Matt Geller
Sports Scene
Lansing Sexton coach Dan Boggan is as no-nonsense as they come.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it; we don’t want to come in second in the state,” he said.
“If we don’t win the championship, it wasn’t a good season.”
Those are strong words, but this coach and his team have a great chance to back them up.
The Big Reds’ only loss a year ago was a bitter defeat to eventual Division 4 champion Marine City in the Division 5 state semifinal.
The loss was a game that the Big Reds led at half time 7-6, and it seems to be the driving force for the team this season. “We’ve got to do a better job of getting the kids ready to play, no matter what the conditions” Boggan said.
This season, Sexton returns 18 starters, including all-state running back and middle linebacker Avonte Bell and Central Michigan University commitment Rayshawn Wilborn.
Sexton has some key holes to fill if it is going to contend for a title in 2014. Wide receiver Javon Cooney, who scored the lone touchdown in the semifinal game, graduated. Cooney accounted for 12 receiving touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and a kickoff return for a touchdown. “ We have the player to replace Jevon from last year’s team,” Boggan said. “The question is, will he step up in those kinds of situations.”
The Big Reds aren’t resting on their laurels from a season ago, and there has been no let up in the preparation that Coach Boggan feels is necessary to compete at an elite level. “We played in a 7-on-7 tournament with Cass Tech and won. We won a tournament at Central Michigan and we won a tournament at Western Michigan,” he said. “Now it is all about execution and rewarding the fans that follow Sexton football.”