Gridiron Boot Camp: Buckeye Trail football builds brotherhood with 'Military Games'

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OLD WASHINGTON −The July heat isn't the only thing cranking up the intensity for the Buckeye Trail High School football team as they prepare for a new season on the gridiron.
Trail head coach Donnie Kerns has set about trying to mold his players into an cohesive, tough and hard working unit, and has split his Warriors' squad into four separate "military-style" teams for a unique "Military Games" competition.
Those four squads, the Scout Snipers, Navy Seals, Green Berets and Force Recon have been waging daily battles in a Military Games series of competitive athletic events such as tug of war, relay races with players carrying weights, and others drills specifically designed to challenge them both mentally and physically.
Each day in July, the teams face off in these various challenges that test physical strength, mental toughness, and the ability to work as a team to accomplish a goal. Traits that will hopefully lead to some successful Friday nights this upcoming fall.
"Anytime we have a chance to breed competition we want to do that," Kerns said. "Football is not an easy game, and I tell the kids its not for everybody. It's a lot of hard work and comes with a lot of responsibilities, expectations and requires lots of sacrifice from the players."
"Sometimes in summer workouts it gets a little dry and kind of complacent almost," the Trail head coach continued. "But since we started the Military Games here in July, it's been super intense and the kids have just been getting after it with everything they have. They battle every day, and it just brings out the best in all of them."
A helping hand from veteran football coach
Kerns credits former Massillon Perry head coach Keith Wakefield for the idea about putting in the Military Games program into his off-season workout schedule.
"A few years ago coach Keith Wakefield came in and gave us the idea, and helped us get started," Kerns said. "It was an idea that he brought about the values, hard work, and the grit that our military forces show every day.- And we kind of emulate that into our football team with this program."
"By no means at the same level as our military forces," Kerns added. "We just want to take some of their work ethic, ability to battle through hard times and a strong working together mentality. Coach Wakefield was a highly successful coach at Massillon Perry High School. Who I would venture to say was one of the best football coaches in Ohio."
Kerns mentioned that both legendary college football coaches Nick Saban and Urban Meyer both included military style workouts within their highly successful football programs.
"Heck if it's good enough for Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, I think it's good enough for Donnie Kerns and the Buckeye Trail Warriors," Kerns joked. "So maybe we are on the right track by implementing this into our program. Just like the military, it builds a brotherhood among the players by pulling together towards a common goal."
Senior captains confident Military Games can aide return to playoffs
Buckeye Trail is coming off a strong 6-4 regular season a year ago that earned the Warriors a berth into the Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason.
And despite dropping a hard fought 30-22 first round setback to Fort Frye, the Warriors have their sights set on a return trip to the OHSAA playoffs.
A pair of Buckeye Trail seniors, 4-year lettermen fullback/outside linebacker Mason Todd and wide receiver/cornerback Sammy Brown are convinced that hard work being done with July's military games workload will help the Warriors return to OHSAA postseason action.
"We are building a really strong brotherhood with our military game workouts," Todd, who serves as the captain of the Navy Seals squad said. "My teammates are pushing me and getting the best out of me with our tough competitions. I think this will really show up in tight games, knowing we have each others back. And will pull together to get those wins on Friday nights."
"It's kind of sad this is my last year with being a senior," Todd added. "And I want to make it the best year we can. And I think our military games experience can make a difference for us. It gives us a huge advantage over our opponents by already pushing through the adversity of these intense, physical battles we are going through now."
In addition to the playoffs, Brown, the captain of the Scout Snipers team pointed out another Warriors' goal this season of wanting to add a championship season in the always tough Inter-Valley Conference.
"We want to win the IVC this season, and then make a return trip to the playoffs," Brown said. "And I think these workouts have helped us push each other to our limits. By going through these together, gives us confidence we can lean on each other. And know nobody is going to quit when it gets tough on Friday nights."
Military games champion already decided??
Despite the Military Games competition continuing until Friday, July 25th, a confident Todd feels a champion has already been decided.
"My team and it's not even close," Todd said with a big smile when asked about who was leading the way atop the leaderboard. "We've got it wrapped up already."
Kerns explained whichever squad takes the title will receive some sort of award that has yet to be decided. Maybe with a pizza party, or special Military Games championship shirts or pullovers. But Kerns feels his entire team will be winners having gone through the experience.
"It's just been a great thing for our entire team," Kerns said. "Everybody wins by all of them getting stronger, tougher and forming a great brotherhood with each other. It's been a truly rewarding experience for our entire program, and we are excited for the upcoming season."
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"We have done this the last two July's now," Kerns continued. "And I would never do it any other way now. Military Games will be what we do in July every year as long as I'm the head football coach here at Buckeye Trail. I'm a believer in the benefits it brings to our team."
Buckeye Trail travels to Caldwell to open the new season on Friday, August 22nd, 7 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Buckeye Trail football embraces hard work, mental toughness with Military Games program