Chris Beagan hustled across the practice field at Sayreville War Memorial High School, pointing to the sideline.
It was a Thursday morning, on Aug. 22, which marked another dog day of summer training camp.
“On the line!” Beagan shouted. “On the line!”
The Sayreville football coach blew his whistle and his players took off. They completed one suicide.
Whistle. Another suicide. Whistle again. One last suicide.
Then the players hustled over to the water cooler. Practice was, at last, over.
Conditioning is a priority for the 2018 Bombers. Last year, they finished 6-5 and lost in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 state sectional playoff semifinals.
But they lost two regular season games by one point in overtime. Those games were the difference between a good season and a great season. They likely will be again this fall.
Sayreville kicks off the 2018 season at North Brunswick High School on Sept. 7.
“We need to start strong and end strong,” said Sayreville outside linebacker Conner Anthony. “We didn’t finish games last year. We’d start strong and then fade at the end.”
The Bombers should have lofty goals for the upcoming season.
They won in the opening round of the state playoffs when they defeated Colonia High School, 31-0. And 18 starting positions, nine on offense, nine on defense, return players from a season ago.
But if you ask the players, they are not focused on winning more games and going deeper in the playoffs. They just want to earn the small victories that add up to big victories. The victories they didn’t earn in 2017.
“Just compete and get better every day,” said Sayreville running back/cornerback Jacari Carter.
“We expect to win the day in practice, get better every day,” said Sayreville lineman Agustin DelValle. “Just focus on the day. Don’t worry about the day after or the day before that.”
“We’ve got to be more disciplined and communicate with each other, to be honest,” said Sayreville receiver/safety Connor Holmes.
The Bombers are focused on grit because they know they have talent.
Beagan’s spread offense is loaded with explosive skill position players, like Holmes, Carter, receiver Antwan Golson and running back Savon Kirksey.
“On the field at any given time, we have four or five guys that can score any time they touch the ball,” Beagan said. We want to spread the field and get the ball to our athletes in open space.”
Junior quarterback Mark Whitford is responsible for getting the ball to Sayreville’s athletes. Whitford won an open quarterback competition last summer, but struggled early in the season.
“He was thrown into the fire with a lot of expectations,” Beagan said. “But he took advantage of adversity and really grew as a player and individual.”
This year, Whitford looks like a different quarterback. He is also surrounded by more experienced talent.
“His arm has strengthened. He’s making throws he couldn’t make last year with regularity. He’s also seeing the field better,” Beagan said. “And the skill guys make his job that much easier. We were young there last year and they are all returning.”
Athleticism will define Sayreville’s defense, too, in 2018. Beagan and his staff have installed a 3-4 unit that is well-suited to the Bombers’ roster.
Sayreville has three experienced linemen who can fill gaps and occupy offensive linemen. In doing so, they will free up athletic linebackers to make plays.
Anthony said the strategy is working in practice, at least.
“They do a very good job at it,” Anthony said. “Everyone is communicating, playing together and flying to the ball.”
Sayreville will definitely be talented and athletic this year. The results, though, will depend on how gritty they remain through September, October and possibly November. It is much easier to be gritty in August.
Beagan understands that.
“We have high expectations. We do every year,” he said. “But I’d just like to see us play consistent football. Hard-nosed, cerebral football and we’ll let the chips lay where they are.”
