Putting Team First

While the football season had many highlights, such as the return of the Split-F trophy to Fay for the first time in four years, varsity football coach Chris Kimball points to the team’s play in their first loss to Roxbury Latin as a defining moment. Riding a wave of three decisive victories, the Fay team faced a bigger, stronger, older, and faster Roxbury Latin opponent for the first time. “It took our team a half to recognize that they were capable of playing at any level if they played together,” says Chris. From being down 0-14 at half-time, the Fay team returned ot the field reenergized and refocused to tie the game. While Roxbury Latin made a great play to score a winning touchdown in the final minutes, Chris was impressed with what he saw. “The way the team responded to adversity in that moment was pretty remarkable, and it was a springboard to some huge wins after.”

 

Coming off last year’s 0-6 record, Fay football has had a reversal of fortune, finishing this season 5-2. While Chris points to contributing factors, like the improvement of returning players,

some dynamic new additions, and the complementary coaching of Chris O’Connor and Eric Knuppel, it’s the character skills that don’t show up on a roster that he believes made the most significant impact on the team. From their first scrimmage against Fenn, the coaches knew that the team had the potential to be strong. However, the players gelled in a way that manifested results on the field. “There are a lot of guys on this team who could probably have had more individual success this season, but that’s not how they played,” says Chris. “This is a team that played for each other and the success of the team.”

 

At the team dinner before Friday Night Lights, Chris watched as the team piled into three tables. In the past, players would have been scattered around the Dining Room in small groups, but this year, 28 players in grades seven through nine sat shoulder to shoulder. “They were just a unit, and it has been that way all season,” he notes.

 

Chris attributes the team’s tightness to the example set by captains Jack Floyd ’24, Syer Copeland ’25, and Khi Eady ’25. “The captains have really been team first,” he says, “supporting when needed, correcting when needed, coaching when needed, cheering when needed, and taking a backseat when needed for the success of the team.” It is fitting that the three captains had the opportunity to represent the team at Upper School Morning Meeting and present Head of School Rob Gustavson with the Split-F trophy after their Friday Night Lights win against Fenn.

 

While the team will lose some ninth graders this year, their success this fall has returning and prospective players excited about next year’s prospects. “This year’s leaders, especially the eighth and ninth graders, have shown the recipe for what you need to do to be successful,” says Chris. “It’s very hard to be an individual talent on a football team. Even the best players are reliant on their teammates for success. Our guys have shown what that mindset can produce as a team, and I think our rising seventh graders and returning eighth graders have the formula now.”