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Derrick Zechman has coached nearly every current Warrior Run high school player at some point during their football journeys. He has been with them throughout that climb every step of the way over the last decade, coaching up through the ranks, starting at flag, then tackle and then junior high assistant.
Now Zechman is coaching those players at the high school level. Together, they are hoping to provide a spark and get Warrior Run moving in the right direction. It is a difficult task, with the Defenders featuring only five seniors and playing a demanding schedule.
This will take some time. Warrior Run has not won a game on the field the past two seasons and remains young. But this team is eager to accept the challenge and is embracing the opportunity to take some big steps forward.
"The kids are excited to get things turned around and looking forward to being competitive. The schedule is tough, but that's OK," Zechman said. "It doesn't happen overnight but we're definitely making strides. Confidence is a big thing and believing, too. We have a good group of kids and it carries over and it's contagious."
That buzz is building because Warrior Run has seen a growth in players joining the team. Several players who did not compete last year have come out this season, bolstering the numbers and building a possible bridge to the future. It may be easier to measure Warrior Run's progress this season in ways other than the record. This is one of the district's youngest teams, featuring just five seniors, five returning offensive starters and four returning defensive starters.
But if Warrior Run can be more competitive this season, that would be a big turnaround. Outside of a heartbreaking 27-26 loss at Central Columbia, Warrior Run lost its other eight games by 33 points or more. Compounding things, Warrior Run did not have a home last fall, playing all its games on the road since its new stadium with a turf field was under construction.
Combine the increased numbers with the new stadium and Warrior Run is optimistic it can start moving forward. With so many young players participating that could be good for the present and the future, mirroring the growth Warrior Run made a few years ago when it went from struggling to reaching the District 4 Class AAA semifinals just three years later.
"It's tough when you have multiple years down in any sport because it's hard to get them motivated but these kids have great attitudes and are showing up at workouts and hammering the weight room and really working hard," Zechman said. "It's a building block and it's a start. As the season gets a little closer the kids get a little more excited, but it's the offseason which really helps the teams when it comes to August. The kids that put the work in during the offseason are usually ahead of the game and we have a lot of kids who have put in that work."
Ryan Newton put in quality work last season at quarterback and the sophomore topped 1,000 yards in his first season starting. Leading wide receiver Derek Thomas graduated, but Newton has some exciting targets in players like Carter Marr, Ian Jones and tight end Isaiah Betz.
Warrior Run leaned on the pass last year because it struggled so much on the ground. Still, the Defenders have a potential stable of running backs who could make a positive impact this fall. Samuel Hall and Thomas Royles led the team in rushing and both are back. Colby LeBarron, Stone Allison and Austin Confer also could see carries and provide some depth.
"We have a lot of young kids that you maybe haven't heard much about, but that have been doing a real good job in offseason," Zechman said. "We're looking to utilize them well."
The big question surrounds Warrior Run up front. The line struggled throughout the season and improvement there could spark improvement everywhere. The good news is Zechman, who also has worked with Warrior Run athletes in baseball and wrestling, has drawn several wrestlers to the football field, adding depth along the lines. Senior Evan Doresky started last season and will be joined by a group of players who could rotate in and out and who Zechman said are tenacious players.
Offensive progress would provide the defense a lift, keeping it off the field and keeping it fresher, longer. That defense has some nice players to build around with six of the seven leaders in tackles returning. Confer led the team in tackles and Betz was playing like a game-changer by season's end.
That defense will immediately be tested in the season opener against rival Muncy. It will be an emotional night as Warrior Run honors Hunter Beck Reynolds, a Warrior Run fifth grader, who tragically died last March. Reynolds loved his school and teams and as it opens the new stadium, Warrior Run likely will be playing for more than just a win.
"Hunter played football, wrestled, played basketball and soccer. He was a great kid and we'll be honoring him," Zechman said. "His parents are our honorary captains and we're doing a White Out for him."
Warrior Run having its new field helps not only on game days, but every day. In addition to having no home games last year, Warrior Run also had no practice field at the school. Warrior Run has a home now and the goal is to make that home be one opponents do not feel comfortable entering.
"It was rough not having a football field or practice field. It's hard when things aren't going your way and you're dealing with that as well," Zechman said. "The kids are excited about having a new field to play on and that should help a lot."
2022 Football Players to Watch
Isaiah Betz, DE/TE: One of the youngest teams in District 4 a year ago, Warrior Run presented many players opportunities to develop early. Betz is one of those players who showed enormous growth as he became more acclimated to the high school game. The exciting defensive end showed that with one dominant performance late in the season. Betz dominated against Bloomsburg, making a career-high 11 tackles, including nine solos and four for loss. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder collected two sacks that game and finished his debut season with a team-high 3 1/2. Betz could be just getting started and averaged 4.3 tackles per game. He could play a larger role offensively, too, after reeling in a 37-yard catch against Bloomsburg and delivering a pancake block against Montgomery.
Austin Confer, LB/WR: A senior outside linebacker, Confer helps ignite this defense and also will be looked at as a team leader. Confer led the team in tackles last season, averaging 6.6 per game, while adding an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Confer twice collected 10-tackle performances and made at least eight four times. That experience and productivity makes him a vital piece to the puzzle as Warrior Run tries putting everything together in 2022. Confer returned his interception 20 yards against Central Columbia and made nine tackles in that one-point loss. Confer could also see time as a wide receiver or a running back and provide depth at those positions.
Ryan Newton, QB/LB: A full-time starter for the first time as a sophomore, Newton often was under fire, but stood his ground and topped 1,000 yards in nine games. Newton showed some toughness in the face of consistent pass rushes and had some big games, throwing for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns. The 6-foot-3 quarterback also started the final game of the 2020 season and could be poised for a big season if he continues making strides. Newton went over 190 yards three times a year ago and threw for a career-high 205 against Montgomery. He also threw at least one touchdown pass in seven of nine games. If Newton can cut down on the interceptions and Warrior Run runs the ball better, he could provide the Defenders quite an asset.
Thomas Royles, LB/RB: Like sophomore Samuel Hall, Royles is an underclassman who could provide a big boost on both sides of the ball. Those two were the team's leading rushers and Royles also made his mark at linebacker during his sophomore season. He averaged nearly five tackles per game, including four for a loss and also was in on a sack. Royles made a career-high eight tackles against Hughesville and six of his seven tackles against Central Columbia were solos. Royles can play the pass and run well and broke up three passes while also forcing a fumble and recovering one. Offensively, Royles averaged 4.1 yards per carry and ran for 31 yards and a touchdown against Montgomery on five carries.
--By CHRIS MASSE