BEVERLY - The Fort Frye football squad met as a team Tuesday for the first time since last season.
The Cadets, led by head coach Eric Huck, gathered at the Bob Hill Field House for a helmet fitting and weight lifting session. It was the first day of a four-day camp that Huck uses to get his team season-ready.
"The camp is really important," said Huck, who is entering his fifth season as Fort Frye's head coach. "It gives us an opportunity to get the fundamentals of offense and defense set, so that our scrimmages are productive."
Article Photos
JORDAN HOLLAND The Marietta Times
Zide’s sales rep Mark Kelly, right, helps a Fort Frye football player with his helmet at the Bob Hill Field House on Tuesday night.
The Cadets are coming off of a 5-5 season. Every team is given 10 coaching days to use before official practices begin on July 30. Huck is optimistic about the upcoming season.
"We have a lot of our skill players coming back," Huck said. "We do have to replace some of the linemen we lost. Other than that, I think we're in good shape. We should improve."
Huck said the team is returning four or five seniors from last year, as well as gaining a couple new seniors. Two of the returning seniors will be running backs Spencer Lang and Max Alsbach. Both were All-PVC selections a year ago.
Lang was the leading rusher and receiver for the Cadets in 2011, with 122 carries and 582 yards on the ground and 24 catches for 262 yards through the air.
Alsbach had 262 rushing yards on 68 carries. He also caught 16 passes for 106 yards. On defense, Alsbach recorded 39 tackles and an interception.
The returning quarterback for the Cadets will be junior Chandler Lang, Spencer's younger brother. In 2011, his first year as the starting signal caller, Lang completed 70-of-136 pass attempts for 607 yards. He also did well on the ground, carrying the ball 104 times for 482 yards. On defense, Lang was the team-leader with 76 tackles, in addition to two interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Lang believes his experience will help him in the upcoming season.
"Last year was my first year, and I had a lot to learn," Lang said. "That should be helpful for this year."
While Lang has the rare opportunity to play in the same backfield as his brother, he said he doesn't change his approach to the game.
"It doesn't really make a difference," Lang said. "We both have a job to do out there."
Much like his coach, Lang believes the team has a chance to top last year's performance.
"We've been lifting all through the summer," Lang said. "Our expectations are to work hard, get better and have a winning season."
The Cadets open up their season on the road August 24 against River High in Hannibal.
