Playing where the big boys play
Strongsville Football League varsity teams kick off season at Pat Catan Stadium
Strongsville Gray quarterback Nolan Beard looks for running room in the Suburban Youth Football Conference season opener versus Strongsville Black at Pat Catan Stadium on Sept. 6. Beard’s team came up short by a 6-0 score. Photo by TERRY BRLAS
STRONGSVILLE – The Suburban Youth Football Conference kicked off its 2017 varsity season on Sept. 6 at Pat Catan Stadium under the lights. The two Strongsville teams squared off with the Mustang Black defeating the Mustang Gray by a 6-0 score. The result, however, was somewhat inconsequential.
The experience of playing where the varsity Mustang football players give of their sweat and effort on Friday nights in the fall was the real draw. This was the second year the varsity teams (ages 11-12) opened the season at Catan Stadium.
“The only SFL division that plays here is our varsity. This is something you achieve,” said SFL President Chad Dasher. “Another thing the varsity players get to do is design their own jersey. They get their name on it and get to keep it. The kids went to school today strutting their new jerseys.”
Players have been working hard since August leading to the opener. Gray coach Glenn Lytle is proud of his players.
“To get out here on the turf is a great experience for the kids. This is the true battle of the middle school halls,” he said. “We work a lot with coach (Lou) Cirino (high school varsity head coach) and his group to make sure we instill the same values all the way down to the youth group.”
“It’s awesome,” said Black team quarterback Brody Kraus. “This makes me want to play harder to make my mom and dad proud, and my siblings.”
The SFL varsity runs a modified version of the high school playbook. Each team has about 17 members so there are two-way players on each squad.
“The kids are motivated and excited to be Mustangs,” said Gray coach Brad Bender. “You see other communities that seem to be glued from the youth programs all the way up and that’s where we are headed. The town feels better about itself, the kids feel better and it’s something to be excited about.”
First-year head varsity coach Lou Cirino has made a concerted effort to get to know the SFL players by name and involve them and their coaches in the overall program.
“I’m scouting and recruiting. You’ve got to keep these kids in the district,” Cirino said. “Knowing the kids’ names and letting them know that they matter are big things. This holds the older guys accountable too. The more they are around the young kids they don’t want to do something stupid. Accountability goes both ways with the old and young kids.”
The experience of playing where the varsity Mustang football players give of their sweat and effort on Friday nights in the fall was the real draw. This was the second year the varsity teams (ages 11-12) opened the season at Catan Stadium.
“The only SFL division that plays here is our varsity. This is something you achieve,” said SFL President Chad Dasher. “Another thing the varsity players get to do is design their own jersey. They get their name on it and get to keep it. The kids went to school today strutting their new jerseys.”
Players have been working hard since August leading to the opener. Gray coach Glenn Lytle is proud of his players.
“To get out here on the turf is a great experience for the kids. This is the true battle of the middle school halls,” he said. “We work a lot with coach (Lou) Cirino (high school varsity head coach) and his group to make sure we instill the same values all the way down to the youth group.”
“It’s awesome,” said Black team quarterback Brody Kraus. “This makes me want to play harder to make my mom and dad proud, and my siblings.”
The SFL varsity runs a modified version of the high school playbook. Each team has about 17 members so there are two-way players on each squad.
“The kids are motivated and excited to be Mustangs,” said Gray coach Brad Bender. “You see other communities that seem to be glued from the youth programs all the way up and that’s where we are headed. The town feels better about itself, the kids feel better and it’s something to be excited about.”
First-year head varsity coach Lou Cirino has made a concerted effort to get to know the SFL players by name and involve them and their coaches in the overall program.
“I’m scouting and recruiting. You’ve got to keep these kids in the district,” Cirino said. “Knowing the kids’ names and letting them know that they matter are big things. This holds the older guys accountable too. The more they are around the young kids they don’t want to do something stupid. Accountability goes both ways with the old and young kids.”