Delbarton star running back looking to end his football career on a high note
Ryan Trafford has always been up for a challenge.
Five years ago, when he was in the eighth grade and mapping out his high school future, Trafford chose Delbarton knowing he would be leaving behind some of his life-long friends and teammates.
And when it came time to choose a college, he decided on the United States Naval Academy to pursue a lacrosse career and ultimately serve his country.
“I’ve always challenged myself. I knew Delbarton was demanding both academically and athletically going in and I wanted to test myself. It’s always been that way for me, in the classroom and in sports,” Trafford said. “Initially, it was a hard decision to leave my friends in Caldwell to attend Delbarton. It’s like no other school in the country. I feel the same way about the Naval Academy. I couldn’t pass up on the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
Trafford, a senior running back for the Green Wave, faces his latest challenge when Delbarton (9-1) hosts Seton Hall Prep (5-6) on Saturday in the Non-Public A football semifinals at Regan Field. The Green Wave, No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY NETWORK Statewide Non-Public Top 10 rankings, are in the semifinals for the second straight year and are one win away from the program's first trip to a state final since 2014.
“It’s special to be a part of it all. As a program, we’ve grown so much over the last few years. You could see the buildup and progress as it was happening,” Trafford said. “We have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done here in a long time.”
Trafford has been part of Delbarton’s growth in recent years. A key force in the Green Wave offense the last two seasons, Trafford has contributed 2,251 yards and 30 touchdowns. Last fall, he ran for 1,631 yards and 18 touchdowns to lead Delbarton to its first state semifinal appearance in five years.
“Ryan is a model student-athlete and teammate. He’s the perfect running back for our system here at Delbarton,” coach Brian Bowers said. “He reinforces the message that it’s about the team and that everyone has a role. It’s never about him. Ryan is incredibly humble and he always gives credit to his linemen. He’s a big reason for our success and what we’ve been able to accomplish.”
Closing the gap
In recent years, the gap between the best and next-best non-public football teams in northern New Jersey appears to be tightening.
That was evident last fall when Delbarton showed it could compete against several parochial rivals.
Following a slow start in which they dropped their first three games, the Green Wave picked up steam, winning four straight before dropping the last two of the regular season to DePaul and St. Joseph (Montvale) by a combined 11 points.
In the postseason, Delbarton rolled past St. Joseph (Metuchen), 42-6 and avenged an early-season loss to St. Peter’s Prep, winning 35-12. A season-ending setback against Bergen Catholic, 28-7, closed out a 6-6 campaign.
“It’s a continual evolution, like everything else. There’s a lot of history and tradition here and we’re taking the next step to be where we want to be,” said Bowers, in his 21st season as head coach. “Our senior class is a special group and they’re a big reason for our success. Around 13 of our seniors will go on to play college football and other sports. It’s awesome to see their progress and what they have been able to accomplish in four years. They want to do something special and finish strong.”
Delbarton is currently in the midst of its best season in nearly a decade. After splitting their first two games in early September, the Green Wave have peeled off eight straight wins, including beating St. Peter’s Prep, Paramus Catholic, Pope John, DePaul and St. Joseph. In last week’s state quarterfinals, they took down Don Bosco, 14-9.
“We only won one game when we were freshmen. That year, the varsity went 6-0 in a COVID season. The program is moving in the right direction,” Trafford said. “To go from one win as a group a few years ago to nine wins and a state semifinal appearance, is amazing and I’m grateful to be a part of it.”
Lacrosse over football
Trafford grew up in a football-centric family. His father, Rob, played football at Verona High School and his uncle, Rodney Trafford, was an All-State quarterback at Delbarton in the late 1990’s and played college football for Lou Holtz at the University of South Carolina. He also played in the NFL for five different teams, including the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.
But as much as Ryan Trafford enjoys football, his passion and love is with lacrosse.
“I really enjoy both sports, but I’ve always played lacrosse at a higher level. I got into the sport in the third grade,” Trafford said. “Lacrosse is free-flowing and it’s fast. There’s no pause or down-time. I like the pace.”
Since sixth grade, Trafford has been playing club level lacrosse with Building Blocks Lacrosse out of Florham Park. He made a name for himself freshmen year playing in a limited role when he helped Delbarton beat rival Seton Hall Prep, 7-6 in the Non-Public A semifinals.
Last school year, Trafford committed to Navy to play lacrosse. His older brother, Rob, is a sophomore at the Annapolis, Maryland based military academy.
“I like the military academy lifestyle. The campus and atmosphere reminds me a lot of Delbarton,” Trafford said. “I feel comfortable there and the lacrosse program fits me. I’ve been there to see my brother and had the opportunity to tour the campus and meet the coaching staff.”
With his high school football career and playing days winding down, Trafford and his teammates are focused on the road ahead and are up for the challenges that await.
“It’s bittersweet. Football is a game I’ve played for a long time and it’s sad knowing there’s only a few games left,” Trafford said. “But knowing we have a chance to do something big and accomplish something a Delbarton team hasn’t done in a long time, makes it that much special. I couldn’t imagine being a part of all this with any other group of guys.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ryan Trafford: Delbarton RB looking to end his career on a high note
