BUCKLAND — There were introductions at practice for the Mohawk Trail Regional High School football team on Monday.
For the first time since finding out last week that the football season at Turners Falls High School was suspended, the players from Powertown made the trip to Buckland for their first practice wearing a Mohawk Trail uniform.
After calisthenics and some warm-up activities, the new team huddled and each individual player identified themselves. Mohawk’s Evan Shippee greeted some new teammates for the first time wearing the same colors.
“It was a little awkward at first, having kids from another school because we have played them,” Shippee said. “But once we got into a comfort zone it was pretty cool. We are bringing them in. It’s a pretty big brotherhood up here.”
Shippee noted the difference in practice from the very beginning of preseason.
“It definitely was different,” Shippee said. “We had a lot more pads during stretches than we are used to. I think it’s great to have more people, to give us breaks so we are not playing both sides of the ball all season.”
Aside from the introductions, the rest of practice ran as usual.
“These players have seen each other on the field before,” assistant coach Cody Wilson said. “They kind of knew of each other beforehand. By the end of the first practice, it didn’t seem like they were going to different schools. They were just teammates. It was pretty seamless. These kids know how to play football.”
Eight players made the trip in a van driven by Turners Falls’ athletic director Adam Graves. One player missed Monday’s practice with an injury. The two teams combined could form quite the formidable opponent for Tri-County League opponents this fall.
“It changes the whole dynamic,” Wilson said. “I am just really happy these kids have an opportunity to play football, honestly.”
The players will have school transportation to practices, but will need to find their own ride on game days to Buckland.
“The Turners kids coming up here is going to be a pretty big help,” Shippee said. “We can expect more out of the Warriors this year. I think we will be better.”
College prospect Ryan Duclos, a Turners Falls junior, worked with a new group of linemen.
“It felt like a fresh start,” Duclos said. “I got to meet new people. It’s going to be a family sometime soon.”
Last week, Turners Falls found out that it was not going to have a football program this season with numbers too low.
“It was sad,” Duclos said. “It’s not just about losing the game, it’s about losing a family and a friendship. But coming here raised my spirit.”
Senior Jaden Whiting, another college prospect, made the trip in Graves’ van and echoed Duclos’ sentiment about losing the season in Turners.
“It was sad, the tradition the fans and the community as a whole,” Whiting said. “But when we found out Mohawk wanted to combine with us… it’s a whole new life, a whole new chapter; to play one more year with a new team.”
Whiting showed some chemistry downfield with Mohawk quarterback Shawn Davenport, connecting on some throwing drills against one-on-one man coverage.
“We were welcomed like a family,” Whiting said. “We did well for our first practice. I feel like it can go a long way if we start building early. We will be a solid team.”
The decision whether to accept the hardship co-op will come from a review board, which will determine whether the MIAA will approve the unification of the two teams for the 2019 season. The decision is expected to come down by Sept. 6, just in time for the new campaign.
“Hopefully they will look at us, the seniors coming through,” Whiting said. “They only have one shot to play football and if they want to play collegiately. This is their only shot so hopefully they take that into consideration.”
