For Washington Township, less has been more.
So far, anyway.
"We really cut things down this summer and even in the preseason," Washington Township coach Mark Wechter said. "We got back to being high school coaches instead of trying to be college coaches."
Coming off a 3-7 record that marked the program's first losing season since 1984, Washington Township scored a resounding 42-0 victory over Winslow Township on Friday night.
Wechter knows his team has a long way to go. But the big opening-night victory was huge for a team that needed some validation after a difficult 2010.
"Our motto has been 'HEAT' - heart, energy, attitude and teamwork," Wechter said. "If we do that, we'll get back to playing Township football."
Wechter said 2010 moved him and his assistants to take a step back. Although it seems counterintuitive in this era of 12-month programs, the coaches decided that fewer structured workouts in the offseason and a less demanding training camp might be refreshing for the team.
"We gave them off the entire Labor Day weekend - Saturday, Sunday and Monday," Wechter said. "That's the first time we've ever done that. They came back Tuesday and were going 100 m.p.h., and they had a great week of practice.
"We haven't even put everything in yet, and we used to have everything in by the end of July. There's no burnout. The kids are a lot more fresh.
"We're trying to make it fun again. It's a game. These kids have other things in their lives."
Wechter has high praise for his senior class, a "no-name group" that has been motivated by the outside perception that this team won't accomplish much this season.
Three juniors made a big impact on Friday. Outside linebacker D.J. Brown led the defense. Chris Colavita took an interception back 75 yards for a touchdown and also went five yards for another score. Quarterback Tom Hildebrand was 9 for 12 passing for 152 yards and also ran for two scores.
"He showed a lot of moxie," Wechter said of Hildebrand.
Upset of the week. Kingsway rallied from a 14-3 deficit to stun Delsea, the No. 4 team in The Inquirer preseason Top 10, by a 16-14 score in a WJFL Royal Division game.
"Our kids believed they could win the game, and they stepped up and made it happen," Kingsway coach Tony Barchuk said. "Delsea was highly ranked and that can be tough on a team. We weren't in such a bad position."
