Rise of the Raiders
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They say those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
The Delhi Raiders football program is making gains each day following a season to forget.
Coming off a long string of Haldimand-Norfolk Football League playoff appearances, the Raiders finished with a record of 1-4 last year, missing the semi-finals and putting them in a consolation contest.
That’s when things really took a turn for the worse as a number of senior members quit, forcing DDSS to forfeit due to a lack of players.
Fast forward to this fall, upwards of 40 team members have practised through the heat each afternoon in hopes of bringing the blue and gold back to glory.
“Every practice we’ve had good numbers this year – we all have the same outlook,” said offensive tackle Brandan Wilson, a senior member of the squad. “We want a different year, we don’t want to repeat history, we want a good year and that’s what we’re hunting for.”
What the Raiders roster lacks in size they make up for in speed. Lining up in the backfield is shifty tailback Jacob Schooley while national level sprinter Daunte Henriques will couple as both a receiver and kick returner.
Under centre, the squad boasts a pair of capable quarterbacks in Riley Brackenbury and Jaxon Zurby.
“It’s been a really nice fall so far,” said Raiders head coach Dave Leatherland.
“For the most part we’re a little bit younger but we’re a good young, meaning the kids out here have the right attitude, the right commitment. Football is a game of commitment and so far, from what we’ve seen, they’re very committed.”
The schedule maker didn’t do the Raiders any favours, the young squad will host the two-time defending league champion McKinnon Park Blue Devils Sept. 21 and last year’s Norfolk champs from Waterford in Week 2.
After a strong showing at the 2018 Junior Football Jamboree last fall, the opening portion of the season, said Leatherland, the group will find out what it takes to compete at the varsity level.
“They’re young, they’re learning the game but they’re eager,” he said. “We’ve got a daunting task in front of us with so much inexperience but they’re going to learn. Some of them will learn on the fly in games, there’s lots of lessons in practices but the biggest thing is they’re here, they’re committed at practice and that’s going to go a long way getting them ready.”
Leatherland called the Week 1 meeting with the Blue Devils a “measuring stick” contest that will show DDSS exactly how they stack up against a perennial powerhouse.
In looking to get their team back to elite status, Wilson and his fellow vets are preaching positivity going into the campaign.
“Us senior guys want to set the tone and show the younger kids our standards in games,” he explained. “We want to have a good mentality, a good outlook on the season – we don’t want any negative attitudes like last year. That’s what caught up to us last year was our negative attitude and players missing practices. We want a good attitude, we’re all working hard and we’re working together.”
In other Week 1 action, Holy Trinity will travel across town to face Simcoe while Waterford heads west to clash with Valley Heights.
jrobinson@postmedia.com
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