In a season where the team record will best be forgotten, there was growth and unity beyond the win and loss columns.
In the final game of the 2009 season, the Coventry Comets fell to the Field Falcons 42-20 to complete an 0-10 season.
First year Comet coach Neal Kopp admitted it was a trying season, but he found the positives in his athletes.
“People might not understand it looking at the wins and losses, but where we got to in week 10 from where we started, we set a foundation I can hopefully use for the future,” Kopp said.
The final game did not go as planned. After three straight weeks of playing competitive football, the Falcons jumped on the Comets quick to try and put the game away early.
On their first possession, senior running back Zack Moore busted off a 53-yard run to highlight a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that ended with sophomore Patrick Boggs punching it in from a yard out to make it 7-0 six minutes into the game.
Following a fumble deep in Coventry territory on the ensuing possession, Field quarterback junior Jay Wilson ran twice for 12 and seven yards to score another touchdown and make it 14-0.
The second quarter was no kinder to the Comets, with the Falcons scoring three times. Senior Mike Boosinger scrambled for a 43-yard touchdown run, Wilson kept it himself for another rushing touchdown and with less than a minute to go in the half, Boosinger launched a pass on a flea flicker to senior Aaron Polasky for a 90-yard touchdown pass to make it 35-0.
During this time, Coventry wasn't having a problem moving the ball, but more so finishing a drive. It wasn't until the fourth quarter, when it was 42-0 Field, that the Comets found some pay dirt.
Continuing a drive that started at the end of the third quarter, the running back tandem of seniors Randy Henline and David Bulgrin basically took turns plowing down the field. Finally, on the 11th play of an 80-yard drive, Henline punched it in from a yard out for the first Comet touchdown.
Then the Comets got creative.
Huddling up in front of the ball on the kick off, it appeared as if the team was discussing where to order pizza after the game. Suddenly, they turned around and sophomore Eric Ashley kicked the ball. It took Field off guard and the Comets recovered the onside kick.
“We've been working on that all year,” Kopp said with a smile. “It's nice to have the soccer players at practice finally after they had a great season.”
Henline and Bulgrin again used the lanes opened up by the offensive line to set up a 12-yard touchdown by Henline with less than five minutes to go.
The Comets went for the onside kick again, this time a pooch kick, and recovered. The refs called it off, stating the ball had to hit the ground first.
The Comet defense held and with two and a half minutes left on the season, Henline, Bulgrin and quarterback Jeff Kuykendall rushed down the field again. Kuykendall went nine yards and dove for the final touchdown of the season to make it 42-20.
For the game, Henline led the way with 110 yards on 29 carries and two touchdowns. Bulgrin just missed the century mark, going for 99 yards on 20 carries. Kuykendall added 30 yards and the score, with the team total reaching 240 yards for the night.
Kopp said Henline topped the 1000-yard mark for the season.
“Randy Henline ran hard and physical at 140 pounds all year,” Kopp. “He and David Bulgrin did a great job playing two-ways.”
The line that helped the Comets to that yardage was senior Jim Masburn, senior Beau Cross, senior Derek Bauer, senior Shawn Banner and junior Cory Murgatroyd. The line extends to the tight ends as well, with senior Brandon Burns, senior J.D. Lucas and junior Jesse McGonigal.
“The line made the greatest improvement on the team from the beginning of the season,” Kopp said.
With the season now behind them, the goal is to start preparing to win in November rather than in June. With a freshman team that went 6-4 and a strong 7th and 8th grade program, Kopp hopes the future will be brighter and the team can pick up their first win in his regime to get the ball rolling. The freshman were rewarded for their success this season with 15 players dressing Friday night.
“I hope we found an identity to run the football and control the clock,” Kopp said. “Until our skill players develop, that is how we have to play as an undersized team.”
If Kopp and his staff continue the growth they worked on all season, look for a more physical team in 2010.
