Vernon football looks to take the next step after best season ever | State of the Program

Last fall, the Vernon program put together its best season in four decades of football.

Setting a new school record for consecutive wins and hosting a playoff game for the first time in decades, the Vikings were one of New Jersey's most-interesting stories. As a new season approaches, expectations are higher than ever.

"Winning a conference championship was a big deal," coach Steve Down said. "The seniors definitely left their mark on the program. We're really proud of what we accomplished last year."

Down enters his seventh season at Vernon and has been responsible for the perception around the program changing. He took a program that once lost 19 straight games and turned it into a respected Group 3 group.

"When I got here, we played in front of maybe 150 people and now the community packs in for a game," Down said. "People are paying attention to us and we take that seriously."

Vernon won its first Super Football Conference title ever and hosted a playoff game for the first time since 1982, a crushing defeat in overtime against Passaic Valley in the North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals.

"It fuels you for nine months until you play another game," Down said. "The guys that are returning, I know that losing the way we did has been motivating for them during the offseason."

A lot of what Vernon became known for last season is gone, most notably star running back Logan Pych, who rushed for 1.825 yards and 17 touchdowns. Vernon had 13 other players carry the ball at least once last season, and all but one of them returns, including Logan's younger brother, rising senior Gavin Pych.

Aden Karwoski is back at quarterback and may air the ball out more this season. He never threw more than 16 passes in a game last season as Vernon controlled games on the ground. Karwoski also gets his favorite target back in senior Jayden Quintero, who caught 22 passes last year.

"I think we will have a more balanced attack," Down said. "We still want to run the ball. We graduated five senior linemen. There are people coming into new roles for us, but there's experience there and we have incoming starters that have waited their turn, so to speak, and that's the sign of a good program with players capable of starting ready to go when they are called upon."

The tradition

Vernon is currently enjoying its greatest stretch of football ever.

The Vikings have reached the postseason seven times since starting football in 1975, including each of the past three seasons. It's the first time they've earned playoff berths in three straight seasons.

Vernon only owns two playoff wins. The most-recent one came in 2005 in the opening round of the North 1, Group 4 playoffs against North Bergen. The other came back during the team's first playoff appearance in 1982, a win over Englewood to reach the program's only sectional final to date.

The challenge

Vernon has gone from being the hunters to being the hunted. Not only are the Vikings expected to contend in the SFC Patriot Red again this season, but they could also compete for a sectional title.

"That pressure is a privilege," Down said. "It's what you work for as a program. You want teams to see you on the schedule and know they're in for a tough game. It's not easy to win high school football games, but our kids have done a good job putting us in that position."

Vernon moved from the American White division to the Patriot Red this season. The Vikings' final two games of the regular season come against defending North 2, Group 4 sectional champion Mount Olive and North 2, Group 2 sectional finalist Lakeland.

Expectations

Expectations have never been higher in Vernon.

Is this the year the Vikings win a playoff game and contend for a sectional title?

"When I took the job six years ago, we struggled to win a game," Down said. "We told the kids that we would work hard to become one of those teams mentioned in the area and in the group. There's more work that needs to be done, but having a target on our backs by some is something we have earned."

Schedule

Aug. 30: at Warren Hills

Sept. 6: vs. Dover

Sept. 13: vs. Parsippany Hills

Sept. 20: vs. Jefferson

Sept. 27: at Sparta

Oct. 4: at High Point

Oct. 10: vs. Mount Olive

Oct. 18: at Lakeland

Oct. 25: vs. West Milford

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Vernon football looks to take the next step after best season ever | State of the Program