WOODSIDE — Nine months later, just remembering that game still annoys Thomas Reynolds.
He and his Polytech High football teammates had a chance to make program history.
All the Panthers had to do to reach the DIAA Class 1A state finals was get past Wilmington Charter — a team they blanked 40-0 during the regular season.
Instead, Polytech fell to the Force, 10-0, in their semifinal rematch.
“It was very upsetting the way it ended,” said Reynolds, a senior offensive tackle. “I hated it. I hate thinking about it now.
“The way I’m feeling, it’s kind of everybody,” he added. “It’s pushing all of us. I just feel like we’re bringing that to the table now.”
Nobody gets a second chance to rewrite history, of course. But the Panthers are hoping they can write a better ending to the upcoming season.
When it opens the season on Sept. 6 at J.M. Bennett, Polytech will return 22 seniors from last year’s squad. The Panthers would love to pick up where they left off last season when they set a program record for wins with a 10-2 mark.
Even after making the program’s first state tournament appearance, Polytech’s seniors still feel like they have something to prove. The Panthers were 1-15 in the two seasons before their freshman year.
“It was embarrassing getting blown out,” said senior linebacker Kenny Valcin. “We felt hopeless against teams.
“We really found our way. We found the guys to help us turn the program around. To be able to win games — win important games — it was amazing.”
Valcin said you could even feel a difference around school. Classmates were actually interested in the games rather than just hanging out.
“The first two years, our football team was kind of like a laughingstock,” said Valcin. “But last year you could see the culture change. Even the guys who didn’t play football, everyone was coming out to support us.”
Valcin was a first-team All-Class 1A pick last fall along with running back Noah Walker, who has recovered from a knee injury he suffered in the Charter playoff game.
Reynolds, defensive end Israel Russell and defensive back Simon Balcerak all made second team All-District 1A, Class II. Quarterback Isaac Balcerak was an honorable mention choice.
Polytech coach Dave Eilers said the class of 22 seniors is the biggest he can remember the program having.
But Eilers knows nothing is guaranteed for the Panthers. They’re going to have to work hard for all the things they want to accomplish.
“Nobody’s going to give us the game,” said Eilers. “We expect it to be a battle each game, each week.
“These 22 seniors have been dedicated to the program for the last four years now. They’ve definitely set the standard. They’ve shown the younger kids what it takes to be successful and committed. I couldn’t ask them for anything more.”
The chance to actually compete for a state championship once seemed all but impossible for those veteran players.
Now it doesn’t seem so far-fetched at the moment.
The Panthers know it’s up to them to do something with the opportunity.
Valcin said they also know they have themselves to blame for getting upset in the state semifinals.
“I think everybody kind of got ahead of ourselves,”said the Felton native. “We were so worried about Tatnall (in the finals). But that’s the biggest thing you can’t do. You can’t look past an opponent.
“The coaches preach to us all year. We had a great season and it’s definitely something to be proud of. But, at the same time, that’s in the past. You can’t really hold onto that. ... We have to work even 10 times harder now to really improve ourselves.”
Reynolds, a Camden native, said it’s remarkable how much things have changed for Polytech in such a short time.
“My freshman year, we were used to losing,” he said. “Now we expect nothing other than a win.”
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