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Comets know they have a contender to deal with
Fifth-year Genoa head coach Mike Vicars surely hasn't received Christmas cards or season's greetings postmarked from Oak Harbor the last four seasons. Since suffering a grueling 14-7, season-opening defeat at the hands of the Rockets in 2007, Vicars' Comets have run over their non-league foes from the East, outscoring them by a whopping 127-7 in three consecutive series wins.
"Opening night 2007 was tough," said Vicars, whose Comets were defeated, 14-7, on that night, his first at the helm of the Maroon and Gray. "When we lost that opener, we thought we had a chance to be competitive. We played a great team that was very well-coached. We used the momentum of losing to go and get better the next week. We continued to improve and the wins came that year."
Genoa finished 9-1 in 2007 and qualified for the playoffs. Now, four years later, the wins are still coming for Vicars and the Comets.
Since that loss, Genoa has been hotter than a San Antonio sidewalk in August, compiling a 46-4 record, reeling off 39 consecutive regular season wins, and hoisting the league championship trophy four times. Most notably, Genoa has qualified for the state playoffs in four consecutive seasons and has ranked as high as No. 4 in the final Division IV Associated Press poll.
"Each year since, we have built off of that 2007 team's foundation," he said.
Genoa will look to continue its impressive string of success and strengthen its foundation on Friday night when they travel to, you guessed it, Oak Harbor to battle the Rockets, a team Vicars believes will again be a force to reckon with.
"I don't think you will see us blowing out Oak Harbor anymore.” Genoa’s previous two wins over Oak Harbor were one-sided affairs. They beat the Rockets, 61-0, in 2008 en route to reaching the Division IV state semifinals, and 51-0 in 2009.
“They have righted the ship and they are very well-coached. Oak Harbor football is in good hands," said Vicars, referring to fourth-year head coach Mike May, whose Rockets are looking to avoid losing four straight to Genoa since Coach Jim Firestone’s teams won a record five straight over the Rockets from 1972-1976 .
After finishing 7-3 last season and having its playoff hopes dashed on the final day of the season, Oak Harbor is looking to add an impressive win to its resume in hopes of earning a coveted playoff berth, its first since winning eight games in 2007.
Unlike the Comets, who return senior quarterback Josh Bryer and first-team All-SLL running back Kyle Nutter, Oak Harbor will begin its quest for the playoffs minus the services of two valuable 2011 graduates, quarterback Steve Young and first-team All-SBC running back Jake Scott.
"You can never replace experience, especially if it comes with hunger," said Vicars, now in his 23rd season as a varsity head coach. "Josh and Kyle know what it takes and have taken countless reps. The challenge for guys like them is to continue to strive for perfect reps. Because they have that hunger and that experience, it gives them a chance to be a very competitive."
At this point in the season a year ago, Genoa was in the midst of a 30-game winning streak when they clashed with Oak Harbor at home.
Oak Harbor was fresh off of a disappointing four-win season and an embarrassing defeat to Genoa, but managed to put the past history in a filing cabinet, avoided being shutout for the third straight season, and nearly escaped with a victory, losing 15-7.
"Oak Harbor has dominated this series, so because of what we have accomplished the last three years, we feel very fortunate. Last year, Oak Harbor was tough on defense and we were fortunate to win," added Vicars, feeling pressure heading into Week Two.
"This rivalry is special--way past me and our team. This has gone on for a long time. I'll still be nervous and we will be sleepless as a coaching staff; it is that big. You feel like as you prepare you just don't want to let anyone down."
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