Rosecrans Football Leaning on Intangibles in 2024
ZANESVILLE, OH
The Rosecrans Bishops are back on the field and ready to show that they are ready for anything that comes their way this season.
The roster turnover year to year is always a challenge, but head coach Chris Zemba has been impressed with how his players have stepped up, especially at quarterback.
“So we have lost, we lost seniors last year, of course, about eight of them. And they were all great leaders of our team. You know, it’s hard to replace a Brendan Bernath, a four-year starting quarterback” said Zemba. “But Hayden Perdue is doing a wonderful job filling his shoes. He’s got big shoes to fill, but he’s getting it done.”
And despite new players taking on new roles, Zemba says the challenge and goal are the same year in and year out, and his team will just keep pushing forward.
“I think they’re all challenging every year. But again, we’re always gonna have a positive outlook on it. We have certain expectations each year, and we’re going to try to meet those.”
The senior leadership is always key each year, and for Rosecrans, that’s certainly the case both on and off the field.
Junior wide receiver Nick Bernath added “I think our juniors from last year have really stepped up and helped out in the locker room, and even us coming from sophomores to juniors stepped up as upperclassmen, and the locker room on the field just leading everyone all the time.”
“We’ve always had confidence playing together. We’ve all played together since like, kindergarten and up. So I mean we’re a small team, so I don’t think we’re lacking any type of confidence whatsoever” added junior running back Brody Zemba.
Confidence, leadership and experience on the field will all be important intangibles for Coach Zemba’s squad this season, as that can all lend itself to even greater results in 2024.
“A lot of us are already leaders. We were taught that way from the weight room and the classroom. We grow up as leaders. So I really don’t think it’s going to be much turnover at all. I think if not, it’s going to be, ‘we’re gonna be a lot better than last year in that sense” said senior tight end Conner Wells.
And while the team has its eyes on what’s to come to season, there’s always something more beyond the field of play.
“We don’t really come out here just to get to the next level and play football. We’re here for a different aspect of football, where you grow in life as better persons and better as human beings” said junior safety Coen Grandstaff.
So mark your calendars for Friday, the 23rd as Rosecrans looks to start in a big way this year when it travels to Beallsville to open up its 2024 campaign.
