After ’18 breakout, Rockville wants more 1st playoff bid since ’95 fuels program on rise
VERNON — Rockville went 7-4 last season and qualified for the Class M state playoffs for the first time since 1995 before losing to eventual champion St. Joseph in the first round. With both Class M and the Pequot Conference more wide open this year than in years past, the Rams hope to carry momentum from last season into this year and capitalize.
Last year’s record: 7-4, lost in Class Mquarterfinals
Key losses: QB Ben Ambro, DB Kejuan Greene Jr, WR Nick Foley
Key returners: Sr. LB John O’Coin, Sr. WR Jaquan Dufour, Jr. DL Nas Knighton, Sr. DB/HB Chris Mierez
Overview: Last year, as head coach Erick Knickerbocker put it, was all about changing the culture.
He and his staff came in and helped turn around a Rockville program that had gone 1-9 the year before. The Rams achieved their first winning season since 2004 and first state playoff appearance in over 20 years.
Now, it’s about refining the little things.
“It’s a lot harder to go from 7-3 to 10-0, 9-1, 8-2, winning a title, than going from where expectations are nothing,” Knickerbocker said. “Last year was big things. This year, it’s every little thing matters. … We lost to Valley [last year] on the last play. Stafford scored on fourth down late in the game to put the game away. It was all one or two plays here and there.
“Their attention to detail, that’s what we need to get to.”
On offense, it starts with senior receiver Jaquan Dufour, who reeled in over 800 yards last season, earned All-Conference honors and has had Division I football programs calling. While Rockville returns six starters on offense, there will be some unfamiliarity. Dufour will be one of the rocks.
“I do feel [I have to be a leader],” Dufour said. “But I also feel like we have a lot of guys that can step up, not just me.”
The starting quarterback role has yet to be decided, though senior captain John O’Coin is one player throwing his hat into the ring. If he doesn’t start behind center, he’ll be one of the team’s defensive leaders at outside linebacker, a role he’s more than suited to play.
“Strong,” O’Coin said of the defense. “We have some big guys that can, hopefully, knock some people down. Hopefully, have a lot of negative yard games.”
The Rams are one of many in Class M who feel they have a shot at making a deep playoff run with St. Joseph, Berlin and Sheehan playing elsewhere this year.
“It gives us a lot more motivation knowing that we could come in here and possibly make the championship,” Dufour said. “I think it makes us go harder in practice and want it more.”
Player to watch: Sr. HB/ DB Chris Mierez
Mierez mostly played at defensive back last season, though Knickerbocker is planning to have him play at running back this season, too — a position he’s never played in his life.
“Coach wants to have the ball in the playmakers’ hands, and that’s where I have to go,” Mierez said.
Outlook: With a host of returning starters, a deep roster of 65 players and more momentum than it has had in recent memory, Rockville is primed to make a run at the Pequot Conference title, and potentially make it further in the Class M playoffs than it did last year.
Shawn McFarland can be reached at smcfarland@courant.com.