By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

WARREN — Looking back at 2007, Warren Fitzgerald football coach Jason Byers called it, “a season of just misses.”

What else could he call it, really?

Fitzgerald finished 2007 with a 5-4 record, missing the playoffs by just fractions of a point. Making matters worse, two of those four losses came by the slimmest of margins.

In a week-two battle with Marine City High, the Spartans lost 15-13 on a last-second touchdown. In week eight, the team fell 19-13 to Warren Woods Tower in overtime.

“Like I said, a season of just misses,” Byers reiterated.

So far, 2008 has been a season of success.

At press time, the Spartans were a perfect 4-0, and the closest score in any of the four games was a 16-3 victory against Madison Heights Lamphere in the opening week. In total, Fitzgerald has outscored its opponents 130-21.

“The secret to our success is getting after things each and every game,” senior linebacker Nick Ancona said. “All we’ve done is gone into every game with an extreme focus on that night and that opponent. So far, it’s worked.”

“The kids have been pretty focused,” Byers said. “They’ve done a real good job of executing. Coming into this year, we told the kids that we can’t hope for things to happen, we have to go out and find ways to make them happen.”

Fierce. Urgency. Now.

These three simple words have become the Spartans’ rally cry. According to Byers, they are words that have defined their success to this point.

The last time a Fitzgerald team started the year 4-0 was 2002. That year, the team won six straight to start the season, made the playoffs and advanced to the second round.

That, however, was the last time the team qualified for the postseason.
Since that point, it’s been a program virtually in neutral, trudging through down times while trying to return to glory. Byers, now in his third year, can see the glory. It’s just two wins away.

“One of the first, and main, goals we set this year was making the playoffs,” said Byers, who was 0-9 in 2006, his first year on the job, but is 9-4 since. “After qualifying for the playoffs, our next objective is a MAC Silver title. We’re on course to do those things right now.”

Talent, along with the focus and determination, has been a driving force for the Spartans, but never underestimate the power of maturity. It’s something they’ve gained by living through the heartbreak of last season, something edging them forward now.

“The trip’s not over, and we’re not having fun just yet,” said junior quarterback Larry Masters, who through four games had 580 yards passing, seven touchdowns and no interceptions. “Once we qualify for the playoffs, then the fun will begin — then we’ll start enjoying all this. Until then, we stay focused.”

“There’s a stigma surrounding this program, that its one that can’t make the playoffs,” Ancona said. “We want to change that. Six seasons is too long not to be represented (in the playoffs).”

When the 2007 regular season ended, Byers said, the team got together to watch the playoff selection show. The Spartans were hopeful, but still at the mercy of a computer point system.

Things are different this season. No computers are needed.

“We control our own destiny,” Byers exclaimed. “That’s exactly how we like it.”

You can reach Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1038.