Running back/linebacker Richardson Derosena is one of many two-ways starters for Boys & Girls. (Robert Cole)
Before anyone could complain or bemoan the lower roster numbers, Clive Harding gave his players a history lesson. Back in 2001, he told them, his first year at an assistant coach at Sheepshead Bay, the Sharks won a city championship with just 29 players.
“It’s not impossible,” the second-year Boys & Girls head coach said. “It can really be done.”
The Kangaroos are in such dire straights, but they will have their lowest numbers in years, Harding said, between 34 and 37 players. As a result, every impact player will go both ways aside from senior quarterback Keon Marsh.
To prepare for the demanding workload, Harding put his players through rigorous off-season training. They are running more than in previous years, before and after practices, even during walkthrough. Two-way lineman Kenville Davis described it as tough, but worth it.
“We need the running,” he said.
Harding played two ways himself in high school and thinks it can be a bonus, as far as getting recruiting goes. His players have bought in and don’t seem concerned.
“Low numbers won’t affect us at all,” star linebacker/fullback Tristan Laurore added. “That’s why we’re here getting this work in, to be able to stay on the field four quarters or more.”
Harding is high on this group, experienced winners looking to build on the program’s recent success. Marsh will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, from explosive senior tailback Najee (Buffalo) Champagne (919 yards rushing, 10 TD’s last year) and bruising fullback Richardson Derosena (five TD’s) to his brother, wide receiver Akeel Marsh, and halfback/receiver Nate Miller. Harding even thinks Donta Rodriguez and Malik Reid are capable starters and will get plenty of touches too.
“I think I have phenomenal talent,” he said. “If we stay healthy we can go deep in the playoffs.’
The offensive line, anchored by 6-foot-2, 310-pound left tackle Shamel Peters, isn’t necessarily mammoth, but it has a track record of opening holes. Davis and Travis Caldwell are also penciled in as starters after seeing spot duty last year.
The group will be asked to be versatile – in case of injury, Harding is working out his offensive lineman at each spot on the line. He also wants them proficient in run and pass-blocking as Harding plans to open up the offense with the 6-foot-3 Marsh, his nephew who threw for 560 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions last year.
Virtually the entire said group will be on the field on defense as well. Caldwell, Davis and Peters will also be counted on up front while the 5-foot-9, 195-pound Laurore keys the unit. Lauruore, who will also play some fullback in addition to middle linebacker, has drawn significant college interest from New Haven, Fordham, Temple and Boston College after collecting a team-high 84 tackles along with two sacks last year.
“He’s gonna give us 120 percent every play,” Harding said of the senior, a blitzing weapon. “He’s gonna make tackles and I think he’s an All-City linebacker.”
Reid and Richardson, the fullback, will start alongside Laurore at outside linebacker, Miller we be back at cornerback and Akeel Marsh captains the defense at safety.
While the numbers may have come as somewhat of a surprise, this group of seniors is used to going both ways. They are also familiar with one another, many of them going 6-3 on the junior varsity as freshmen and falling in the quarterfinals of the playoffs the last two years.
“We have a lot of chemistry – that’s one of the most important things you need to win football games,” Laurore said. “We’re looking to do something great.”