New leaders, same expectations for St. Mary's football in 2023

GAYLORD ― The Gaylord St. Mary football program is set to begin its fifth season in 8-player football since they made the move from 11-player to start the 2019 season.

It has turned out to be a successful move as GSM has asserted itself as one of the better 8-player programs in Northern Michigan, reaching the 8-player Division 2 playoffs in all four seasons while advancing all the way to the regional final three of four years.

Each season comes with new challenges, and the Snowbirds and head coach Kevin O'Connell will look to meet the challenges the 2023 season brings head-on, including a new set of leaders in the locker room, new teams joining the 8-player ranks and a still ever-changing schedule, all while breaking in a brand-new stadium in the process.

Still, there are plenty of reasons for the Snowbirds to feel confident heading into a new campaign as they hope to claim back to the top of the Ski Valley Conference and advance into the postseason once again.

They won't get ahead of themselves, however; that part of the team's identity hasn't changed.

"We haven't beat Pickford yet, so we're not feeling good yet," said O'Connell. "We know that's going to be a tough task."

New leaders bring new vibe to locker room

GSM's most recent graduating class was as impactful a class as any area team has had in recent years; throughout their four years and all three seasons, the Class of 2023 was leading successful Snowbirds teams on a pretty consistent basis.

The new captains, Dillon Croff and Brett Koscielniak, aren't looking to replicate what guys like Gavin Bebble and Brody Jeffers brought; instead, they have brought their own style of leadership to the GSM locker room, creating a new vibe that has Coach O'Connell excited about what they can do with the team in their hands.

MORE: Breaking down the Gaylord St. Mary Football schedule

"You can't replace them," said O'Connell, speaking about the leaders of last year. "Totally different type of leadership. Dillon and Brett, they're not loud, in-your-face kind of guys. They're just quiet, just a different mood in the locker room. But still good, it's really tight senior class."

New personnel capitalizing on last year's experience

This won't be the first time GSM had to adjust to life without Bebble and Jeffers. Just last season, those two spent nearly a third of last season sidelined with injuries early in the year, leaving the Snowbirds with a predicament at quarterback in games against Central Lake, Forest Area and Inland Lakes.

In stepped then-sophomore Daniel Jacobson.

The J.V. QB became the varsity signal-caller for those three games, and his performances proved he had the talent to become the varsity QB of the future, leading GSM to a 2-1 record and turned what could've been an overwhelming matchup against the eventual SVC champions, Inland Lakes, into a back-and-forth battle and a close loss.

"One thing I've learned from DJ is don't ever doubt him. He'll prove you wrong every time," said O'Connell. "He is an outstanding leader, an incredible competitor. He's not shy about his emotions, and he demands excellence. And he's a great teammate."

His presence on offense and defense will be huge, but while Jacobson solidifies some of the gaps left by the Class of 2023, senior Dillon Croff is the biggest name returning to the Snowbirds roster.

The reigning SVC Player of the Year and an all-state honorable mention was one of the biggest breakout stars in Northern Michigan last year, ending the season with 1,430 total offensive yards and 21 touchdowns.

He's the Snowbirds' go-to guy and everyone knows it.

"If the ball isn't in his hands 24 times a game, I should be fired," said O'Connell. "He's got a bullseye on his back, and he knows it."

MORE: Reigning Ski Valley POY Croff headlines St. Mary's football players to watch in 2023

Changing schedule and new stadium

One of the biggest off-the-field stories revolves around the field itself as GSM unveils its own stadium this season, finally breaking away from the field at Gaylord Intermediate to a place they can call home.

"It's nice to have our own field and we don't have to pay to use someone else's. And we don't have to take a bus to home games," said O'Connell. "A lot of people say it's long overdue. But it'll be nice to have as a matter of convenience and a sense of pride that the kids have their own field."

The stadium, located next to school's the baseball and softball fields off of North Street, is in the final stages of construction, with stadium lights starting to go up this week as part of the final steps.

When does the Snowbirds varsity team get to debut that field? That is another question entirely.

The originally scheduled week three home opener was canceled when Forest Area's football season folded due to a lack of turnout. Now, it looks as though GSM won't play at home for the first time until October 7 against Whittemore-Prescott unless a major turn of events takes place in the final hours before schedules are set.

That's far from a concern for Coach O'Connell and the players; their focus is firmly on their opener in the U.P. against Pickford on Thursday, Aug. 24.

And it'll all be worth it a the end of the season, when the stadium will play host to what will likely be the SVC's unofficial championship game in week nine when GSM hosts Inland Lakes, the predicted top-two teams in the conference.

"They're loaded. And week nine, for the conference? Should be fun," said O'Connell.

Contact Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: New leaders, same expecations for Gaylord St. Mary Snowbirds football in 2023