Kennett’s Frazier making Kennett relevant
The Ches-Mont American Division has been the sole property of West Chester Rustin and Unionville for the past 10 or so years. And this week West Chester Rustin has a big one, and it is not against the Longhorns.
The Golden Knights travel down to mushroom country for a date with Kennett (2-0 in the American Division), who have emerged as a contender in the division.
Yes, you read that right. A big game down in Kennett. The Demons resurgence has come under former NFL player Lance Frazier and his talented staff.
Frazier came in and revived a fledgling program that did not know much success under its first three head coaches. A trip to Kennett often meant an easy win for the Golden Knights and any other good team in the Ches-Mont.
But Frazier has brought discipline, order and a purpose to the Demons program. Kennett went to the playoffs three years ago and last season the Blue Demons ruined Downingtown West playoff hopes with a win over the Whippets that shocked District 1 observers.
Frazier is still in the process of building a program as the numbers out for football are still not as numerous as most other Ches-Mont schools. But success does not come easily, or quickly for that matter.
Kennett is 2-1 this season with the only loss coming to District 1 5A favorite Upper Dublin and star quarterback Colin O’Sullivan.
It was a non-league tilt Frazier and his staff wanted to play, instead of a cupcake, to show that the Demons are one of the major players in District 1. Kennett has not been a traditional hotbed for football talent, but Frazier has shown that with the right coaching and discipline, the Demons can be a winner.
The Kennett staff works extremely hard and although most of its team goes both ways due to the numbers of players who come out for football, the Demons fight and fight for the entire 48 minutes.
It is what Frazier has learned in time as a player at West Virginia and in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, where he started 11 games in 2004. After a brief stint in the Arena Football League, Frazier turned to coaching and he is a student of the profession.
Kennett will host Rustin this week and in the past the hardest thing the Knights would have to worry about was the trip down Route 1.
But now, the Demons have the Knights, Unionville, Great Valley and the rest of the Ches-Mont League’s undivided attention.
The Blue Demons are not an easy mark for anybody anymore. Kennett has a splendid running bacon senior Julian Sparacino, who runs as hard as anyone in the league, and a defense that may not be big, but has allowed just 14 points in its last two games.
But, the biggest difference in Kennett football under its talented head coach is the belief the players have. The Blue Demons have thrown away all the doubts losing brings, and are firm in their belief that they can compete with the traditional powers of not only the Ches-Mont, but the district.
Frazier has been a winner his whole life and he has instilled this in his players. The Blue Demons may not defeat a very good Rustin team, but they have gotten the Knights attention. Who would have thought that before Frazier took over as boss of the Blue Demons?
Not very many, I am sure. But opponent’s eyes better be open when they face the current Kennett regime.
It is what the young head coach has brought to his kids. And that hope has spread through the entire roster. And that is only what a coach can do: give his kids a belief and a chance.
