A small senior class has led this year’s SOL American Conference champion Upper Dublin squad. This article is sponsored by the Upper Dublin Football Booster Club.
Upper Dublin has made headlines this fall for rolling to an undefeated SOL American Conference title. Leading the charge has been junior quarterback Ryan Stover who has accounted for more than 1,900 yards of total offense. Junior Kaleif Lee, who has close to 900 yards, is an emerging star at running back.
There’s no mistaking the significant roles those two players have had in the success of this year’s squad, but not to be overlooked are the contributions of a small senior class that represents the heart and soul of the team.
“All of our seniors have done a great job of leading,” said coach Bret Stover of a group that includes Matt Thompson, John Lee, Tim Rasmussen, Thomas Henning, Kevin Callahan, Connor O'Gara, Zach Weglos, Cole D'Andrea and Tamir Bailey.
Lee, Rasmussen and Thompson, returning starters from last year’s successful squad, are captains.
“It started when we lost to Abington (in districts) last year,” Stover said. “They provided the offseason leadership in the weight room and in the conditioning and in seven-on-sevens, and it’s led to the field.
“We’re still very young. When things start to go a little south on the field, everybody seems to look at those three. It’s important, especially with a young group, to have someone to lean on, someone who has been there to kind of throw you on their back and say ‘Follow me.’ That’s what the three of those guys have done all season. They’ve been through the battles, and they’ve stepped up and shown us the way. Our other five (seniors) also have roles, and they’ve accepted their roles.”
Lee, who plays fullback and outside linebacker, closed out the regular season with a three-touchdown performance in the Cards’ win over Upper Merion.
“John Lee is kind of our lunch pail guy,” Stover said. “He does all the dirty work and doesn’t get a lot of credit.
“He’s our singled up blocker in pass protection. He’s our inside run game guy, and he’s our lead blocker. I was happy he had three touchdowns Friday night on Senior Night.”
Thompson has put up big numbers at wideout this season and also plays safety.
“Matt’s a very capable quarterback also, but he’s accepted his role as a wideout as a junior,” Stover said. “He’s probably the leading receiver in the conference. Just his knowledge of being a quarterback playing that receiver position has benefitted him, and it’s benefitted us immensely because he’s been able to do some special things. He and Ryan have a nice connection on and off the field. That’s helped also.”
Rasmussen is a mainstay on the offensive line and sees action at both linebacker and defensive end on the other side of the ball.
“Timmy is an undersized guy with a lot of heart and wears it right on his sleeve,” Stover said. “He’s a quiet leader, but again, he’s a guy who’s been through the trenches. He was out there last year in the Abington (district playoff) game. He’s got some experience, and we’re calling on that also.”
The senior class has always been small in numbers
“In ninth grade, we had to actually recruit a couple of people who had never played football just to get people we could practice against,” Rasmussen said. “I remember – we used to only be able to scrimmage half the line offense versus defense.”
The freshman team still won its first four games that year but suffered some injuries as the season progressed and finished 4-2. Despite their small numbers, the seniors knew they could be part of something special.
“When we were in eighth grade, our open weight class was undefeated,” Rasmussen said. “We didn’t have that many eighth graders and a lot of seventh graders.
“We were pretty well bonded through middle school. We all came up here, and we added on some more people, but it was the same core group of guys – talented and hard working, so it works.”
“I thought we had something going there from the beginning,” Thompson said. “This year we had high hopes going into the season.”
With a nucleus that has been together a long time, the players share an unmistakable camaraderie.
“We all care about each other,” Rasmussen said. “Every single person on the team – there’s no one who plays for themselves. We all play for the team.
“Everyone works together – there’s no individuals, there’s no pride. We’re Cardinals, we go out there, we play for each other and win games.”
The Flying Cardinals have won seven straight after falling to Abington in the third week of the season. They finished the regular season with a 9-1 mark, and the foundation for their memorable season was laid on their trip to Florida for their season opener at Wide World of Sports Disney Resort.
“The chemistry usually starts in the weight room in summer, but I think Florida really did the deal,” Lee said.
“We all had good chemistry going into the year before the year started,” Thompson added. “But Florida really brought us all together – just going down there, staying in the same hotel, going to the same parks, walking around and talking to everyone.
“We melded as a team pretty well.”
The Cardinals won their season opener in Florida, defeating highly regarded Coconut Grove 36-28. The work they put in during the offseason was paying off.
“Right after Abington we were all really angry,” Lee said of the Cardinals’ 55-25 season-ending loss to the Ghosts in the opening round of districts last year. “We were pretty much outsized, they were more physical than us.
“We came in working. We knew we could be good, especially since the junior class - a ton of them started last year as sophomores. We focused on that, and every week we come in saying, ‘No let up.’”
Lee pointed to the return to the team of nose tackle Tamir Bailey as significant.
“He’s been huge for the defense,” the senior captain said.
“We’re also not making too many mistakes that kill us in the long run,” Thompson added. “I think we’re good at going out and having solid games.
“It’s really fun being a captain and leader of this team, and it’s especially fun to go out and win a championship and now continue on in the playoffs. This is our first home game.”
The Cardinals will host Council Rock North on Friday in an opening District One AAAA contest at 7 p.m.
“First going to Florida, first outright championship and hopefully first playoff win,” Lee said. “It’s awesome. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
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