FeedsNew coach, Eagles ready for new season
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New Romulus Coach Matt Ladach talks goal-line defense last week during practice.There aren’t too many directions a 2-7 team can go and new Romulus Coach Matt Ladach hopes he can take the Eagle football team the right way.
It will be an uphill battle, but the group of players—new and old—has made strides during the first week of practice.
“The kids are working real hard,” Ladach said. “I’m proud of them. We scripted out the practices and we got quite a bit in. I think we’re right where we expected to be. Like all coaches, we would like to be executing a little bit better, though.”
Ladach is no stranger to Romulus. He grew up in the city, played high school football as an Eagle and was an assistant coach for two years under Mark Woodson, who is now the district athletic director.
Ladach always knew he would end up as a head coach somewhere but preferred it to be at Romulus. Now he has his chance with the new season creeping up—one week and one day away.
New faces and old ones will join him in the attempt to return Romulus to its glory days of the gridiron. Ladach may have lost 13 seniors from last year’s roster but 13 more have stepped into their places as juniors return to play in their last season.
Junior rushing sensation Mario Crawford is returning; he hopes to run for 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
“I think I can do it,” he said. “I also think playoffs are a possibility.”
Returning to protect and push the line is senior lineman Joe Kiesznowski.
“I want to glorify God in everything that I do and just lead the team and be a leader,” he said. “I want to do my best and help inspire others to do their best.”
Ladach also has basketball star Antoine James back for his senior year at tight end and on the defensive line.
“He’s a hard worker and a strong kid,” Ladach said. “He’s a basketball player so I would have to compare him to a Ben Wallace-type player. He’s a good kid and a good worker.
“We have a pretty good senior class,” he added. “Everyone talks about the junior class being the class to be but our seniors class has a lot of good kids.”
Ladach said he and his staff are still evaluating the players but hopes to fine-tune the roster after this week of practice and the scrimmage on Thursday.
So far the new coaching staff has been a welcomed change by the players.
“They make us disciplined,” Kiesznowski said. “They make us work hard and don’t let us just play around. We know what we’re doing and we know what is expected of us. It’s not a recreational team, it’s a football team. We’re starting to become more like a family and that will help down the road.”
Both coaches and players hope that the three practices a day from noon to 8 p.m. will pay off.
“I’m proud of these kids’ work ethic,” Ladach said. “Most people have belief that Romulus kids aren’t disciplined. They’re wrong. I’ve never had a problem disciplining these kids. They are working hard every day and doing what we want.”
The Romulus season and home opener is against Dearborn Heights Robichaud. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25.
