Falcon Football Feels Close To Breakthrough

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Never mind the Severna Park football team’s record. Such is the team’s improvement from year over year; it could just as easily be 3-1 as 1-3.

It’s the fine margins in the key moments that have eluded the Falcons thus far, but they sense that breakthrough is close.

Despite sitting two games under .500 and with Broadneck looming next, the Falcons are optimistic that things will come together before all is said and done. Part of that belief comes from the manner in which the defeats have come, rather than a series of one-sided defeats that have appeared in previous seasons: two of the three losses have come by one score, and the third was to a high-powered Annapolis team that scores points in bunches.

“I’d rather have a game that we lost just at the end where everyone plays their hearts out and it’s just such a close game, rather than getting blown out every week,” said Severna Park senior receiver Joey Tramontana. “I really like our guys this year. These boys know what they’re going up against. They’re prepared and it shows; they lay hard hits, they read offenses and defenses well, and it’s just great to see how our team has changed from last year to this year.

“Newer classes, I think it really set a new tone. Now that it’s settled in (for a second year with the current coaching staff), we know what to get done, and we know what’s expected from us.”

Tramontana and company helped Severna Park beat Glenelg 14-9 in the season opener, before dropping a heartbreaking 33-25 defeat to South River in a game where the last team to make a big play, in a game full of them, was destined to win.

The Falcons fell 49-33 at Annapolis on September 20, and then 28-21 to Chesapeake to close the month out.

Severna Park has remained committed to the run, but the bulk of the offense has come through a trio of receivers: Tramontana, senior receiver Charlie Hartman, who is in his first year playing on the football team, and junior slot receiver Cole Cavanaugh, who headed into the Chesapeake game atop the receiving charts for the entire county.

All of that makes life much easier for quarterback Vince Nguyen, who has demonstrated athleticism and growing pocket presence in his second year with the keys to the offense.

“It really helps spread out the defense on plays; when Cole makes a big catch, Chuck makes a big catch, or me, it opens up the offense to allow our running backs to make big plays,” Tramontana said. “And it helps Vince trusting everyone in the offense to spread the ball around. It’s kind of hectic because things are happening all over the place, but we try to stay in a good mind space so that we can keep making plays instead of overhyping and making mistakes.”

With a defense that makes plays when needed and an offense capable of erupting once everything comes together, the Falcons sense there’s a chance to string together a couple of wins and chase .500 by the time the playoffs roll around. That would give them a better opportunity to advance at least a game in the region playoffs, which would be another improvement over last year.

“We have a good county; every week we are going to see a team that’s capable of winning a game in the playoffs, so we have to be ready for that every single week,” said Severna Park head coach Nick Marks. “We have come a long way in our preparation and how we’re playing. I see a different toughness in this team that we haven’t seen before.”

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