The chips were stacked against Unadilla Valley’s football team this year. Mired in a seven-year string of losing seasons – three of those without a victory – and a fourth coach in four years, the Storm barely had enough players to field a team. From an outsider’s point of view, not much was expected of UV.

Fortunately, players such as senior Kody Homann had other thoughts.

Homann, one of a handful of seniors on the varsity club, returned as one of the most proven performers from a two-win season a year ago. Not blessed with great size, Homann has made up for that deficiency with incredible football instincts. And then some.

“I don’t think I’ve coached another kid like him,” said UV first-year co-head coach Daryl Decker, who first coached Homann in ninth grade on the junior varsity team. “He has such an incredible feel for the game.”

Decker relies on his assistants during games, but also what Homann sees on the field. Who better to diagnose what the opposition is doing than an actual player on the field? Especially one who studies game film during free periods in school, and has enjoyed advanced tutorial sessions as a volunteer for Milford Academy’s football team.