Varsity football expects comeback

The football team, comprised mostly of returning senior starters, has high hopes for the upcoming season.

By BOBBY SAMUELS
Sports editor

The Varsity football team practices at Poly. The Panthers will only play three games at home this season, one of which will have to be played at South Pasadena because of the lack of lights on Babcock Field. (Evan Robinson/The Paw Print)

Last year’s season ended in disappointment for the Varsity football team. In a three-team playoff between Chadwick, Viewpoint and Poly for the final spot in the CIF playoffs, Chadwick beat both Viewpoint and Poly and earned a playoff berth. Despite this finish, however, the Varsity football team begins this season with a positive attitude which should help propel the Panthers to a successful year. Even with the finish, there were certainly bright spots of the season; Jordan Smith was named Second Team All-Prep League while Andrew Ellingsen and Graham Sadler were named First Team All-Prep League.
The Panther team last year was an inexperienced group; in fact, the Panther had only two returning starters. This year’s team provides a stark contrast. Poly’s 14 seniors provide the team with a great deal of experience and leadership. “We are a veteran team with a lot of leaders,” comments Coach Brendan McGrail. For instance, “Andrew Ellingsen is a three-year varsity starter and two-year captain, so we look to him for leadership.”
Senior quarterback and captain Neil Child agrees with McGrail’s assessment, calling Ellingsen “a beast on offense and defense and our leader in the locker room and on the field. He has seen it all and has incredibly valuable experience.”

The final captain is center and nose guard Tommy Arnold. “He has also become a leader throughout the summer and the preseason camp,” says McGrail.
Despite the experience, there is a plethora of strong newcomers to the varsity level. For instance, sophomore Blake Edwards, who famously scored seven touchdowns in a JV game last year, will play running back and cornerback for the Panthers. Edwards has impressed many of the team’s older members, including Child and Andrew Ellingsen who commented on Edwards’ superb “blend of speed and cut-back agility.” Junior Michael Newkirk will split time between fullback and linebacker while Alan Duan, a sophomore, will start at right tackle.
Soon after the team began practicing in the summer, one of the key members of last year’s roster, Graham Sadler, suffered a stress fracture in his left leg while attending a summer football camp and has been inactive for a month. “The loss of [Sadler] is obviously devastating as he was All-League last year, but the team is going to have to do all we can to compensate for his being out,” comments Child. “He may be back for the third game of the season though, so we are very optimistic and excited about that.”
McGrail concurs with Child. “[Sadler’s] injury is tough, but part of football is developing the depth to overcome injuries…. We hope to get Graham back the week after Trips Week, and get him up to speed by the time our league schedule beings.”
Despite the injury, the Panthers had an auspicious start against Campbell Hall on September 12 with a 28-21 victory. After scoring two touchdowns in the first five minutes and holding a commanding 28-14 lead at halftime, the Panthers began to slip but held on for a 28-21 victory. Child ran for two touchdowns while Edwards and Burpee each scored one.
Four years ago, the Panthers and the Prep League moved up to Division XII from Division XIII. Despite the athletically gifted class of 2007, the Panthers were not able to go nearly as far in the more competitive Division XII. This season, the Panthers will play in Division XIII once more. “From what I hear,” comments Child, “the Prep League is one of the strongest leagues in our division now.”
In terms of play within the Prep League itself, the Panthers expect themselves to be competitive. “From our scrimmage against Rio Hondo, Viewpoint, and Prep, I am confident that we have put ourselves in a position to challenge for the league championship with our work in the offseason,” comments Ellingsen. “But there are going to be tough games, and no one is under the delusion that it is going to be easy.
“The top of the league will be tough this year,” adds Child. “I think between Prep, Rio [Hondo], and [Poly], it is going to be very close and whatever team executes down the stretch is going to win the title. I think we have the ability to go undefeated through the league but it is going to be a tough road and we are going to have to work hard and perform like we should.”
That being said, Child “absolutely [thinks the Panthers] will make the playoffs, as the top three teams in the Prep League make it and to finish out of the top three would be a gross underachievement.”
Child believes that the trio of Prep, Rio Hondo, and Poly will compete for the Prep League crown. Thus, these should be Poly’s most interesting games. “The Prep and Rio games are going to be great,” says Child. “They will be tight and down to the wire. And you know we are looking for some vengeance. Get your popcorn ready.”