FRUITPORT – Nate Smith is a football coach, so he’s cautious by nature.
He knows he has every reason to be excited about the 2022 season, with a ton of talented and experienced players returning to the Fruitport varsity roster – but he also knows victories are not won on paper.
Smith understands that his Trojans will have to work hard to achieve success, just like any other season, beginning on Thursday night when they open up the season against Kenowa Hills on the road.
“I’ve been around the game long enough to know that there are a lot of variables, like keeping kids healthy, other teams improving, and playing in the O-K Blue, which is one of the best conferences in the state,” Smith said. “We are trying to keep a lid on having a crazy level of optimism.”
[1]The 2022 squad is an offshoot from last year’s talented but slightly cursed team.
The Trojans finished 4-6 last year, but that record was deceiving, because Fruitport lost three games by a total of 17 points. The first two heartbreakers came in a Week 2 loss to Coopersville, 29-22, and a Week 3 loss to rival Spring Lake, 35-32.
The team snuck into the playoffs with a 4-5 regular season record, based on the strength of its schedule, and came very close to pulling off a stunner in districts, falling 42-35 to powerful Cadillac.
Lots of key players return from that team, and they are determined to take the hard lessons they learned last year and put them to use, according to Smith.
[2]“We make a lot of references to last season and the lessons that can be learned from it,” the coach said. “We had a stretch where we went up against some great teams, we played well, but we just couldn’t capitalize on opportunities when we needed to. I think we exceeded our threshold in that playoff game. It came right down to the wire.
“The guys are very aware of what happened last season, and they are very driven. They know we need to build on what was done before.”
There are certainly a lot of building blocks on the Fruitport roster.
The most exciting returnee is senior slot receiver Cody Nash, who earned All-State honors last year by catching 28 passes for 697 yards and seven touchdowns.
[3]The Fruitport coaches are also expecting big things this season from senior receiver Nash Cooper, who played a lot last year but had limited opportunities to shine because the Trojans had a lot of great receivers.
Opposing defenses will not be able to focus on shutting down the passing game, because the Trojans also return All-Conference running back Paschal Jolman, who gained 894 yards in the regular season last year.
The Trojans don’t expect to lose a great deal at quarterback this season, despite the graduation of standout passer Gavin Reames. He will be replaced by senior Collin Jolman, who backed up Reames last season and looked good when he had opportunities to play.
“Gavin did a great job of mentoring him,” Smith said about the new QB. “Collin understands being on that stage. He has really responded to the challenge. He had a good understanding of the offense. He may have some jitters at first, but he’s going to do some great things.”
[4]The offensive line will have lots of size and experience. It will include massive Kaiden Bell (6-5, 300), a senior third-year starter who missed almost all of last season with an injury. Also returning is senior center Caleb O’Neal, senior tackle Brady Kemmerling (6-4, 290) and junior Ricky Wiggins.
On defense, Bell will be a two-way force on the line, and will be joined by O’Neal at tackle and senior Payton Flores, an end who led the team in sacks last season.
The linebackers will be led by two guys with the same name but are not related – Andrew B. Fielstra (58 tackles last season) and Andrew J. Fielstra (35 tackles). Senior Brock Dornbos is a returning inside linebacker.
Junior Kayden Beardsley will man a cornerback spot, along with Nash. Paschal Jolman and Cooper will be safeties.
“Our guys have learned and retained a lot of stuff over the past few seasons,” Smith said. “They love to compete. A lot of them have been playing together a long time, and that chemistry they have is a neat dynamic.”
[5]The Trojans will not be looking past Kenowa Hills on Thursday, according to Smith.
Last year Fruitport won the matchup at home 42-2, but the Knights had a new head coach – Rory Zegunis – and were learning a new system, Smith said. This year they have a lot of players back who know the system well.
“They have a really good inside linebacker and great receivers,” Smith said. “I think they are going to be much improved this year. Last year the coach was new and switched from a full house to a spread offense, which brings a totally different mindset. They will probably make huge leaps with that this year.
“(Zegunis) is a really good coach and he’s going to have his kids prepared. We’re looking forward to a really good game. Last year we took advantage of the fact that they were learning, but I don’t think that will be the case this year.”
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