Unadilla Valley Football Preview
NEW BERLIN – Continuity and consistency within a coaching staff breeds success. It's proven that schools who keep the same coaches in place at the varsity, junior varsity, and lower levels have found success.
Walton has had the same coach for close to four decades, while Chenango Forks has had most of the same guys for nearly 20 years.
Over at Unadilla Valley last season, Mark Segina was the fifth different varsity head football coach in five years, and of course, he brought in the fifth different offensive and defensive philosophy. Segina, though, is the first Storm football coach in six years to come back for a second year.
"I was the latest thing with a new playbook and new ideas, and I wouldn't have blamed the kids if there was some cynicism there," Segina said. "I think they were waiting (for us coaches) to prove it to them.
"We spent last year bringing them up to what we wanted to do. This is modern football and how modern football teams prepare. It took a while for them to buy in, and as crazy as it sounds, I saw improvement in the losses, even the ones that were blowouts."
UV was seldom in any games beyond the first half until finally breaking through in week eight against Oxford. There, the offense and defense clicked in a season-ending 27-14 victory. The final mark of 1-7 was inauspicious, but ending with a win was a positive to build toward the 2014 season.
"If you go anywhere in the football playoffs, only one team does not end the season with a loss," Segina said. "For us, it was certainly good for us to finish with a win. We didn't get down on ourselves, and against Oxford, we were able to capitalize on the development we showed throughout the season."
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Below we have an inside look at each position for Unadilla Valley’s 2014 season:
BACKFIELD
The Storm currently have a three-way battle at quarterback with each bringing his own unique skillset. Nick Bonanno, Jared White, and Mason Fernette make up the trio, and the two that do not get the starting nod will still find themselves somewhere on the field, Segina said. "We'll find out more in the scrimmage," the UV coach said.
Leading the running back corps is senior Alex Avolio, who led the team with 493 yards rushing and four TDs. It was Avolio's first season in the backfield, and he has become more instinctual and fundamental with his running style, Segina said. Complementing Avolio's bruising style is speedy sophomore halfback Caleb Simons. Fernette may also see his share of reps in the backfield as well.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT END
Last year's leading receiver, Brett Hanslmaier is back, and with large tight end Hank deGlee, whomever nails down the QB starting spot will have a pair of big targets from which to choose. Moving to one of the receiver spots, too, is last year's starting quarterback, Ryan Postma. Postma has an all-around skillset, and Segina said that Postma can "make even an average quarterback look good." Also working in as a receiver are Robert Sponable, Ethan Gray, and Dillon Kuda.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Just two of five starters return on the line, but those two are solid anchors. At guard is two-time all-county pick, Richie Conklin, while sophomore second-year player Sam Tuttle proved his was varsity ready a season ago. About Conklin, "There wasn't a game where I didn't see Richie clean someone's clock," Segina said. Expected to move into starting roles are Corey Lamb, Steve Osborne, and Mason Mikalunas. Hunter Christian and Kurtis Wilson are also vying for a guard and tackle spot. "We have some good size on the line, and the main thing is that we continue repping the guys to get their speed up," Segina said. "We're running a lot of speed and agility drills in practice."
DEFENSE
UV had spurts where it played solid defense, and came together for its best performance in the win over Oxford. Until that victory, however, Segina's defense gave up nearly 40 points a game, a stat that would not sit well with anyone. "We're not changing much, we just have to do what do better," Segina said.
Missed tackles contributed as much to UV's defensive woes as much as getting outmanned by strong teams. Outside of the players already mentioned as offensive starters, Mike Patrick and Drake Winnicki will lock down in the defensive backfield as cornerbacks for a UV defense that will operate with a three-man defensive front, four linebackers, and four defensive backs. "I like our defense and who is in it this year," Segina said.
OUTLOOK
The Storm still play in a difficult division, but with another year of experience and individual team growth, Segina expects to be more competitive than last year and improve in the win column. “We play Moravia in our first game, and Moravia has a long streak of winning seasons," Segina said. "We'll know early on how we stack up."
QUOTABLE
"The established programs, they go into games expecting to win. At Unadilla Valley, they haven't expected to win, and we have to overcome that. The kids on our roster were very successful as younger players. They're more relaxed and comfortable, and they know what we're doing (as a coaching staff)." –– Mark Segina
Walton has had the same coach for close to four decades, while Chenango Forks has had most of the same guys for nearly 20 years.
Over at Unadilla Valley last season, Mark Segina was the fifth different varsity head football coach in five years, and of course, he brought in the fifth different offensive and defensive philosophy. Segina, though, is the first Storm football coach in six years to come back for a second year.
"I was the latest thing with a new playbook and new ideas, and I wouldn't have blamed the kids if there was some cynicism there," Segina said. "I think they were waiting (for us coaches) to prove it to them.
"We spent last year bringing them up to what we wanted to do. This is modern football and how modern football teams prepare. It took a while for them to buy in, and as crazy as it sounds, I saw improvement in the losses, even the ones that were blowouts."
UV was seldom in any games beyond the first half until finally breaking through in week eight against Oxford. There, the offense and defense clicked in a season-ending 27-14 victory. The final mark of 1-7 was inauspicious, but ending with a win was a positive to build toward the 2014 season.
"If you go anywhere in the football playoffs, only one team does not end the season with a loss," Segina said. "For us, it was certainly good for us to finish with a win. We didn't get down on ourselves, and against Oxford, we were able to capitalize on the development we showed throughout the season."
---
Below we have an inside look at each position for Unadilla Valley’s 2014 season:
BACKFIELD
The Storm currently have a three-way battle at quarterback with each bringing his own unique skillset. Nick Bonanno, Jared White, and Mason Fernette make up the trio, and the two that do not get the starting nod will still find themselves somewhere on the field, Segina said. "We'll find out more in the scrimmage," the UV coach said.
Leading the running back corps is senior Alex Avolio, who led the team with 493 yards rushing and four TDs. It was Avolio's first season in the backfield, and he has become more instinctual and fundamental with his running style, Segina said. Complementing Avolio's bruising style is speedy sophomore halfback Caleb Simons. Fernette may also see his share of reps in the backfield as well.
RECEIVERS/TIGHT END
Last year's leading receiver, Brett Hanslmaier is back, and with large tight end Hank deGlee, whomever nails down the QB starting spot will have a pair of big targets from which to choose. Moving to one of the receiver spots, too, is last year's starting quarterback, Ryan Postma. Postma has an all-around skillset, and Segina said that Postma can "make even an average quarterback look good." Also working in as a receiver are Robert Sponable, Ethan Gray, and Dillon Kuda.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Just two of five starters return on the line, but those two are solid anchors. At guard is two-time all-county pick, Richie Conklin, while sophomore second-year player Sam Tuttle proved his was varsity ready a season ago. About Conklin, "There wasn't a game where I didn't see Richie clean someone's clock," Segina said. Expected to move into starting roles are Corey Lamb, Steve Osborne, and Mason Mikalunas. Hunter Christian and Kurtis Wilson are also vying for a guard and tackle spot. "We have some good size on the line, and the main thing is that we continue repping the guys to get their speed up," Segina said. "We're running a lot of speed and agility drills in practice."
DEFENSE
UV had spurts where it played solid defense, and came together for its best performance in the win over Oxford. Until that victory, however, Segina's defense gave up nearly 40 points a game, a stat that would not sit well with anyone. "We're not changing much, we just have to do what do better," Segina said.
Missed tackles contributed as much to UV's defensive woes as much as getting outmanned by strong teams. Outside of the players already mentioned as offensive starters, Mike Patrick and Drake Winnicki will lock down in the defensive backfield as cornerbacks for a UV defense that will operate with a three-man defensive front, four linebackers, and four defensive backs. "I like our defense and who is in it this year," Segina said.
OUTLOOK
The Storm still play in a difficult division, but with another year of experience and individual team growth, Segina expects to be more competitive than last year and improve in the win column. “We play Moravia in our first game, and Moravia has a long streak of winning seasons," Segina said. "We'll know early on how we stack up."
QUOTABLE
"The established programs, they go into games expecting to win. At Unadilla Valley, they haven't expected to win, and we have to overcome that. The kids on our roster were very successful as younger players. They're more relaxed and comfortable, and they know what we're doing (as a coaching staff)." –– Mark Segina
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