By Chris Parker
Buffalo football will have many new players playing on Friday nights this fall after the graduation of a large and talented senior class that featured six all-region and two all-state players.
“They (the senior class) leave behind a big hole to fill,” Buffalo head coach Ed Phillips said. “Our senior class’s legacy was their leadership and how they led our team. They did an outstanding job of doing that.”
The past five seasons have been some of the best in Buffalo history with five straight seasons at or above .500 and a district title. This success has come with top to bottom changes in the program.
“It (football) is important to them. In the past five years, they have worked really hard in the weight room. They have understood what it takes to be successful. You have to improve your strength, speed, size and your willingness to do the little things outside of football. Plus (to know) how to practice,” Phillips said. “We practice way better than we used to, and we lift weights and understand the program that we do there. At the same time, they are also good people and understand not to get in trouble. They have done just a nice job of believing the things we teach, getting on board, believing in the system and believing what we do.”
In total four seniors and six juniors with experience return with varsity experience meaning many new names will have to step up on varsity.
“We are extremely young. We have had good practices in the summer and good turnout. We have a great young group of kids coming. Right now, we are going to lean on them because they are a majority of the team,” Phillips said. “We don’t have a lot in our upper classes. Usually, you play football for many years, you get stronger and you learn to play better. We are going to be raw, so we are going to have to do a great job of coaching and teaching. The seniors and juniors we have need to do a great job in their leadership. We are going to ask a lot out of a lot of young people. The future is now so to speak.”
The quarterback position will fall on the shoulders of freshman Isaiah Young.
“He is the best athlete to put in that position. I think he is going to be a guy after the mold of Jamen Smith and Brett Schwanke. Not putting too much pressure as a freshman, but if he develops and continues to grow and do the things he has been doing this summer, the future is bright for him,” Phillips said. “I have seen freshmen flourish and do well and he has the pedigree to do that.”
Senior Ben Foree will look to step up in the backfield.
“He (Foree) is one of those returning guys who has to be a dude. He has to be one of those guys that steps up and plays well,” Phillips said.
Mason Beesley will also see carries, but he can play many positions from running back to tight end to wide receiver. Matt Skinner, Aiden Patrick and Michael Miller will also be in the mix for carries.
The unit overall will be very inexperienced on the varsity level as none had a varsity carry last season.
On the outside, the wide receiving corps bring great size and athleticism. Blair Abraham is a 6-foot-7 sophomore who will have a big role.
“He (Abraham) is an outstanding athlete. He has had a great summer. He has excellent hands. He is six-foot-seven, so that is a great target. He is working on his speed and his strength,” Phillips said.
Dalton Bennett is a six-foot-three sophomore who will also play out wide. Returning starter Donovin Portis can use his six-foot-two frame on the outside or at tight end. Senior Avery Patrick will compete for time at receiver as well.
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Junior Cody Parker is the lone returning starter on the offensive line.
“He (Parker) is the biggest of the offensive linemen. We expect him to be a leader and help these young guys along,” Phillips said. “He has worked on his footwork and strength.”
Tavian Sanderson, Logan Heglund, Ricky Vasquez, Drake Haberman and Chase McNett will also compete for time on the line.
The split between pass and rush on offense is to be determined.
“We are going to see what we do well, and we will try to use that. I don’t know what we will be yet. We will try to be balanced as much as we can,” Phillips said.
On defense, the linebacking corps will be the key to success.
“Our linebackers should be the strength of our team. That is where we have the most experience back,” Phillips said.
Foree is in the middle of the defense and an anchor of the unit.
“I think he (Foree) is going to have an amazing year. He has had a great offseason. He has gotten a lot faster. His football IQ is a lot better from playing it for a year now and just understanding what to do. He is going to lead us. How good we are defensively will be how good he plays,” Phillips said.
Beesley is the team’s leading returning tackler.
Avery Patrick and Jarryn Chaote will look for time at linebacker as well.
Up front, Portis will be a defensive end with Haberman or Bennett at the other end. Parker, Sanderson, Vasquez and McNett will work to be in the middle of the defensive line.
The secondary will feature Skinner and Aiden Patrick at safety.
Drake Hodge (junior), Owen Phillips (sophomore), Michael Miller and Abraham will all compete for time at cornerback.
Buffalo will look to use its quickness as a way to overcome its size.
“I want to see them compete. If they compete, we will be good. There will be adversity. We are not as big and as strong as we have been in the past. That is the bottom line,” Phillips said. “I think we are as quick as we have ever been. We have key people in key positions. If they play well, I think we can have a good season. I think we have a quarterback that is one of the better freshmen in this area if not the best in this area. He is a tremendous talent.”
Buffalo will travel to Warsaw for a jamboree on Aug. 25 with the host Wildcats, Osage and Skyline. The Bison opens the season on Aug. 25 at Ava.
“We are looking to get better every day and compete and that is it. We will let the rest take care of itself. We have always been that way. That is not because we have a young team, that is just how we do things. That is our philosophy,” Phillips said. “We practice hard. We try to grow and develop as the season goes along. As we develop, grow and compete and see what happens at the end. We want our kids to grow up and be good young men. We want them to be leaders in the school. We want them to play for each other and not themselves. We want them to play disciplined. We want to come with an attitude to get better every day. If we do that, we will be successful. It won’t matter what the win-loss record is because we know that is going to come. We know that. The future is so bright here.”
