<body><div>LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. -- The Little Falls football team is coming off an uncharacteristic one-win season last year and is looking to 'mount' a bit of a redemption tour here in 2024.With a very young and inexperienced roster, the Mounties went 1-7 in 2023, finishing fifth in the Class C-East.It was their first time without a winning record since 2018, when they went 4-4. Their last losing season was in 2013 (3-6).This year, head coach Bryan Shepardson returns for his 17th season at the helm in Little Falls, and brings back a much more seasoned group than one year ago.There are about 20 players returning from last year's squad, many of whom got significant playing time last season.Those players are coming back with a better understanding of the varsity level, and are highly motivated to put 2023 in the rear view.Some key returners include: seniors Jackson Hummel (QB/DB), Dom Izzo (WR/DB, Derek Milianta (WR/DE), Wyatt Beadle (WR/DB), Matt Verri (RB/LB), Billy Macri (WR/DB), and Brynn Shepardson (OL/DL); and juniors Gino Buckley (RB/LB), Vance Levellie (OL/DL), Braden Watson (OL/DL), and Manny Cruz (OL/DL)."We return a lot of skill players, and that's always a good thing," said Shepardson. "They look pretty comfortable out there. So if we are able to match the physicality of the teams that we play, I think we will do a good job competing."These players have remained conscious of the bitter taste that followed them throughout the adversity-filled season last year.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2tsPJp_0vDhPzgO00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2tsPJp_0vDhPzgO00" width="1123" height="661" ></figure>They have committed to working hard in the offseason, to improve some of the areas that they felt they struggled with last year--including physicality--and because of that, are well ahead of where they were at this point of training camp than last year."I think we, collectively as a group, do not want that to happen again," said Verri. "So, it's a different feeling in preseason this year than last year. I feel like we were a little complacent last year and we definitely aren't this year."There are also some promising young talent being infused into the line-up this season, bringing some speed and toughness into the fold to compliment the now experienced veteran group.Some of the key newcomers include: sophomores James Milianta (WR/DB), Clark Rodger (OL/DL), Dominic Munoz (OL/DL), and freshman Nick Sylstra (RB/LB).The Class C-East is expected to be a tough league again this year, with teams like defending Section III Class C champion Adirondack, General Brown, Lowville, and Holland Patent all in the mix.A big key for the Mounties will be to match the grit and physicality of their opponents in order to remain competitive during the gauntlet of their league schedule this season."I think last year having a lot of losses we were down on ourselves all last year," said Izzo. "But this year, we know how that felt and we're ready to come back. We don't want the same feeling that we had last year. I feel like we put more effort in than we did last year, pushed ourselves more than last year, people want to be here more than last year."The Mounties kick off the 2024 regular season on Friday, September 6, at home, against rival Herkimer.</div></body>

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Little Falls returns with more experience, motivation after down year in 2023

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. -- The Little Falls football team is coming off an uncharacteristic one-win season last year and is looking to 'mount' a bit of a redemption tour here in 2024. With a very young and inexperienced roster, the Mounties went 1-7 in 2023, finishing fifth in the Class...

Little Falls returns with more experience, motivation after down year in 2023

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