASTOTA >> In his first year at the helm of Canastota’s football team, Tom Congden preached character and hard work to his players.
The Raiders responded to the tune of a 5-0 record in league play to capture a CSC title, leaving little reason for the head coach to change his approach in his second season.
“It’s my belief that all you can do is the best you can do,” said Congden at Friday’s practice. “Somewhere out there someone is better than you, but if you lay it all on the line and give it 100 percent 100 percent of the time out there, that’s all you can ask.”
So far the Raiders have given their coach the 100 percent he’s looking for, whether it was in summer workouts or the first week of practice. One hundred is also close to the number of players going out for football at Canastota this fall. With such a large number of stu-
dents trying out, the Raiders will again have a varsity and JV program, as well as reinstate the modified program for seventh and eighth graders.
Congden said he’ll have 36 players on varsity this season, the most he has seen at the school as a coach or player.
Even though Congden has a large number of players, there will still be a notable absence on the field in Canastota this season. Three-time All-State linebacker Zack Zupan graduated in the spring, leaving a big hole in the middle of Canastota’s defense and in the Raiders’ offensive backfield.
However, some of the Raiders were looking at the positive side of Zupan’s departure.
“We’re not relying on one guy so much,” said senior Matt Russitano, who will take Zupan’s place at running back. “He was a great player but I’d rather have a team. We count on each other, not just one person.”
“It adds a new aspect because I’ve been on his team every year,” added Jake Morris.
Morris and Steve Olden will provide plenty of experience on Canastota’s offensive line, both returning after starting their junior years in 2012. Both players will look to open holes for Russitano throughout the season, as well as protect the Raiders’ quarterback. Congden has two players vying for the starting spot vacated by Anthony Mason, who graduated in the spring. Senior Anthony Sicilia and junior John Popple will compete for snaps under center.
No matter who leads the Raiders offense, the players are ready to give their coach their all.
“It feels good because you work hard over the summer and can show how much work you put into it in the offseason,” said Olden.