Big Red Goes Undefeated
Record: 8-0
Big Red varsity football had another incredible season this past fall, posting an 8-0 record in the regular season, and making it to the Jack Etter Championship game for the second time in four years. The team completed their season with a huge 35-9 win over Andover, making it the fifth year in a row Exeter has come out victorious over their rivals. The team also surprised New England with their depth and ability to overcome injury.
What really set this team apart from its predecessors was its ability to play hard-nosed football on both sides of the ball. With an offense that was led by quarterback Andrew Perkins ’13 and co-captain rusher Andreas Robinson, Exeter outscored its opponents 267-91, and never scored under 20 points in a game. On the other side of the ball, senior linebacker Matt Girard and senior co-captain Devon Carrillo led a defense that held opponents to an average of 11 points a game.
The team’s journey to an undefeated season started before most students even stepped on campus. Three days before the start of school in September, the athletes arrived in a humid Exeter, NH for preseason, a time where players go through three practices a day starting at six in the morning, and ending well after dark.
“Preseason was really important,” upper Curran Sullivan said. “At times it was very hard, but I think it was crucial to go through the tough times before we entered the season, because you can't expect that you're going to be feeling fine during every game.”
Besides practice, preseason gave the team an opportunity to bond and build team chemistry before the start of the season and the
start of term. “[Preseason is] where the players not only come together and get a feel for the system, but also bond as a team,” Robinson said. “That is crucial and plays a big factor as the season wears on, because it enables you to trust the guys beside you.”
A day after the school year started, a physically-ready Exeter football team faced off against BB&N in the year’s first scrimmage. The result was underwhelming: the team did not have the chemistry that they expected, and selfish plays with the ball kept Exeter’s offense from progressing forward. “We weren’t really in sync yet, and a lot of starters were new players, so they were still adjusting to plays," Sullivan said. "I guess we just didn’t really get a good start to the game, and it stuck with us until the end.”
Using the poor outcome as motivation, Exeter came into Avon with a new reason to start their regular season with a win: to prove to New England that they were a championship-caliber team. After a shaky first quarter, Exeter picked up momentum following their first touchdown at the end of the first half, and then pulled away from Avon in the third and fourth quarters, crushing them 28-6 to commence Exeter's historic 8-0 run to the championship game.
After Avon, the team went on a rampage, obliterating teams and never looking back. Key wins came at home against Deerfield and Choate, and on the road against Worcester and Cushing. A 35-6 win against Cushing was especially impressive, and was probably the best game Exeter played all season.
Coming into the match, Exeter had a chip on its shoulder. The team had lost to Cushing’s Purple Penguins 33-35 two years earlier, ending that perfect season and their chance at their second championship in two years. After starting out sluggishly and letting Cushing on the board first, Exeter rebounded, and kept on scoring.
“The Cushing game was a key game for us because needed to win in order to keep in contention for the Championship game,” Robinson said. “They got up on us early, stopping us on defense and scoring on offense. We didn’t get down on ourselves, though, and after a while of being outplayed, we found a way to score, and then stopped them on defense. We earned momentum and by the end of the
game we were no longer neck and neck with them, but had opened up a large lead. This game really defined our team and the season that we had.”
Exeter came into E/a at 7-0, but the players knew they had to remain focused to take a fifth straight win. Andover was the strongest they had been in several years, and came out firing in the first half. But, after a blocked PaT by Carrillo sent the momentum in Exeter’s direction, the team put the ball in the end zone both through the air and on the ground, tallying five total TDs to defeat Andover 35-9 and claim the E/a football game once again.
“[Winning the game] was absolutely insane,” prep Jeff MacArthur said. “To be out there with over a thousand people screaming and cheering, whether it was against you or for you, was pretty eye-opening. When everyone started pouring out of the stands and rushing the field, it felt special to part of the program.” Although the game turned out in an Exeter win, both Perkins (ankle) and Carrillo
(knee) were injured during the game.
Going into the Jack Etter championship game, the team was down seven starters, and only one of its four captains was in a condition to play. Though the team fought hard, they fell to Salisbury 26-29 as time expired, ending Big Red’s football season. There were certainly bright spots from the game, however. Lower Shayne Holland stepped up to fill the spot of Robinson, and performed well, scoring most
of Exeter’s points. Senior Forrest Corcoran also scored, filling in for an injured Carrillo. “That was probably one of the most epic sporting events I've ever taken part in. Yes, it was unfortunate that we lost, but it showed how resilient and deep
our team was,” Sullivan said.
Although the season did not end in a championship win, the team felt that their year was very successful, largely in part to their captains Hunter Carey ‘13, Wesley Abram ‘13, Robinson and Carrillo. “Every captain brought the team something that got us ready for the game,” MacArthur said. “We went into every single game thinking, ‘Let’s do it for Wes, because he can’t be out there with us.’ Carrillo got everyone going emotionally and physically, Andreas played good cop, and Hunter played bad cop. They were all very easy to talk to and go to when you needed them."
This year marked the end of the Glennon football era here at PEA. Coach Glennon stepped down as head coach two weeks ago, announcing athletic director Rob Morris as his replacement. Girard spoke about the reasons that Coach Glennon was so successful as Exeter’s football coach. “He balanced seriousness and fun into practice so well that we had a great to playing for him while we were
winning,” he said.
“I think Glennon leaving really surprised a lot of the team, and for a little I was very unsure about the future of the program without him,” MacArthur added. “But, Morris’ passion and love for football will help us win another championship and I think we’re all excited to have someone as passionate as him.”
Robinson summed up the special season. “Every year I’ve been here at Exeter, the team has always been strong. There was always potential to be a powerhouse in the league, as well as the potential to make it to the championship game. But, out of all three of my years here, I really do believe that the team we had this year was the best team I’ve been a part of. We clicked together as players, Coaches, and friends, and found ways to make the plays and calls work. It was a great group of guys that came together during preseason, and played as a unit throughout the season.”