Ches-Mont League Preview and Team-by-Team Breakdowns

Kennett

KENNETT SQUARE >> Lance Frazier’s football pedigree is stellar, but some questioned his judgment when he accepted the head coaching job at Kennett last winter.

But Frazier — who played professionally for nine years, including stints with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks — is heading into his first head coaching job with eyes wide open. A former assistant at Newark (Del.) High School, Frazier knows that the Blue Demons play in the tough Ches-Mont American, and that the program has had precious few winning seasons since reinstating football in 2005 following an 89-year hiatus.

“Right now we are a team everybody wants to play for Homecoming and Senior Night,” Frazier said. “We are going to have to change that.

“We will do that a little at a time. We are not trying to recreate anything overnight. We understand it will be a slow process and we will start at base one: being fundamentally sound, understanding what your job is, and playing fast.”

Kennett is coming off 3-7 campaign that started strong and petered out under Josh Kaufman, who resigned in December. Frazier is actually the Demons’ third head coach in three seasons.

“We are kind of used to it,” said senior Josh Ploener, a two-way starter. “Hopefully (Frazier) is the last one for a while, and I feel he will be. We really love coach.

“He’s brought in a new culture.”

That aspect is going to be imperative. A year ago Kennett lost six of its last seven, and the only division victory came against an Octorara program that has since left the conference.

“I’ve watched the last two seasons repeatedly,” Frazier pointed out. “I am a film junkie because there is so much you can learn about yourself and others.

“I saw confusion and a lack of confidence. Some of it has to do with preparation, how organized you are, and not giving the kids’ too much. And then build off of that.”

In addition, multi-dimensional quarterback Jake Dilcher has graduated, along with all-league linemen Lonnie Hall and Nate Pizzini.

“(Dilcher) jumped off the film. I started watching the wrong film and briefly got excited about him coming back,” Frazier acknowledged.

Kennett will indeed be breaking in a new quarterback, but the strength of the offense is the rest of the skilled positions, featuring Ploener — a 6-foot-3 receiver – as well as battering-ram junior runner Garrett Cox and versatile senior Mitch Kosara.

“We are going to rely a lot on speed,” said Ploener, who will play some at wideout and tight end.

“Josh is a vocal senior leader,” Frazier added. “He just does everything the right way.”

He also said that Kosara is a “multiple-position athlete.”

The heart and soul of the attack, however, is Cox, who is solid (6-0, 200 pounds), tough and reliable.

“I’d say he is going to be the best running back in the conference,” Ploener said.

“I like running downhill,” Cox admitted. “I’m not the fastest guy so if somebody is in front of me, I am going to try to run them over and get a couple more yards instead of trying to juke them.”

According to Frazier, four players are vying to be the QB, but the conventional wisdom is that junior Sam Forte has the edge.

“I think Sam (Forte) has what it takes to fill in and make his own legacy,” Ploener said.

In addition to quarterback, the big question mark is up front, on both sides of the ball. Two-way lineman Aiden Bowe (6-3, 235) is probably the best of the bunch, but there will be a lot of filing in required.

“That is going to be the challenge, and it’s really about depth,” Frazier explained. “If you don’t have the opportunity to platoon, you have guys who are going both ways and they wear down first. And if that happens, you are in trouble.”

With Ploener headlining the linebackers and Kosara at lockdown corner leading the secondary, those are areas of strength.

“But the linemen are putting in the work,” Ploener said. “These guys are stepping up.”

Another key concern is on special teams, where the Blue Demons lost points in just about every game last fall.

“Special teams is the piece we left out last year,” Frazier said. “We will spend a lot of time on it because you can win and lose games with it. We will give it equal time as we do to the offense and defense.”

POSITIVE EARLY REVIEWS FOR FRAZIER

The early reviews for the 37-year-old Frazier are in, and it is clear that his professional football experience lends credence to everything.

“I think that’s a part of it, but I don’t hand my hat on that,” Frazier said. “I’ve been working in education for the last 8-9 years. I like to think of myself as an advocate for young people, where you understand the importance of relationships and building trust.

“Kids get more excited about that. I can meet them at their level.”

Returning standouts Josh Ploener and Garrett Cox noticed a difference after just a few practices.

“He is inspiring. We all know that he knows what it takes to play at the highest level. He gives that vibe,” Ploener said.

“This coach really knows what he is talking about,” Cox added. “We’ve already learned a lot. He wants us to play fast with great effort and finish.

“Getting this head coach is the step we needed to get better.”

MAKING STRIDES WITHOUT BACKSLIDING

Over the years, Kennett has made strides when it comes to gaining respect on the football field, but there has always been some significant backsliding. Frazier wants progress to start building upon itself.

“It’s a phase by phase process,” he said. “If you come in and try to put a number on how many wins and losses, you are setting your program up for failure. It’s a brick-by-brick build. I don’t know what’s ahead, but I know you are not going to see what you saw on film from last year from an effort standpoint.”

He also wants his players to get to the point where they are not overthinking things. He wants them comfortable enough to begin acting instinctively.

“I didn’t see a lot of speed on the field last season – and I’m not talking about the 40-yard-dash,” Frazier said. “I’m talking about understanding and believing in what they are doing.

“I want them to master what we do so they can focus on what the opponent is trying to do. Our goal right now is to make sure we are competing, we are flying around and having fun.”

OFFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH 

Garrett Cox >> Just a junior, Cox established himself as one of the top 10 runners in the Ches Mont last fall. He gained 751 yards and scored 10 TDs for a squad that won just three games.
And even though the Demons have installed a new offense in each of his three years as a varsity player, he is expected to carry much of offensive load once again – especially since Kennett will be breaking in a new quarterback.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER TO WATCH 

Josh Ploener >> A valuable two-way player, Josh Ploener is the vocal leader for Kennett, and will almost certainly be the team’s top tackler at middle linebacker. At 6-foot-3, 198 pounds, he has the size to make a difference on both sides of the ball. And he also has a tenacious mindset.
“Nobody expects much from us, so we are going to have to go out and earn respect,” Ploener said. “It (ticks) me off when people dismiss us, but it just mkes me come out more determined.”

-By Neil Geoghegan, ngeoghegan@21st-centurymedia.com, @NeilMGeoghegan on Twitter