Groton football off to perfect start

In its second season as an eight-man program, Groton football is once again the team to beat. Last year, the Indians went undefeated in regular season play and are on pace to do so in 2022 with a 5-0 start. This has been possible because of equally impressive play on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, Groton has allowed an average of 12.2 points per game, the lowest out of the eight-man teams in Section IV and the fifth lowest in the section overall. Fourth-year head coach Joe Manning praised defensive coordinator Justin Albro for getting the defense to fire on all cylinders.

“He does a great job preparing our team,” Manning said. “Every week, he breaks stuff down. I think our line coach also prepares our guys up front to handle blocks and shed them and get to the ball. So, I think just our preparation in our hard work on defense is really the key to our success. And we have athletes.”

One of those athletes is senior Ben DeMatteo, who has excelled on all three fronts. Not only is DeMatteo one of the top receivers on the team, but he also has made some big plays on defense and special teams. He showed off his various talents on Oct. 1 at Moravia in a 32-28 comeback victory. As a defensive back, he recorded two interceptions, including the game-sealing one. Prior to that, he recovered an onside kick, which helped set up a touchdown to give the Indians their first lead since the first quarter.

“Ben is a great athlete,” Manning said. “I’ve coached him since [he was] 5 years old. He wants to win just like all the other players. He’s quick. He understands the game. We switched him onto [Moravia’s] Joe Baylor — who seemed to catch the ball pretty much wherever they threw it — to go up and match up better with him with his size and strength. Ben’s a big playmaker. He likes the game, enjoys the game, and we all want to have one goal in mind. That’s to win every single contest we’re in.”

DeMatteo isn’t the only player Manning is very familiar with. Quarterback Austin Hunt was also coached by Manning since he was 5. Hunt continues to lead a high-octane offense that’s averaging 45.8 points per game, the second most out of the eight-man teams. The 2021 Division VII First Team All-Star has made even bigger strides in his senior campaign.

“He’s a better leader this year,” Manning said. “He’s got a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger. Obviously with maturity, you start understanding the game a little bit better. He’s become a student of the game, and I think he understands looking at defenses and understands the importance of getting yardage, finding open guys down the field when he needs to, or just talking to the ball and getting yardage for first down. He’s just an outstanding leader.”

Groton’s attack would not be complete without running back Nick Karandeyev. The junior has terrorized opponents left and right on the ground, including a three-touchdown performance against Newfield on Sept. 17 and rushed in for four scores against Unatego on Sept. 23.

“He’s just a strong runner,” Manning said. “He’s quick. He’s explosive. He’s not afraid to hit any hole he sees. He’s just a hard-running and tough kid who enjoys the game. I think when you’re enjoying the game and you’re having success, it makes you feel more comfortable and more confident, and I just think he’s enjoying the game.”

Manning said he’s glad to see Karandeyev thrive in the spotlight.

“For a couple of years, he sat behind Kalib Manning and Jeter Neff, who are both incredible running backs, and it’s now his turn, and he’s shining,” Manning said. “It’s been a pleasure to be a coach and have running backs that when you lose one, you get the next man up. It’s been three years in a row, we’ve had the next man up, and they’ve done an incredible job for us.”

After being on the road for their first four games of the season, Groton returned home to the newly renovated Ross Field (tinyurl.com/2pwstor9) this past Friday, Oct. 7, where they took down Trumansburg 40-21.

As they close out the regular season at home for their final three games, the Indians are poised to make it back to the Section IV eight-man final, where they fell to Spencer-Van Etten/Candor last season. With a core of returning players on both sides of the ball, Groton hopes that this time around, they can go one step further and seal the title.

“This year, we’ve got to stay healthy,” Manning said. “We’ve got to stay tough, stay focused, stay disciplined. And we have to just take one game at a time, prepare for each battle weekly and get a section championship.”

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