COLON — The last four Southern Central Athletic Conference crowns have gone to Climax-Scotts and head football coach Kevin Langs. It’s going to take quite an effort from a trio of upset-minded hopefuls to dethrone the Panthers in 2013.
Colon and coach Darrin VandenBerg are among the three teams that could shake up the top of the SCAA standings this year along with Pittsford and Bellevue. Climax-Scotts won the league championship with a 6-0 record, narrowly dodging Pittsford (5-1) by a point in Week 6. Adrian Lenawee Christian, Bellevue and Colon all finished with 3-3 records in the league, followed by Camden-Frontier (1-5) and winless North Adams-Jerome.
The Magi turned in a 5-4 regular-season mark before running into perennial power Mendon in the Division 8 pre-district round — a 41-0 defeat at the hands of the Hornets than ended their year
VandenBerg has been on staff for many years and served as interim head coach in 2006 when Colon posted a 2-7 record. He is back at the controls in 2013 and optimistic that the Magi can make a splash in the SCAA.
“We are a young team with limited experience at several positions,” he said. “That being said, we still have a great opportunity to prove ourselves within our league, and we look to have several players step up and make a big impact.”
Juniors Ronny Moyer (fullback/linebacker), Bailey Tyler (quarterback/defensive end) and Nick Martin (center/defensive line) and senior guard/linebacker Ramsey Potter lead the charge for Colon, which gave up the third-fewest points (125) in the league last season.
“We have a young but talented corps of linemen and a workhorse in our fullback, who is expected to have a solid year,” VandenBerg said. “Our goals for the season are to stay focused one day at a time and to stress the importance of having productive, enthusiastic and focused practices.
“Winning and losing games is not a concern of ours as that will take care of itself in the way that represents how we practice and what we accomplished or didn’t accomplish in the weight room during the offseason.”
2013 COLON MAGI
Coach: Darrin VandenBerg (2-7 record as interim head coach in 2006)
2012 records: 5-5 (3-3 SCAA, 4th place)
Key players: Ronny Moyer (Jr., FB/LB), Bailey Tyler (Jr., QB/RB/DE), Ramsey Potter (Sr., OG/LB), Nick Martin (Jr., C/DL).
Schedule
Aug. 30 HOWE MILITARY
Sept. 6 Open
Sept. 13 at Bellevue
Sept. 20 WYOMING TRI-UNITY CHRISTIAN
Sept. 27 PITTSFORD
Oct. 4 ADRIAN LENAWEE CHRISTIAN
Oct. 11 at North Adams-Jerome
Oct. 18 at Camden-Frontier
Oct. 25 at Climax-Scotts