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Eastern Team's with "Coach" Smith · Cover IV Podcast

• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: If you're a second four football fan, this is your idea.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Coach Smith, your host.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: If you're not being fan, double knight at your fleet.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: Here we go.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me in the Cover Four podcast studio.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Coach Smith, and in this episode, I will preview the Eastern teams.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get started.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: We'll begin with the Walton Downsville Warriors.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: They ended the season with some momentum, finishing last season with three straight wins and opening this season with a 16-6 victory over Liberty.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: Head coach Adam Hoover says the team has some very talented student athletes, but depth, particularly along the offensive line, is definitely a concern.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Walton Downsville had just 17 eligible student athletes for Saturday's game, although that number should increase to 22 for Thursday night's matchup at Windsor.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: The team does have some freshman capability for playing at the varsity level, but without a JV program, Coach Hoover is being very cautious about moving those student athletes up.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: One student athlete to watch is junior Corbin Wally, who made an immediate impact in the opener, rushing for 185 yards and two touchdowns.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: Corbin is following in the footstep of his older brother, Darien, who graduated last year as the program's all-time leading rusher with 3,339 yards.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: The team also welcomes back senior Parker Cash, who missed all of last season with an ACL injury.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER_00: Cash returned in a big way Saturday, rushing for 52 yards and recording an interception.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: As a sophomore, he had rushed for 944 yards.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_00: Coach Hoover believes Walton Downsville has the talent to put together a successful program, but staying healthy will be critical.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: With limited depth, an injury or two could have a significant impact.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: The Warriors will get an early test Thursday night when they travel to Windsor, followed by a home matchup with Newark Valley the following week.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: Now up, the Delaware Academy Bulldogs.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Delaware Academy, the 2024 Section 4 Class D champion, enters the 2026 season with plenty of motivation left after last year's disappointing finish.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: The Bulldog won seven games during the regular season, but their season ended in the Class D semifinals with a loss to Trumansburg.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: That early EXA has given this team plenty of incentive.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: The goal is clear: win the division and get back to the Section 4 championship game.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: One of the biggest changes for Delhi this season comes at quarterback, where junior Cole Kivill takes over as the starter.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Kivill is a talented pocket passer and will be working behind an offensive line that may not have much size but should make up for with athleticism and speed.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Head coach Phil Newman says only four student athletes on the team weigh more than 200 pounds, but he believes this year's line could actually be faster than last year's group.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: That speed could be a major factor strength for the Bulldogs.
• 3:48
  SPEAKER_00: Delhi also returns a group of student athletes who experience what it feels like to win a Section 4 championship.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: That's senior John Wilson and senior Levi Shepherd both remember that feeling, and they want their teammates to experience it as well.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: The Bulldogs also appear to have put in the work during the offseason.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: Deli will have to earn it in a very competitive division that includes the likes of Sydney, Deposit Hancock, Walton Downsville, Oxford Green, and the newly formed Bainbridge, Guildford, Harpersville, Afton team.
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: The Bulldogs may be smaller this season, but they believe they are stronger, faster, and motivated to get back to the top.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: Now up, Unitigo Franklin, Unadilla Valley.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: The Spartans enter the 2026 season with a young football team and a focus on building for the future.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: Head coach Frank Macroni says the team has several student athletes to keep an eye on, including senior quarterback Joe Sargent, junior running back and linebacker Tristian Fairbran, and wide receiver Brock Birdsdale.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: With so many young student athletes, the goal is to improve each week and continue building throughout the season.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Coach McCroney also emphasizes that football is about more than what happens on the field.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: The program incorporates life lessons throughout the season with the goal of helping its student athletes thrive long after their football careers are over.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: For Unitego Franklin Unadilla Valley, in 2026, it's all about developing a young group, getting better each week, and building a foundation for the future.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now for the deposit Hancock.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: The Eagles are coming off back-to-back postseason appearances, and now the Eagles enter 2026 with a new head coach looking to build on that recent success.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: Dan Brig takes over a program after three seasons under Matt Davis, who is now the coach at Shenango Valley.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: Although this is Briggs' first year as a football head coach, he is certainly no stranger to winning.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: Briggs has won eight state championships as a softball coach and most recently coached the state champion boys wrestling team.
• 6:29
  SPEAKER_00: So Brig wants to bring that same championship mentality to the football program with an emphasis on being tough, physical, and fundamentally sound.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_00: His expectations are high from the start.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: He says the goal is to compete for a Section 4 championship with an eye-tour at a state championship.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_00: The Eagles will also have some changes on offense.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: Last year's starting quarterback, Brody Matthews, moves to wide receiver while Peyton Fortunato and Cam Thomas are expected to share the quarterback responsibilities.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: Briggs believes using both quarterbacks and moving Matthews around the offense will give Deposit Hancock more opportunities to create big plays.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: The Eagles also have a group of running backs who bring a combination of speed and power, although Briggs admits it may take some time to determine which one emerges as the featured playmaker.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: Deposit graduated 10 student athletes from last year's team, and they are adjusting to a net new head coach.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: But Deposit Hancock appears to have plenty of confidence heading into the season.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: Briggs may be new to football coaching, but he is certainly not new to winning.
• 7:44
  SPEAKER_00: Now he will try to bring that championship culture to the gridiron and keep the Eagles moving forward.
• 7:53
  SPEAKER_00: Next up, it's the Oneana Yellow Jackets.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: They enter the 2026 season, expecting to be in the playoff hunt in what should be a very competitive division.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: And after what happened in week one, the Yellow Jackets have already given us plenty of reason to pay attention.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: Junior quarterback Chase Jervis set a new Oneana High School single-game passing record in the opener, throwing for 379 yards and five touchdowns.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: Even more impressive, he did it all in the first half.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_00: His younger brother, freshman Trey Jervis, also had a huge debut.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_00: Trey had 159 yards receiving and two touchdowns while also making an impact on defense with four tackles for losses.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: He will see time at tight end and also flex out to the slot.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Up front, senior lineman Alan Little and Daquan Ortiz provide leadership for the respective position groups and will be important as Oneana looks to compete in a tough division.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: But for head coach Will Neal, success is about more than what happens on Friday nights.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: His coaching philosophy centers on character development and teaching his student athletes how to handle adversity, failure, and success.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_00: Neal believes those same qualities help his student athletes become good people, will also help them become better football players.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_00: With a record-setting quarterback, an exciting young playmaker and his freshman brother, and experienced senior leadership up front, Oneana has plenty of reasons to believe it can make a run at the playoffs in 2026.
• 9:39
  SPEAKER_00: Next, the Norwich Purple Tornado.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: There is a new head coach and a new culture in Norwich, as Evan Silstret takes over the program with a clear message toughness, competitiveness, and earning your responsibilities.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER_00: Silstra has made it clear that nobody is guaranteed anything, and he says that philosophy has already led to a positive culture shift within the program.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: Several student athletes have embraced that change and taken leader roles.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_00: Nick Silstra, Carmine Pastori, Bo Brown, and Noah Eddy will all play significant roles on both offense and defense while helping establish the new expectations for Norwich football.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_00: For Coach Silstra, it is about creating a team that competes every day and understands opportunities have to be earned.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: With a new coach, a new culture, and a group of student athletes taking ownership of those expectations, Norwich enters the 2026 season ready to find out what this new approach can produce.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: Now the Sydney Sabres.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: Sydney enters Logan Kennedy's second season as head coach with plenty of momentum and plenty of motivation.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: The Sabres finished 5-3 last season, their first winning season record since 2019, but their season ended in a heartbreaking fashion.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: Sydney needed a victory over Deposit Hancock in the final week of the regular season to reach the postseason, but came up short at home.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: That experience has the team hungry this year to take the next step.
• 11:28
  SPEAKER_00: Kennedy believes the foundation of the program is mental toughness and the relationships between his student athletes.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: He wants his team to have each other's backs, trust one another, and play for one another.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: That sense of brotherhood has become an important part of the culture he is building in Sydney.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: The Sabres also return a young group that gained valuable varsity experience last season.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_00: That includes junior quarterback Elijah Wright, who enters his second season as the starter.
• 12:01
  SPEAKER_00: His teammates say Wright has grown significantly, both in his understanding of the game and his ability to read defenses.
• 12:09
  SPEAKER_00: Sydney will once again compete in a very competitive division where the playoff race could come down to the final weeks.
• 12:18
  SPEAKER_00: The goal is certainly to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2018.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_00: But Kennedy believes the bigger objective is continued growth.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_00: At the end of the season, he wants the answer to one simple question to be yes.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: Did this team get better from the first day of the season to the last?
• 12:42
  SPEAKER_00: After coming so close a year ago, the Sabres believe they have the experience, the confidence, and the hunger to make that next step in 2026.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: Now up, Bainbridge, Guilford, Afton, Harpersville Bears.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_00: There is a new football program in Section 4 this season, and there are plenty of things to be excited about surrounding the Bainbridge-Gilford, Afton, Harpersville Bears.
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: Head coach Jacob Carl says his student athletes have fully embraced the idea that this is no longer about three individual schools.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_00: It is about building one program, one identity, and one mission.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_00: That process started in the offseason with a major emphasis on physicality and development.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_00: Carl says the student athletes have gotten stronger in the weight room and have embraced competition for all the positions, with nobody simply entitled to a starting job.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_00: The Bears returned several important student athletes, including Jacob Roofer, who was a New York State Class D honorable mention all-state selection last season.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_00: Captains Cooper Warren, Davis Bernard, and Aidan Lockwood will also play important roles as the program establishes its identity both on and off the field.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: The team also has plenty of young talent.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: A talented group of sophomores is expected to see significant varsity playing time, while 20 freshmen are in training camp and will have opportunities to contribute when needed as they continue developing at the JV level.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_00: For this young program, consistency and execution will be critical.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: Taking care of the football, eliminating mistakes, and playing with the same focus and intensity on every snap are priorities.
• 14:41
  SPEAKER_00: The Bears have their sights set on competing for a postseason spot, but Carl says this season is also about establishing the standard for the Bears football moving forward.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_00: And that may be what makes this team particularly interesting to watch.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER_00: These student athletes have the opportunity to become the foundation of a new program.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_00: And they will be the first group to establish what it means to wear the Bears' name.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_00: The goal is to be physical, disciplined, tough, and fun to watch.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_00: And for the Bears Foundation, it starts in 2026.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now for the final preview of the Eastern teams.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_00: That will be Green Oxford Trojans.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_00: They enter the 2026 season with a new head coach and a program that is continuing to establish itself back in the 11-player football.
• 15:36
  SPEAKER_00: Chris McGuinness takes over as the Trojans' head coach this season, and he inherits a program that returned to 11-player football a year ago after previously competing in the eight-player game.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_00: The transition back to 11-player football was certainly a challenge last season, and the Green Oxford finished the year looking to build on that experience.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: The Trojans will now look to take another step forward under their new coach.
• 16:03
  SPEAKER_00: Green Oxford opens a 2026 schedule in a very competitive division.
• 16:09
  SPEAKER_00: That schedule will provide plenty of opportunities for the Trojans to measure their progress.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: They will face the likes of Oniana, Groton, and Spencer Benett and Cander in the opening three weeks before beginning the heart of their division schedule.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_00: The Trojans' biggest challenge will be continuing to develop as a program while adjusting to a new coaching staff and the demands and rigors of the 11-player football.
• 16:37
  SPEAKER_00: But there is also an opportunity here.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: With another year of 11-player experience under their belts and a new coach bringing his own approach to the game, Green Oxford has a chance to continue building towards the future.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: For the Trojans, 2026 is about taking that next step, establishing their identity under Coach McGuinness and continuing to grow as a football program.
• 17:04
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, football fan, if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and tell your friends to visit cover4.com to submit your next fan up ideas or ask Coach Smith a question.
• 17:18
  SPEAKER_00: At Cover 4, your ideas are never out of bounds.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_00: In football and life, it is not where you line up, it is where you wind up.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for listening to the Cover Four podcast.