The Old Saybrook-Westbrook (OS-W) football squad will begin the 2017 season on Friday, Sept. 8, when the Rams hit the road to face Gilbert-Northwestern at the Gilbert School at 7 p.m. The Rams are coming off a campaign that saw them win the most games in program history by finishing with a record of 8-2. In his third year at the helm, Head Coach Mike Marone is looking for another successful season, but he knows how much work it takes to sustain the type of performance that his team achieved in 2016.

“Last year was an 8-2 season, and that’s difficult to repeat. We are hoping for another winning season. That’s our goal,” Coach Marone said. “The kids want to win a state championship, and so do [the coaches]. I want to have a successful winning season that these kids can be proud about. In my heart, I expect to do really well.”

Fortunately for the Rams, they have some continuity from their stellar 2016 season with the return of several starters, including last year’s Most Valuable Player, senior running back/linebacker Vincent Dyer. In his junior season, Dyer picked up 845 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground, and he also earned the team’s Game Breaker and Ball Hawk awards for his contributions. Coach Marone believes that much of this year’s success will depend on continued contributions from Dyer, who was an All-Pequot Conference selection last season. OS-W’s steady stable of running backs also includes seniors Cory Bartlett, Jr., Jalen Johnson, Andrew Naccarato, Austin Parker, and Jon Noyes, as well as juniors Tom DiBella and Jordan Butler.

“I would say a key player for us is running back and linebacker Vin Dyer,” said Marone. “He was our MVP in both his sophomore and junior years. He’s really a cut above, a really good high school player.”

A strong ground attack from Dyer and company will help open up the passing game for senior quarterback Victor Pascoe, who was All-Pequot last season. Pascoe threw for 683 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to earning the Rams’ Most Improved Offensive Player Award, the Leadership Award, and sharing the team’s Coach on the Field Award with Matt Murphy. The Rams’ fortunes, in part, will follow Pascoe’s, according to Coach Marone.

“Victor Pascoe, our returning quarterback, is a three-year starter,” said Marone. “He will be another key player to our team’s success this year on offense and defense. He’s also an All-League defensive safety.”

Like Pascoe, many of the Rams’ receivers and running backs will be handling some defensive duties in the secondary. Players like seniors Tanner Selmont, James Vukovinsky, and Bartlett, Jr., along with juniors Devon Moshier, Max Thomas, and DiBella will all be hitting the field as defensive backs this season. Linebackers Dan Almada, Dan Driscoll, Tanner Jones, Cameron Marshall, and Dyer are also expected to be key contributors.

One of the Rams’ biggest changes this year will be adjusting to the loss of Chase Cook, who ran for 1,244 yards and took the ball into the end zone 17 times last season, earning him All-Pequot honors, as well as the team’s Leading Scorer and Jack of All Trades awards.

“I would have to say that one of our biggest challenges will be replacing Chase Cook—him and our offensive center Sloan True,” Marone said. “It’s just awfully difficult to replace those guys.”

Even though True won’t be manning the line for OS-W this season, senior tackle Jay Long and junior David McCain are back in the trenches for the Rams. Seniors Avery Jordan, Shaun Ames, and Jared Russell will be joining them on the line, as will juniors Gavin Duthie and Antonio Castro. Coach Marone believes that Long’s versatility will be a major asset for the Rams.

“He’s another three-year starter. He plays both sides of the ball, and he’s a superior lineman,” Marone said. “I would have to say he and junior David McCain. We have some new lineman coming up, but these two are the strength of our offensive line.”

One of the biggest benefits of having holdovers in key positions from last year is that it eases a coach’s mind when it comes to entrusting those players with captain’s duties. With Pascoe, Dyer, and Long as Rams’ captains this year, Coach Marone feels confident that his squad has guys who can provide some meaningful leadership both on and off the field for OS-W.

“We have good leadership from our captains this year. All three are honor students and just great leaders,” said Coach Marone. “It’s just a great group of kids; every single one of them. We haven’t had a problem with anyone. We’ve had good success with our summer workouts.”

Marone’s coaching staff includes Rob Marone, Brendan Coan, Mike Potts, Aidan Lynch, Charlie Bertero, and Mike Pantages. The coaches and the athletes have put in a ton of work throughout the preseason, and Marone thinks that with the incorporation of some solid JV players, the Rams will have another strong campaign in 2017

“No big change in strategy. We’re going to be the same team on both sides of the ball,” he said. “We lost some good kids to graduation, but we have half of our starters back. Some JV kids are stepping up. Those are the kids that we will work to develop.”

2017 Old Saybrook-Westbrook Rams Football Schedule

Friday, Sept. 8: at Gilbert-Northwestern at Gilbert at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 16: vs. Nonnewaug at Old Saybrook at noon

Saturday, Sept. 23: vs. Granby Memorial at Old Saybrook at noon

Saturday, Sept. 30: vs. Lewis Mills at Old Saybrook at noon

Friday, Oct. 6: at Valley Regional-Old Lyme at Valley Regional at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 20: at Cromwell-Portland at Pierson Park at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 28: vs. Coginchaug/Hale-Ray at Old Saybrook at noon

Friday, Nov. 3: at North Branford at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 10: at Haddam-Killingworth at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 23: vs. Morgan at Old Saybrook at 10:30 a.m.