How Gardner football went from playoff afterthought to undefeated state-title contender
What does it mean to be a Gardner Wildcat?
That definition has taken on a different meaning this fall. From 2018 to 2022, Gardner's football team went 11-35. The best season during that stretch was a 4-6 record in 2019.
So coming into this season, the Wildcats were flying over the radar (rightfully so).
It was apparent early on this fall that this season would be different for Gardner. The Wildcats opened the year with a 31-0 thrashing of Quabbin. That started an eight-game winning streak during an undefeated regular season in which the Wildcats averaged 45 points per game.
Gardner is one of just two undefeated teams left in Div. 7. The Wildcats earned the No. 9 seed in the Div. 7 playoffs and will travel to play at No. 8 Tyngsborough on Friday at 6 p.m. The other team in the division is top-seeded Uxbridge.
So what has led to the dramatic turnaround on the gridiron this fall?
Becoming a force in Central Mass. football
Gardner is one of just 15 undefeated teams left in Massachusetts. Despite that, the Wildcats are the only undefeated club that open the playoffs on the road. Seeding is determined by a combination of strength of schedule and margin of victory.
That just gives them more to prove.
The Wildcats recognize that moving down the line may bring a tougher road to a state final, but they're up for the challenge.
“I think that a lot of us, during the summertime, we really put in the work to get better,” senior Ayden Sparrow said. “We were sick of just winning two or three games every year.
"A good amount of us hit the weight room this summer, we got on the field and we did as much work as we could to get better as a team.”
A star-studded roster
The combination of Sparrow, Alex Figueroa, Doherian Wells and Dakota Wells has powered Gardner thus far this season. Figueroa and the Wells brother have reunited with Sparrow this fall. After growing up together playing flag football, that bunch went separate ways during high school. Sparrow has been at Gardner, but Figueroa was at Lunenburg and the Wells brothers were at Fitchburg.
Despite that time apart, that group has a chemistry that makes it seem like its flag football again. That quartet leads the way on both sides of the ball.
Coming into the season, the team had no doubts they would see success this year.
“If we have a good week of practice, we can easily beat anyone,” Sparrow said.
Figueroa agreed with his teammate. “What Ayden said, if we just have good weeks at practice and everyone shows up. … I think we will do great.”
Last season, Sparrow was forced to play quarterback. This season, he's moved back to his natural position at running back as Figueroa has shined behind center.
“I’ve been playing quarterback for a while, so I guess I’m used to [the pressure],” Figueroa said.
Building a strong program
At the helm of this rising program is coach Sean Whittle.
Whittle became the head coach of Gardner in 2019, after being named interim coach for the 2018 season following Rob Allard’s resignation. Whittle stepped in during the midst of Gardner’s downfall, having not had a winning season since 2013. Finally, he can see that his hard work with the program is paying off.
Whittle has built a solid foundation that allows his players to flourish as leaders. It's also been a fun experience because ...
“This year’s been special because we finally get the feeling of winning,” Sparrow said.
The Wildcats have received a heaping helping of community support during their stellar run. The boys soccer team can relate as well. Gardner's other 'football' team is the No. 5 seed in the Div. 4 tournament.
“Every single time we’d win a game it was probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever felt,” Sparrow said of his past seasons at Gardner. “Every win felt like a special thing, but now that we’re winning every game it feels good to have this winning environment in Gardner.”
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Inside unbeaten Gardner High football's turnaround
