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09/09/2024 12:20 AMThe Morgan-Old Saybrook-Westbrook football team has been through a lot of changes in the last couple years. Between combining as a co-op team a season ago, to welcoming a new head coach into the fold this year, the Huskies have become well-versed in handling any event that gets them off course.
A year ago, the Huskies finished the fall with an 8-2 overall record. As they look to build on that performance even more this year, first-year Head Coach Casey Trasacco, who brings experience on both sides of the field, is excited about the trajectory of his group of athletes.
“Preseason went pretty well; we are still moving in that upwards direction. I think that they did a good job, and we tried to get in as much stuff as we could before school started,” said Trasacco. “Our scrimmages went well, especially going against Foran, which is a bigger school. There are still a few things that we had to tune up, but it also opened our eyes as to what game speed will look like.”
Leading the charge this season on the gridiron are four senior captains in Wes Percival (wide receiver/safety), Logan Ryan (offensive/defensive line), Hunter Roth (wide receiver/defensive back), and Tyler Farrell (center/linebacker). All of them have special aspects they bring to the table that allow them to work cohesively and serve as positive mentors for their younger squadmates.
“They are a good group of guys and leaders; all of the kids look up to them. They do well talking to the coaches - we have a good rapport with them,” said Trasacco. “They have the same vision as we do as a team. They do a good job of being leaders, and that is what you look for in a captain. You want a player-led team.”
On top of the off-field leadership of the captains, there are additionally several other players looking to make an impact on the turf, including Dominic Larabee (senior, running back), Griffin Ranaudo (senior, slot receiver), Brandon Hester (senior, cornerback), Christian Harris (junior, outside linebacker), Trevor Powell (sophomore, quarterback), Luke McComiskey (senior, wide receiver), and Ethan Lane (senior, middle linebacker).
“I think we do have a handful of contributors going into the beginning of the season. Last year, the team had the conference Player of the Year, Jack Nye. I think this year, we will be more balanced,” said Trasacco. “We will be more balanced and able to spread the ball around. We will keep other teams honest. You can’t really key in on one person this year.”
As the season opener inches closer, Trasacco and the rest of the coaching staff are looking forward to tuning up the roster and preparing the team.
“Having a new coaching staff, you want to go through a game atmosphere with everybody. You want to start to gel, want the players to get ready for a game atmosphere with the fans, officials, all the special teams included, all the discipline that you need to win,” said Trasacco. “It is hard to win; you have to do all of the little things right in order to get there. You don’t win that night; you have to build up to each week and that game Friday night.”
Throughout the beginning of August, the Huskies were able to practice as well as hit the weight room in order to prepare for the months and weekly games ahead in such a grind of a schedule.
“We do play some good teams, teams that were in the state championship and playoffs last year. Every coach’s dream is that their whole team stays healthy,” Trasacco said. “Football is all about challenges. Football and life go hand-in-hand. We are going to face adversity and challenges. We faced them at the scrimmage against Oxford. I told the kids that it is all about how we respond and answer. We can control how we respond, our effort, and our attitude. As long as we do it as a team and stay together, we will be successful.”
Trasacco not only looks forward to seeing how his team will match up against the other teams in the conference, but also how they can remain competitive throughout the regular season and postseason.
“At the end of the day, we have to play our game, we cannot worry about how the other teams handle their business. The object of it is to be 1-0 every week. That doesn’t always happen, as there are a lot of good teams and coaches out there. We respect them, and I am very confident in our team, our talent, and our skill that we can have that record every week,” said Trasacco. “Our goal is to accomplish that going out every week, playing good football. That will make us have a good season, and the seniors have the same mindset. They want to end their high school career on a high note. They have been coming out hard and strong every day. They want a positive outcome to finish their high school career.”
Trasacco is assisted this fall by Pat Dougherty (defensive coordinator), Jimmy Lewis (head junior varsity coach, offensive and defensive line coach), John Harkins (assistant offensive and defensive line coach), and Alex Trasacco (defensive assistant and defensive backs coach).
The Huskies co-op team starting roster includes seniors Larabee (Morgan), Percival (Old Saybrook), Ranaudo (Morgan), Ryan (Morgan), Farrell (Morgan), Lane (Old Saybrook), Hester (Old Saybrook), McComiskey (Morgan), and Roth (Morgan), Xzavion Clark (junior, left guard, defensive end, Morgan), and Chayton Katteman (junior, right guard, middle linebacker, Morgan) and Powell (Morgan).
Morgan-Old Saybrook-Westbrook Football 2024 Regular Seeason Schedule
Friday September 13: vs Valley Regional/Old Lyme at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday September 19: vs Rockville at 6:30 p.m.
Friday September 27: vs North Branford at 6:30 p.m.
Friday October 4: vs Cromwell-Portland at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday October 10: vs Haddam-Killingworth at 6:30 p.m.
Friday October 25: vs Weaver at 6:30 p.m.
Friday November 1: vs Capital Prep at 6:30 p.m.
Friday November 8: vs Coginchaug/East Hampton/Hale Ray at 6:30 p.m.
Friday November 15: vs Granby/Canton at 6:30 p.m.
Friday November 22: vs SMSA Co-op Football at 6:30 p.m.