The Colon football team travels to Camden-Frontier tonight for a showdown in the Southern Central Athletic Association. Both teams are 2-5 and share victories over Howe (Ind.) Military. Both are also looking to finish the season on positive notes.
Camden-Frontier has been outscored 300-131 this year, while Colon, through injuries and personnel shuffling, has been outscored 211-109. The Magi hope their defense can make a difference tonight. They’ll have to do it without starting defensive end Chase Farrand, whose injury was not disclosed.
“Chase Farrand was cleared to return last week and played against North Adams but physically struggled and has been [shelved] for the rest of the season,” Colon coach Darrin VandenBerg said. “He was our starting tackle and defensive end.”
VandenBerg’s scouting report for the Redskins was pretty simple:
“Camden-Frontier doesn’t have a great record, athletes with phenomenal physical attributes, or any elaborate offensive schemes,” he said. “What they do have is great effort. On film their kids appear to be relentless and determined to beat you on every down.”
Colon has seen significant improvement this year on special teams, particularly kickoff return. While continuing to work out the kinks of offense, the Magi should have plenty of opportunities on a short field tonight.
But the biggest difference might be matching or exceeding Camden-Frontier’s desire at the end of a losing season.
“In practice this week we have been focusing on effort,” VandenBerg said. “We have performed several drills that are effort specific. This is an area that we have battled all year with and if we want any chance Friday night we will have to show up with better effort then we have seen in the past.”