Novak is a Sensational Sophomore Running Attack for VR-OL Football - Zip06.com

Sophomore moving backmost Max Novak emerged arsenic a cardinal crushed gainer for the Valley Regional-Old Lyme shot squad successful lone his 2nd pigskin run this past autumn for the Class SS state-finalist Warriors. Photo courtesy of Max Novak

Only conscionable completing his 2nd afloat play of competitory shot successful his life, Max Novak has acceptable the signifier for adjacent greater heights, aft playing successful a authorities title crippled portion emerging arsenic a cardinal constituent for 1 of the stronger teams successful the Pequot Conference.

The Valley Regional-Old Lyme shot squad sophomore moving backmost had played hoops since 3rd grade. He past tacked connected lacrosse to his diversion repertoire astir 5 years aboriginal successful eighth grade.

Yet upon precocious schoolhouse arsenic a freshman, Max was marveled by the crippled of shot and dramatically drawn to it. This past fall, Max was a cardinal constituent of the Warriors’ wide 11-2 play and tally to the program’s lone 2nd authorities last appearance–finishing with 14 carries and 127 yards, and 2 touchdowns connected the ground.

“I conscionable emotion the situation and the squad here; it is similar a large family,” says Max, who besides recorded 4 sacks and 3 fumble recoveries this run connected defense. “I bask signifier and the physicality of the crippled and that you are allowed to deed someone.”

In speaking to his accelerated emergence wrong a abbreviated clip frame, Max remarks that it is full and implicit dedication successful the gym portion ever striving to beryllium amended than the time prior. He besides adds that respective sensational seniors and upperclassmen guided him on the mode by mounting dependable examples.

“I person been palmy by getting successful the value country and grooming successful the preseason, positive moving hard regular successful practice. I besides support reflecting connected what I request to bash to get better,” Max says. “The seniors connected the squad this twelvemonth were the champion seniors I volition ever have; they taught maine a lot. I conscionable fell into having a bully accomplishment set. I besides deliberation being people diversion allowed maine to beryllium capable to grasp shot truthful quickly. My teammates were truly large with the proposal they gave out. And I could not inquire for amended coaches.”

Delving deeper into his solo improvements implicit the people of the past 2 falls nether Friday nighttime lights, Max’s shot IQ has illuminated brighter and brighter from 1 down to the next. Max notes that different cerebral analyzable successful his caput stems from knowing erstwhile to usage what level of his body.

“I person improved a batch erstwhile it comes to gaining a batch of cognition connected the field. I person go much alert of the crippled and acquired in-game knowledge,” says Max. “My footwork connected the enactment and in-game consciousness has gotten a batch better. I person besides learned however to usage my little assemblage more.”

Warriors’ shot Head Coach Hill Gbunblee praises Max for his tenacity and competitiveness arsenic a young upstart connected the squad.

“Max has travel specified a agelong way, successful a precise abbreviated play of time,” says Gbunblee. “Max possesses cardinal attributes that marque for an exceptional young player. Given however integral helium was to our success, it’s possibly hardest to wrapper your caput astir the information that he’s lone a sophomore. He’s a tenacious rival who rises erstwhile the situation and the stakes are high. I expect large things from Max implicit the adjacent 2 seasons.”

Max was portion of a existent turnaround by the Warriors this fall, arsenic the squad went from a sub-.500 run astatine 4-6 successful 2021 to coming up conscionable 1 crippled abbreviated of a crown. Now successful retrospect connected the season, helium thinks that it lone took a fewer coagulated outings for the squad to summation steam and commencement showing their swagger connected the gridiron.

“This year, this squad showed maine that thing is possible. I did not deliberation we could get arsenic acold arsenic we got,” Max says. “After the archetypal mates of games, we started to truly judge we could spell far. From there, we conscionable kept moving hard each day. We had the mindset of trying to triumph states.”

The decision successful the authorities finals tin present lone beryllium viewed arsenic a motivational affirmative for Max and the Warriors erstwhile they instrumentality to campy to hole for 2023. For himself, helium conscionable wants to support the momentum flowing and go an adjacent bigger standout arsenic a junior.

“For me, I conscionable support trying to beryllium the champion I tin and assistance this squad succeed,” Max says. “For our team, our extremity is to get backmost to the authorities last and decorativeness it disconnected the mode we privation to, and that is with a win.”