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KENNETT SQUARE – After years of skirting the problem and cranking out winning seasons, the numbers issue that befalls the Kennett football program finally came to a head last fall.
A tiny senior class, combined with unprecedented injuries, led directly to a 3-7 campaign in 2023, just one year removed from the Blue Demons’ first-ever Ches-Mont American title. Kennett’s vaunted defense broke down and allowed nearly 40 points per game over the final three contests. And the offense was blanked four times and scored more than 15 points just twice.
“Losing one guy is like losing two guys to a Downingtown or a Coatesville,” explained senior running back and linebacker Ian Guyer.
“It was the perfect storm. Youth and injuries, which started in camp before the season,” head coach Lance Frazier added.
“The same injury struggles we had on offense personnel-wise were the same on defense. Due of our numbers, when we lose one starter, we really lose two because we have so many playing on both sides.”
The good news for 2024 is that Kennett’s roster is close to 60, which is the most since 2018. And even though a lot of the underclassmen were rushed into varsity duty prematurely due to all of the injuries in ’23, this group now has depth.
“We had a large freshmen class last season, so the good part is that a lot of those young guys got varsity reps,” Frazier pointed out. “This year we feel a lot better about our depth because of what we went through last year.”
Offensively, the Demons are looking to get back to their roots with an effective ground game that can control the clock and take a toll on defenses in the second half. With Guyer (5-foot-10, 180) running behind an experienced offensive line, it’s quite plausible as long as injuries don’t interfere.
“At one point we had almost 20 guys on the injury list, and eight were significant where they missed multiple weeks and some out for the season,” Frazier said about 2023. “We got stung bad by the bug.
“Hopefully the football gods are happy with me once again, and I’m back in favor because we were tested mentally. We are always talking to the guys about having that mental toughness and edge. We went through that last season and I think we will be better as coaches this season because of it.”
Ironically, Guyer is currently wearing a cast due to a broken bone in his right hand. But he is still practicing and is not expected to miss playing time because of it.
“Ian does all of the right things, and he’s hungry,” Frazier said. “He’s a physical, aggressive guy – a throw-back player.”
Senior linemen Jacob Thompson and Kaden Kise have starting experience dating back to their freshman seasons, and will be the anchors up front. Another senior, Tyler Biel, has two years of starting experience. Kise dislocated a knee in the ’23 opener and sat out the rest of the season.
“The line is one of our stronger and deeper areas,” Frazier said. “Having those guys, we are able to get back to who we are a bit. We were handicapped last year because we had two or three freshmen playing.”
Sophomore quarterback Garrett McCracken was thrust into the spotlight a year ago due to injuries. It was a struggle, but he is back as a more confident, vocal leader.
“We are seeing that maturation taking place,” Frazier said of McCracken.
“We would have loved to have him play JV only and let him develop, but we had to throw him in. But we are seeing the benefits of his experience.”
In addition to Guyer, McCracken has some weapons to work with, including senior halfback/tight end Eli Frazier – the coach’s son — and slot receiver Joalex Carbajal, a sophomore who is effective in space.
“(Carbajal) is very shifty and fast,” Lance Frazier said. “(And Frazier) is a lynchpin for us at linebacker and H-back. He was a big part of the offense and when he went down (in game three with an injury), we had to scramble big-time.”
Guyer added: “We worked all summer seven-on-seven and we have a lot of weapons. The chemistry between Garrett and Joalax is going to be hard to stop.”
Other receivers like senior Finny Hall – who missed his junior season with injuries – speedy sophomore Gavin Ritch, and 6-5 tight end Conner Shoemacher are also in the mix. All will benefit from a veteran O-line.
“The year we won the Ches-Mont (American) we had five returning offensive linemen,” said Thompson (5-10, 200). “This year we have all of the experience we need.”
Many familiar names from the offense are also mainstays in the front seven on defense: Thompson, Kise and Biel up front, along with Guyer and Frazier at inside linebacker.
“(Guyer and Frazier) both fly around, they are physical, and they are high IQ guys,” Lance Frazier said.
“We will move Guyer around a bit more this year inside and out because we have more flexibility.”
The secondary is young, and depth could be a problem. But with Carbajal and surging junior Brian Dougherty at the cornerback spots, and Ritch at safety, talent is not an issue.
“If we can stay healthy, I think we can easily get back to a couple years ago where we were holding teams under 10 points a game,” Thompson said.
“We’ve changed mentality since last season,” Guyer added. “A lot of guys thought they could just show up to practice and we would be better than our opponents. And we definitely got hit in the mouth a lot last year.
“With our experience last year we will be faster, stronger and better, especially with rallying to the ball.”
There is no question that a three-win season ended up being a shock to the system for just about everybody in the Kennett camp. Frazier and his staff are hoping that getting through it all can only make the returnees all the more battle-hardened.
“A lot of our guys didn’t know anything but winning, so it was a struggle for guys like Ian (Guyer) and Jacob (Thompson), who have been multiple-year starters,” Frazier said.
“Our whole locker room was tested in ways that it has never been before. But the guys grew closer, and our veteran guys learned how to lift the younger guys, because you never know when you are going to need them.”
