By TIM TAYLORTioga County Sports Report
NEWARK VALLEY — The Newark Valley football team graduated a large number of players off last year’s Section IV Class D runner-up team, but coach Ted Hardenstine sees some potential among this year’s squad.
“We graduated a lot, so we don't have as many guys returning with varsity experience, but numbers are pretty good,” he said. “We’ve got, I think, 27 here today, so pretty happy with the numbers.”
NV will not have a JV team this fall with 7th through 9th graders playing a Modified “A” schedule.
As far as goals go, our goal is the same every year. It's the state championship. That's why you're playing, so our goals never change. How we get there is just a little bit different. We definitely have a little bit of a steeper learning curve with a lot of guys with a little bit less varsity experience, but I'm pretty pleased so far.
Noting that it was only day two and the players are not in pads yet, he said, “I'm happy with where we're at right now, but being able to see where it's going to be and how we're going to build, right now the best thing I can say about the team, and it's fine to say on day two, is there's a ton of potential here.
“We’ve got a lot of sophomores, but I really think they have the potential to be a special group. It's not okay if you're in midseason and you're still talking about potential, because that means we haven't gotten there. We will see as it goes on.
“I know our coaching staff is really excited to see these young guys, with all the abilities they have, to see how they're going to come together and see how they're going to compete.”
The Cardinals have a couple of Tioga County challenges bookending their schedule. NV hosts Class B Owego Sept. 9 and closes out the regular season at two-time defending state champion Tioga Oct. 27.
NV also has SVEC coming to town in week two.
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IN PHOTO: Ted Hardenstine sees some potential in a group which graduated 15 players off a 29-man roster. ... PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
