Thunderbirds Say Goodbye to Roller-Coaster Season

With another season of high school football about to be placed on the shelf in North Branford, the Thunderbirds gathered last Tuesday for their last practice of the 2010 campaign beneath an overcast sky.

The 2010 season could best be described as a roller coaster ride. After a strong leap out of the gate — the T-Birds were perfect over their first four games — North Branford suffered losses to Valley Regional (9-0) and Cromwell (6-3) before a now-infamous, bench-clearing brawl at Lewis Mills added a forfeit to their record.

A loss the following week to SMSA/University all but sealed North Branford's fate. Despite an encouraging rebound against Coginchaug (7-2) on Nov. 19 that resulted in a victory, any hope of December football now appears to be a long shot.

Though a playoff run is unlikely for the Thunderbirds, whose five wins and four losses currently place them at tenth in the Class S division, the hard-working squad appeared proud and confident as players ran drills behind head coach Mark Basil in preparation for their season finale.

"They're excited and they're disappointed," Basil said. "This is a very emotional group of kids. None of them want to see the season come to an end."

The T-Birds will not have to wait long this offseason before the mission for a 2011 title begins.

"Football season is unlike any other sport," Basil added. "It's eleven months a year. We put in a lot of time, so we have a special bond and there's a lot more to it than what people just see here. It's the out-of-season training. There's the weight room 
training that we have, the passing leagues, the camps. It's a close-knitted group of guys."

The Thunderbirds will rely on smaller numbers next year after they lose 21 players to graduation. Included in the outgoing group are senior captains Anthony Voreo, John Hart, Sal Varca and Joe Perez.

"It'll probably be my last football game, ever " said Perez, who plans to play baseball for North Branford this coming spring. "It's going to be an emotional game. We've been playing together for a long time."

Poised to return strong and ready to challenge the T-Birds in 2011 are rivals Cromwell and Valley Regional. The latter will return a quarterback, Jimmy Fairfield-Sonn, whom Basil described as "destructive."

"He'll be back, so those guys will be at the top," Basil said.

Powering the Thunderbirds next year will be a strong mix of athletic juniors and seniors whose success will ability to blend together and play as a unit will determine their success.

"A lot of hard work in the weight room will really decide what we have," Basil added.