The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Canastota hoping to break through
In each of the past three seasons, the Canastota football team ran off undefeated regular seasons in the Section III Class C East en route to substantial playoff runs.
Each season, the Raiders fell in the Class C title game or to the eventual Class C champion. Last year, eventual state champion Skaneateles sent Canastota home in the semifinal round of playoffs.
In 2018, Raiders seventh-year head coach TomCongden, a Canastota alum, wants to “burst through that door.”
“We’ve got a good shot at another run if we can straighten things out,” Congden said.
Because of howtheywere able to pull away fromteams in 2017, even Raiders who did not start a season ago are back with plenty of live action under their belts.
“Guys that are coming back, it’s almost like they started,” Congden said. “That’s huge.”
And while every team heading into the new season must find ways to fill the void left behind by the Class of 2018, the Raiders have the tall task of replacing eight Class C East firstteam all-stars, including 2017 Player of the Year quarterback Ben Marshall.
“Obviously, that’s tough to do. Ben was a tremendous player, but we’ve been here before,” Congden said. “We’ve had good quarterbacks for a while. Every single year, it seems like, we have a good quarterback. I al- ways feel blessed.”
Coincidentally, the Raider tasked with filling Ben’s shoes is none other than younger brother Andrew Marshall, who received a significant amount of reps at the position a season ago when the Raiders were racing past opponents, and Congden is confident in the younger Marshall’s ability to keep the quarterback lineage on track in Canastota.
“He had a good spring, a good camp, the whole offseason to get better,” Congden said.
Junior center Mike Leibl, one of three (Andrew Marshall and running back Nick Weber) Raiders to earn all-star recognition as sophomores in 2017, will be one of the big bodies up front tasked with protecting Marshall and opening lanes for Canastota’s running backs.
“Win section and the state championship,” Leibl said of his goals for Canastota, adding that it’s going to take “a lot of hard work.”
Fellow junior Donovan Leary will join Leibl on the right side of the offensive line and will work at defensive tackle. Leary wants to see the Raiders capture the section and then move on to the state title. To reach those goals, the Raiders will have to be solid on both lines, but don’t ask Leary to pick favorite side of the ball.
“They’re both equal,” Leary said. “I can hit someone whenever I want.”
Senior Colbey Bixby, ju- nior Matt DiGeorge, and junior Brandon Ball are names to watch at the receiver position for the Raiders this season.
“It’s an awesome feeling, but I’m a little upset,” Bixby said of beginning his final season in a Canastota uniform. “There’s only so many games left.”
“A lot of hard work. We are all dedicated,” DiGeorge said of the keys to Raider success in 2018. “We want to win it all.”
“A lot of hard work. Mental toughness,” Ball echoed.
The Raiders begin their journey on the road at Waterville on Friday, Aug. 31 before hosting the homeopener a week later against Clinton. The Raiders travel to Adirondack on Sept. 15 and hit the road again for a Sept. 21 contest withMount Markham. Then, Congden’s side returns home for a matchup with Utica Notre Dame, a teamback in Class C after spending time in the Class B East. Little Falls visits Canastota a week later on Oct. 5 before the Raiders close the season against Holland Patent, in Whites-
boro, on Oct. 13.
Schedule
Friday, Aug. 31 - at Waterville Friday, Sept. 7 - vs. Clinton Friday, Sept. 15 - at Adirondack
Friday, Sept. 21 - at Mount Markham
Friday, Sept. 28 - vs. Utica Notre Dame
Friday, Oct. 5 - vs. Little Falls
Friday, Oct. 13 - at Holland Patent