Crestwood Red Devils’ football Coach Jack D’Amato said he had a vision for what the program would look like when he first took the job five years ago. Five years later, the program is exactly where he hoped it would be as Crestwood has one of its deepest rosters as it prepares for a new season.
“We lost only four seniors so it makes life a lot easier when you only have to replace four guys and the guys that are stepping into these roles have played in them already rotation wise so it is very exciting to see the number of kids involved on Friday nights with the varsity team,” D’Amato told The Weekly Villager on Aug. 13.
The Red Devils’ roster is bolstered by 15 returning seniors, the biggest senior class that D’Amato has coached, and he praised the impact they have had on the program.
“A lot of them were around when we won the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division Championship in 2021,” he noted. “Some contributed and some did not but we have a lot of these guys that have played big roles in our team over the last two years and we are really looking forward to them this year stepping up and taking care of business.”
In addition to a big senior class, Crestwood’s roster now sits at 48 players, the largest one that D’Amato has had since becoming the Red Devils’ coach.
He credited Crestwood’s rise in numbers to the work that has been put in at the Crestwood youth and middle school level and the help of Crestwood’s Gridiron Club in promoting football within the community.
In D’Amato’s first four seasons, the Red Devils have qualified for the postseason three times with last year the only year that Crestwood failed to advance past the first round. He said that the Red Devils’ final three opponents really tested the team in perennial powerhouse Kirtland, conference rival Grand Valley and the eventual Ohio High School Athletic Association Division V State Champion Perry.
“Two of three weeks we played state champions, so we know we have a lot of work to do to get anywhere near those guys,” he noted. “Now we see what it is like and see what it takes to be a state caliber team.”
The Red Devils’ offense will have a new look this season by running a single wing formation, which requires every skill position on offense to block and create numbers at the point of attack.
Crestwood will once again be fueled by senior tailback/defensive back Nate Blasiole, who ran for 1780 yards on 276 carries and scored 25 touchdowns last year.
“Nate is a great kid and he has a great team around him and he is a senior now so we expect a little more out of him, but he has carried the ball for us the last few years and he has done a great job and we look to see that continue,” D’Amato said.
Crestwood’s offense will be captained by senior quarterback/defensive back Charlie Sommer, who enters his third year as the Red Devils’ quarterback after completing 68 passes out of 120 attempts for 1044 yards and five touchdowns last year.
“Charlie has developed every year and this year he has gotten bigger, stronger and faster and has improved his mental ability in the game,” D’Amato noted. “Just seeing the field and understanding coverages and what we need to do inside our offense to make it successful.”
Crestwood’s offensive line returns only two starters from last year in seniors Daniel Doering and Landon Kuenzer and will rely on new starters in senior Bryce Bennett, Corey Barnauskas and junior Jake Eyerman to protect the pocket.
“The guys that we have in those spots have all played those positions before so they have started in those positions in certain games due to injury or just different aspects of last year,” D’Amato said of the three new starting offensive linemen. “All of them have played those roles so we are all looking forward to seeing them gel together and really get after it on the offensive line.”
On defense, Crestwood will have a deep defensive line led by Doering and Bennett at defensive ends while also relying on an experience linebacking corps led by seniors Tristen Addis, Jackson Rattray, Eyerman and Barnauskas.
“They are fast and aggressive,” D’Amato said. “That is what we really wanted from them the last three years but now with the maturity we are starting to see that.
Barnauskas was Crestwood’s leading tackler last year, recording 69 tackles including three for losses, one sack and one forced fumble.
Crestwood will open its season by playing Portage County rival Rootstown at Robert C. Dunn Field in Kent on Friday at 7 p.m.
