It felt just like yesterday when the Weber Middle School football team posted a perfect season last year. To replicate that success under second-year Head Coach Thomas Barbara is a daunting task. In the end, the boys’ efforts paid off and their season ended with a lot to be proud of.The coaching staff behind Barbara includes assistants Mike Killorn, Matt Holzer and Dennis Trottier. Barbara, who’s been coaching in Port Washington for 10 seasons, ran the seventh-grade squad with Trottier while Holzer and Killorn helmed the eighth-grade boys. This year, both squads were combined to put together another astounding season. They knew right away going into this season that this was the start of something great.
“It’s all about building fundamentals and a foundation for the future,” said Barbara. “We had big expectations and they met all of them.”
Barbara stressed that the boys were much bigger, stronger, faster and better players from a season ago. They took the next step forward as athletes and young men. They made significant improvements that impressed the coaching staff and they got along like a family.
To go 6-0 in back-to-back years is rare and, according to Barbara, it was due to hard work.
Their best game came on the last day of the year where they edged out a physical Oyster Bay team 7-0 at home. This matchup was about playing mistake-free football. Both squads were evenly matched going into the game.
“It was definitely in my opinion the best game we played all season,” said Barbara. “Everything had to be done perfectly in order to win.”
The biggest difference between last year’s team and this season’s edition was the schedule. Last year’s games were tougher and they beat some teams that they haven’t beaten in the past. This year, with a softer schedule, the team once again believed in their chances to repeat. Once everything went right for them, their confidence kicked in and they knew they could beat anyone.
“That’s all about changing the culture,” said Barbara. “It’s about instilling belief that Port football can be a good program if you put in the work.”
When it came to naming players that helped them earn another perfect season, Barbara felt it was best to say this campaign was a team effort. They have shown what it takes to do well both on and off the field.
“It really takes all 11 guys out on the field to win the game,” said Barbara. “The running backs and quarterbacks get all the credit for the touchdowns, but it’s the full team that’s making the plays.”
Although it would be great to win a championship, these boys are developing their skills now to move on to the high-school level where they can achieve that goal. The trick is to keep up that level of confidence when facing much bigger and better competition.
Barbara is very pleased with his team’s second consecutive undefeated year and is already enthusiastic about next season. For the boys coming back, he is excited to see them gear up again. For the boys moving on to Schreiber, he wishes them good luck. “It’s survival of the fittest. If you don’t continue to work, you’re not going to continue to succeed,” said Barbara. “We try to instill the work ethic that needs to continue to build on and, if they do that, then the sky’s the limit. They will go as far as they can go.”
