First week of Comet football practice draws around 70 players

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

CHARLES CITY — There was a phrase and/or theory that was never bandied about during the start of the Charles City football season in recent years’ past.

Strength in Numbers.

Sometimes a quote or two from the movie 300 … a stylish fictionalized account of the outnumbered Spartans last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae … were more appropriate Comet battle cries.

But back then, the Comets didn’t have close to 300 troops. Or even 30 or 25.

Charles City second-year head coach Bryan Bjorklund anticipated an uptick in numbers from last season by the large draw of the school’s preseason non-contact football camp, as well as the summer attendance in the school’s new weight room.

But even he seemed pleasantly surprised by the teeming numbers that graced the College Grounds during the first official two days of high school football practice.

“I think we may have gotten into the 70s,” Bjorklund said after the team’s second practice on Tuesday. “We might lose a couple, but from what I’ve seen in my years of coaching football is that when kids are willing to come out during the summer before that they’ve already made a commitment.

“If you can keep it fun, you’ll have pretty good retainment.”

Bjorklund even anticipates that they may pick up more players once school starts. “But they are going to be a little behind everyone else,” he said.

Though the Comets have a good turnout this season, they are still a little thin with returning seniors, that number around 12 to 14.

But one of the returning seniors is All-District First Team linebacker Ethan Peterson.

Peterson’s junior campaign can be considered a “breakout season” for him as he led the Comets in total tackles (53), solo tackles (37) and tackles for losses (12) … the TFL stat placed Peterson among the most disruptive defensive players in the state.

“This year I hope to make All-State,” said Peterson, who also recovered two fumbles on defense and had an interception last season.

“Last year didn’t end the way we would have liked,” Peterson said of the Comets regular-season finale loss to Class 3A-ranked West Delaware on the road — Charles City would have qualified for the playoffs had it beaten the Hawks. “I want my senior season to last longer.”

Already big and athletic as a junior, Peterson said he put on 20 pounds from last season.

“It’s not all muscle, but I did put in a lot of work in the weight room,” he said.

Senior defensive end Blake Wilson, who was an Academic All-District player for the Comets last season, is also enthusiastic about his final prep season.

“I was injured my first two years (in high school),” Wilson said, “so last year was really my first season of high school football.

“I’m going to try to make up for lost time.”

Not only does Bjorklund have more players at his disposal, but his staff has gotten bigger.

Included are Mike Cranshaw, Josh Dean, Brady Garden, Bob Kloberdanz, Drew Mitchell, Tyler Mitchell, Zach Mitchell, Jeremy Rogstad and Kyle Staudt.

Many of whom were former Comet players.

“They are people who care greatly about Charles City football,” Bjorklund said of his coaching staff.