Giants look strong as opener approaches
Football team ranked No. 22 in nation by USA Today
This year the Ben Davis Giants start their campaign with even more preseason hype than 2013. USA Today ranked your Giants as the number 22 team in the entire nation.
The Giants were the only Indiana team to be ranked in the top 25. Last year’s 6A state champion Warren Central was given an honorable mention.
“I personally do not put much stock in rankings. They are nice for fans to talk about and get the fan base excited, but until you beat someone you have nothing to rank teams on,” head coach Mike Kirschner said.
Success is something the Giants are familiar with, posting a regular season record of 8-2 a year ago. However, for the past two years, the team has stumbled in the sectional round of the playoffs – both times to Pike.
“In order to succeed the team is going to need to focus on the process — that entails having a focused mind every day at school and at practice. Success does not come to those who wait to be great but rather those who seek out the challenges that will make them great,” Kirschner said.
Some of the key players that are returning to the team’s offense this year include Kyle Castner, Justin Brandon, Kasha Wilder, Dorian Tate, Brennan Gillis, Tim Fields, Chris Evans and Rashawn Bond. Seven of whom were starters.
The Giants, however, won’t be as fortunate on the defensive side of the ball, returning Asmar Bilal, Norman Oglesby, Antonio Mcewen, Cortez Tinnin, Dallas Pitts and Demarious Lewis. Two of whom were starters for the Giants last year.
“Inexperience absolutely figures into the process. Until we play a game we are unsure about the players that we have and what their level of potential might be,” Kirschner said.
The Giants ultimately have the same goal as everyone else in the state of Indiana: a state championship. However, their approach is what separates them from all other contenders. The team intends to take the season one game at a time and enjoy the process. Your Ben Davis Giants open up the 2014 season against Cathedral on Friday, August 22. The team hosts Westfield tomorrow in a preseason scrimmage.
