Now off probation, Raptors look to improve
There are easier ways to begin a high school football program.
Just two days before Executive Education played the first football game in school history last August, the Raptors were put on probation for one year by District 11. The probation was prompted by a text message sent by coach Larry Ford to a player at another school.
Executive emerged from the negative light cast by the probation to go 6-5, a successful season capped by a 34-8 rout of Holy Cross of District 2 to win Class 1A/2A Eastern Conference championship. Ford wasn’t on the field for that game as part of the probation.
As the program’s second season is set to begin, the probation is about to be lifted by District 11 on Wednesday and the Raptors are eager for a fresh start.
Executive scrimmaged Lancaster-McCaskey on Saturday and will again be playing teams from outside the area. The only District 11 opponent on the ninegame schedule is Tri-Valley.
Last year, the Raptors have to revamp their schedule multiple and scramble to get opponents at the last minute often for COVID-related reasons.
This year, the hope is that the schedule will be more stabilized. However, one game on the original schedule has already been scrapped and Executive is seeking an additional opponent.
That snafu aside, Ford is enthused about where the program is at and happy that the probationary period is about to end.
“We’ve got to learn from last year,” Ford said. “It’s definitely a learning process and we have to make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. Whatever they needed us to do, we did. We took care of it. It won’t happen again from my end and hopefully, it won’t happen again from anyone from the school. We have to make sure we’re doing the right things and abiding by the rules.”
Executive CEO Bob Lysek echoed Ford’s sentiments.
“We are very happy to be coming off probation and look forward to moving beyond this issue and trust that it will not happen again,” he said. “Over the past year, Executive immediately and thoroughly fulfilled all requests asked of us by District 11. The board thought the same and voted unanimously to terminate the probation effective Aug. 24.”
The team will use Muhlenberg College for its home games and continue to practice on a small, unmarked field that is mostly dirt near the school; it has no goal posts and is not regulation size. Plans remain in the works for an improved facility.
“The kids don’t mind it,” Ford said. “It’s backyard football. We come out here and practice, do what we need to do, and get out of here.”
Ford said that while it was nice to win an Eastern Conference title
in the program’s first year, the goal is to qualify for districts and win
districts, just as the boys basketball program has done since its inception.
Executive is in Class 2A along with several Colonial League members, such as Catasauqua, Pen Argyl, Salisbury, and Palisades.
“Our motto is districts or bust.” Ford said. “This is the best team we’re probably going to have at Executive and we have the potential to make it. We have to make sure all of our kids are bought in. Some of them are still not bought in. Some of these guys have been playing together for a long time and we have a lot of young guys. We just
have to make sure that the seniors are leading like they’re supposed to and everybody believes we can go to districts because I believe we can. We’re young, but we have to have the mindset that we can compete with anybody we step out on the field against.”
Leading the way will be quarterback Darmel Lopez, linemen Matthew Mackaravitz and Matt “Tank” Martinez, and tight end Mayson Terrell, who have all been named captains. Wide receiver Emery Plummer, linebacker Anthony Roman and wide receiver Jymeik Roman, two-way tackle Kavon Lewis, receiver Zamir
Perkins and center Isaiah Muldrow will all make big contributions.
“We’re trying to figure out what we can tweak from last year to be ready for this year,” Ford said. “We’re ready to rock and roll into year No. 2.”
3 tidbits on the Raptors
1. Coach Coccia: Executive has several new coaches, including former Freedom High and University of New Hampshire offensive lineman Mike Coccia, who has returned to the Lehigh Valley after a few professional opportunities. He will work with the linemen. Jared Powell, who played at Easton and Wilkes, will coach the defensive backs. Mark Hussett, a Whitehall product, will coach the running backs.
2.Numbersgame: Ford said he had 38 players on the roster, which is up fromlastyear.“Thebiggestthingfor them is to get in shape,” Ford said. “I felt like I dropped the ball last year in terms of the conditioning aspect and we went into the season with too many guys out of shape and not where they needed to be.”
3. Learning the high school game:
Ford, who came to the Lehigh Valley courtesy of the Steelhawks pro indoor team, was new to high school coaching last year. He said he talked to Salisbury coach Andy Cerco and Becahi coach Kyle Haas, among others, and got some tips from them about running a high school program. “I’m much more comfortable this year,” he said. “We have a lot of players back from last year and they now know the system, the weight room, everything we do. Everything’s a little smoother. We just need to get a couple of more kids bought in and we’ll be golden.”