Following a tough 1-4 start to the season, KO varsity football rose to the challenges presented to them in their final three games against Proctor Academy, Worcester Academy and Hamden Hall Country Day School, winning two of the three to finish out their season.
After a tough loss to a strong Dexter Southfield team on Hewett Day under the lights, the team took on Proctor Academy at home in the rain for a highly anticipated rematch following a close 32-29 loss the last time the two teams met. Highly motivated, the team put points on the board early with a defensive touchdown off a fumble recovery from junior wide receiver Dalton Grant. The Wyverns then executed a two-point conversion to put them up 8-0. Falling behind 13-8, the Wyverns rallied in the fourth quarter, and a 24-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Co-captain Chase Aston to junior wideout Chase Fountain put them in the lead. KO then held off multiple challenges to their lead, including stopping Proctor on the one-yard line as time expired to hold on for a 14-13 win.
The Wyverns then hit the road to Worcester Academy, where a strong performance against the Hilltoppers saw them notch a 34-0 win, a rout that would be their largest winning margin of the season. Touchdowns from Aston and Fountain put the Wyverns on the board, while stability from the defensive line of senior Ben Woerlen, juniors Jake Amburn, Geordan Robertson and Jaedan Curcio, and senior Co-captain Jared Cotte helped hold Worcester at bay. “Worcester has a great quarterback, and our defense kept him contained,” Head Coach James Wells said.
Throughout the season, the team relied heavily on the leadership of their older and more experienced players. “Amburn, Grant, Robertson and all the new kids that came in this year really added to the team and helped a lot,” Aston said. Senior wide receiver Dan Raymond agreed. “Grant always motivated everyone, no matter the circumstances,” he said. In addition to these new yet experienced players, returning seniors played a critical role for the team, providing experience and leadership.
In celebration of these seniors, the team returned home for their Senior Day and final game of the season, taking on Hamden Hall in what resulted in a tough loss. Hamden Hall took an early 6-0 lead, but the Wyverns countered, tying the game at 6-6 in the third quarter on a three-yard touchdown run from Fountain. Unfortunately, Hamden was able to respond, bringing the final score to 12-6.
The team showed strong improvement as the season went on, with a winning record in their final games. “We wanted to go 3-0 to end the season, and we finished 2-1,” Aston said. “As the weeks went on, we got better and better, and I wish we had a couple more weeks to show how good we were. I don’t think our record represented how good we became in the last couple weeks.”
Although the season didn’t go quite as well on the record as the team had hoped, there were bright spots throughout the season, and those returning next season have a positive outlook for the future. “Our biggest challenge overall has been experience,” Coach Wells said. “We have a number of young guys, as well as a number of guys who are playing football for the first time.” However, this young nature of the team lends itself to a strong future. “Since we’re a young team, I think we have a really great future,” Aston said. As such, Coach Wells and next year’s returners are already excited for the 2022 fall season, and looking forward to successes to come.
