Waldron football's Team 70 look to make 2023 an impact year for the program
WALDRON — After earning two-straight winning seasons, the Waldron varsity football team could not overcome the loss of a talented senior class and looked to reload during the 2022 season.
The Spartans earned their first victory of the season in week four, and then defeated Burr Oak in week eight to earn their other win of the 2022 season. They finished with just a 2-7 overall record.
Despite their '22 slump, head coach Toney Roney and the Spartan football team head into their 70th season of football within the program with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment of getting back to playing more hard-nosed, traditional Spartan football in 2023. The Spartans enter 2023 hoping to turn Team 70 into their 23rd winning season in program history.
From 2022, Waldron lost senior dream team honorees Frank Duelo (LB), Maverick Stuckey, Kayden Depew (RB) and Logan Spence (DL). They return senior lineman Anthony Perez, senior linebacker and offensive weapon Sam Williams, freshman Collin Williams, junior Alec Shamplo and senior defensive back Cam Kurtz.
More: Introducing the 2022 All-Area Dream Team Defense and Coach of the Year honorees
Defensive stars return for 2023
The key player returning to the defense for his senior season is Sam Williams. Williams, a seniors captain, has been one of the team's dream team selections in the past two seasons. Now heading into his final season, Williams hopes to once-again be one of the top area linebackers, regardless of level and division.
Last fall, Williams was unable to take advantage of his junior year after an ACL tear. The team missed his leadership and skill on both sides of the ball. He believes he is ready to step back into a large role on defense and offense. The senior says last season's early exit has emphasized the importance of locking in for his final season and giving it 100-percent on every rep, even in practice.
"It was very difficult watching last year when I just wanted to play," said Williams. "It kind of just locked me in to this year. I'm ready to hit, run and catch again."
Head coach Anthony Roney believes that Williams will be the key piece that will fix some of their defensive issues from last season. A leader by example, coach Roney sees an easy path for Williams to break his 100-plus tackle mark in 2023.
"Williams is an ideal football player," said Roney. "He's come back and he's hungry. He's a good kid and very coachable. He's a quiet leader but he leads by example. He had 100 tackles as a sophomore. Having that production coming back onto our defense is going to be a tremendous help."
Another senior impact player returning this fall is Anthony Perez. One of the most talented linemen in the SCAA-East Division, Perez has been the example of Spartan football the past couple of years. Perez has seen his enthusiasm and dedication trickle down to his other teammates. Perez believes that the mindset of the players has been the biggest change he has seen this offseason.
"The difference between last year and this year is our mindset," said Perez. "Our mindset had to change to working hard, finishing to the ball and running the ball. Our mindset wasn't there last year, but this year we are coming back 100-percent."
Perez and the rest of the Spartans come in on the lower end of 8-player roster numbers, but Perez doesn't want anyone to think that their numbers mean they won't give the same energy as some of the larger schools in the county and in the SCAA/SMFL league this fall.
"We may lack in numbers, but that doesn't matter to us," said Perez. "We will play with eight guys right now for four quarters and be ready for all four quarters. Our dedication to this team has been stronger. This summer, we had the exact same kids show up that are out here now (in August). They kept showing up, wanting to work harder."
Both seniors will join dream team honorees Cam Kurtz, Alec Shamplo and Collin Williams in forming the base strength of the 2023 Spartan football team. Along with the returning defensive stars, coach Anthony Roney believes senior Brexton Daley will make an impact this season after being out with injury last fall.
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Offensive progression with a young quarterback
The Spartans will look to find a way to spread out the offensive production they have lost in the offseason with a newly defined passing game. Quarterback Seth Williams, younger brother of Sam Williams, returns for his sophomore season after starting most of last season. Williams passed for 797 yards and four touchdowns in 2022; however, he added six interceptions to that stat line.
Head coach Anthony Roney says that Williams has been ahead of schedule since getting the green light as a starter his freshman season. He split the initial snaps from weeks one through four last season, but then gained the starting job in week five.
"He's ahead of schedule," said Roney. "The intent was that he wasn't going to start, but we were going to have a couple special packages for him. He sees the field well, delivers a nice ball and his footwork is getting better every day. He's getting stronger, spending a lot of time in the weight room. We are looking forward to what he'll be doing around here for us these next three years."
A large portion of their 2022 offensive production from the passing game will be almost entirely up for grabs. Coach Roney believes that Sam Williams, Troy and Alec Shamplo and Collin Williams will give Seth Williams a solid foundation of receiving options to expand their passing game.
On the offensive line, it's business as usual for the Spartans, who bring back plenty of size and experience. Coach Roney says that three-year starting center AJ Wilson and Anthony Perez will anchor the line this fall.
"They will keep our Waldron identity of being big and allow us to run the football," said Roney.
Schedule
Aug. 26: at Lakeside Danbury (OH) ; 5 p.m. (Saturday)
Aug. 31: at Tekonsha; 7 p.m. SCAA East
Sept. 8: vs. Burr Oak; 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: at Adrian Lenawee Christian; 7 p.m. SCAA East
Sept. 22: at Pittsford; 7 p.m. SCAA East
Sept. 29: vs. Litchfield; 7 p.m. SCAA East
Oct. 7: vs. Camden-Frontier; 7 p.m. (Saturday) SCAA East
Oct. 13: vs. North Adams-Jerome; 7 p.m. SCAA East
Oct. 21: at Stryker (OH); 7 p.m.
With the rest of the county 8-player football teams, Waldron will be matched up with a newly aligned SCAA-East Division. In this new alignment, they will play every county football team and play teams like Lenawee Christian.
Coach Roney is not concerned about the new schedule, and he sees it as an opportunity for his smaller football team to match up with some of the best southern Michigan 8-player football teams.
"We are Waldron, and we will bring what we got," said Roney. "If they want to bring the Lenawee's of the world into our conference, we will play who they tell us to play."
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This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Waldron football looks to earn 23rd winning season with Team 70
