Cavs season in-review

By Cody Dalton

There goes an old saying that says, “All good things must come to an end”. This saying is especially true for the Cavaliers football team this season.

The team had an up-and-down season this year, with records broken and their record improved by four wins, from last season’s 4-7 record. They had a record offensive season, thanks to not only the running and passing game, but their overall team chemistry. This chemistry, combined with great performances by the Cavs wide receivers and offensive line, helped to lead them to an 8-3 overall record, 3-2 in the MSC East Division.

“It truly was an amazing year,” said Cavs coach Bruce Wasem. “Our team accomplished a lot of their goals this season.”

The chemistry that the team produced was very special, as all of the players bonded throughout the eleven-game season. The players began to share their stories with each other and began to know and understand each other a little better. They became not just team mates, but a family. With this new found chemistry, as well as the great talent that the team had produced, the two meshed together to create a masterpiece on the gridiron.

“The team had a very good and tight relationship this season,” said wide receiver Kendon Doe. “Because we played as a team and not individuals, we were able to succeed on the field this season.”

Now tightly bonded together, the Cavaliers opened up the season with four straight wins and took the Mid-South Conference by storm. These victories vaulted the Cavs to #18 in the NAIA poll. They did suffer set-backs, but there were more accomplishments that overshadowed those problems. The conference honored the team at the end of the season with honors, including Coach of the Year to Bruce Wasem and Player of the Year to Ra’Shad Morgan.

“The Coach of the Year award just shows me that I have the right people around me,” said Wasem. “Many of these individual awards are special, but I consider them team awards because we won them all together as a team.”

“Having this personal achievement is great,” said Morgan. “I am just glad that our team improved from last season. Maybe we can take it up another level next season.”

Ten players also made the conference’s first team including seniors Jon “Cub” Mullins and Ray Damm (for kicker), juniors Henry Potter, Ra’Shad Morgan, Reggie Dorsainvil, and Brandon Moore, sophomores Randy Hippeard and Kendon Doe, and freshmen Aric Evans and Matt Barbour. Senior Ray Damm (for punting) and junior Ben Robertson also made the conference’s second team respectively.

Conference honors were not the only one’s that the Cavaliers team enjoyed. Two players, Seniors Jon “Cub” Mullins and kicker/punter Ray Damm, both enjoyed CoSIDA All-Academic first team for their work in the classroom. This shows that the Cavaliers not only succeeded on the field, but in the classroom as well.

“Receiving any honors like the All-Academic first team and All-Conference first team is a blessing,” said Mullins. “I am happy that our whole offense, including myself, was honored as being at the top of the conference.”

“Being honored by the conference comes with being a part of an amazing team,” said Damm. “The CoSIDA award is another real honor because it took just as much hard work as the conference honors. It’s very hard to balance sports and school, and to be recognized for doing it well is a great feeling.”

When all was said and done this season, their record stood tall. Although the Cavaliers did not make the playoffs, they feel a sense of accomplishment. While a championship or conference title would have meant a lot, what they came up with this season was almost as good. For the seniors, their careers are complete. Hopefully they have a sense of redemption from last season and a sense of pride in how their careers have started and ended.

“This season was a blessing to be a part of,” said Mullins. “I knew we were a part of something special. I am honored to have played with these guys.”

“It feels great to be part of something so successful and to be able to set the tone for next season,” said Damm. “It feels very good to walk away from the Cavs with a great season.”

So there you have it. A record breaking season is over. It was an amazing improvement from the previous season. An amazing run this season happened because of the selflessness and unity on this team. Now the remaining players wait again to see action again on the field. They will train hard to keep in shape and hope to have an even better season next year. Hopefully for the Cavaliers next year, a championship will be waiting for them in the end.

“This team has everything it needs to make the playoffs and win the Mid-South Conference next season,” said Damm. “The stage for that to happen next season has been set through this season.”

(November 27, 2006)