Kearsley determined to continue greatest stretch of football success in school history – MLive.com

FLINT Kearsleys football team is in the midst of an unprecedented stretch of success.

And the Hornets have no reason to believe its not going to continue.

They say theyre determined to extend a three-year playoff streak the longest in school history.

Were on the upswing and were trying to get better, said coach Shawn Fitzgerald. Last year, the general feeling around Kearsley in my opinion was new coach, losing (quarterback) Braylon Silvas and a bunch of other guys, being at Swartz Creek I came over and we expected Kearsley to be down a little bit.

On the other hand, we had an excellent senior class. Brendan Schanick was a 4.0 student and excellent leader for us. There were kind of what I like to call the bridge between the coach before us and our group.

Now I feel like weve got another extremely determined group.

Kearsley had never made the playoffs in consecutive seasons until beginning the current streak in 2019.

The Hornets last appearance before then was in 1998, when they posted a 9-0 regular-season record before losing in the regionals.

Kearsley isnt thinking that far ahead just yet but the Hornets already have one goal in mind.

The expectations are a Metro League championship, said senior Brayden Weidenehammer, a 5-foot-10, 195-pound quarterback. Always has been. We could have did it last year, some things just didnt work out.

I feel this year we have some people who seen what happened last year. Were driven to be in that position to win that (championship) game.

To do so, the Hornets will likely have to overcome some growing pains.

They have 12 sophomores on the varsity last year and at least four started as freshmen. That group included sophomore defensive lineman Keegan Roesner (5-11, 180).

Were still young, Fitzgerald said during a recent high school football media day at the Flint Farmers Market. Right now were struggling with a little bit of chemistry, a little bit of love, a little bit of brotherhood.

But we shaved off a couple of kids that maybe werent all in. All the kids that have made it this far, they can all play. Were looking at starting about 17 or 18 different kids. That could go up to 19.

We always have a couple you want on the field all the time or almost all the time. If it was (the opener) right now, wed have three kids going both ways.

In addition to Weidenhammer, other key returning players include junior jack-of-all-trades Julienne Brandt (6-2, 225), junior running back Donovan Harrington (6-3, 225), senior lineman Dominik DiGenova (5-10, 265) and junior wide receiver Dakari Neely (6-0, 160).

Weidenhammer made the All-Metro League first team last season, Harrington, Brandt and DiGenova were all second-team picks, and Neely received honorable mention.

Fitzgerald originally wasnt sure how committed Weidenhammer was last season but the senior signal-caller made a believer with his performance once it was game time.

Ill be honest with you, Fitzgerald said. I tried every way possible to get him off the field last year and he knows it. But hes a gamer. When its Friday night and lights come on, hes tough. Hes a good leader.

Hes grown up tremendously since I met him and since his sophomore year. There used to be questions about how hard a worker he is but hes a gamer. Hes going to make plays.

Hes come a long way. He is a hard worker now. Hes not the biggest, hes not the fastest but hes a bowling ball running quarterback. He is running the ball hard core between the tackles.

Weidenhammer was sitting a few feet from his coach when he heard those words.

I love it, Weidenhammer said. Thats just how it is. When the lights come on, its time to play.

Kearsley opens the season Aug. 25 against Carman-Ainsworth in the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic at Atwood Stadium.

MORE:

Who is your pick to win the Metro League football title?

Who is your pick to win the Saginaw Valley South?

Who is your pick to win the Genesee Area Conference?

Who is your pick to win the MMAC?

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Kearsley determined to continue greatest stretch of football success in school history - MLive.com