If you look at last season, the success of the senior heavy Titusville Rocket squad could be seen in a couple of different ways.
One, it was a very talented, perhaps once in a generation of athletes team that gave the brown and gold a couple solid years and now it’s time to rebuild.
It’s an argument that certainly could be made with the school’s all-time leading rusher and scorer of touchdowns, Jaxon Covell, moving to play college ball.
One, it was a very talented, perhaps once in a generation of athletes team that gave the brown and gold a couple solid years and now it’s time to rebuild.
It’s an argument that certainly could be made with the school’s all-time leading rusher and scorer of touchdowns, Jaxon Covell, moving to play college ball.
| And a three year starting quarterback who was the field general in the trenches not afraid to engage the enemy directly in battle himself. Ian McDonald had weapons and he used them. And when defenses seemed “onto them,” concentrating on Covell, McDonald tucked the ball and darted upfield himself or handed it to Kamo (Kameron Mong) who quietly was one of Titusville best all around athletes excelling in three sports. On defense all the above mentioned were keys in stopping the opponent along with the stud defensive end JJ Miller who seemed to be in on every tackle. And don’t discount the linemen. Covell often referred to his accomplishments as all their accomplishments. The line was strong and opened garage door wide holes at times for Covell to break through. So with so many seniors gone and a virtual mirror image schedule this year, the 7-3 Rockets should be looking at a rebuild. But, that’s not the way they see it at all. Last year’s junior varsity squad went undefeated. “We had basically two varsity teams last year,” said senior Brock Middleton who is eager to prove what this generation of Rockets are doing is building a sustainable program. |  |
Fellow senior Coleman Knapp agrees. “We just have to play to our level.” Knapp, one of the returning starters on the line isn’t worried about the seeming lack of varsity playing time by many of this years starters. “They’ve been here with this program, we all work hard,” he said.
There are 13 seniors on the team, many who were part of that undefeated season last year in JV and many got in some quality minutes filling in for injured Rockets or playing the fourth quarter in the many blowouts.
“This is a very team oriented squad,” said coach Mike Reynolds. “When you look at our seniors this year,, these guys have waited and worked hard in our system and have contributed to this team… we’re really excited about seeing what they are going to do.”
And his son Noah, their team ball boy doesn't only see this year's team as being good, he predicts they will be even better going 8-1.
There are 13 seniors on the team, many who were part of that undefeated season last year in JV and many got in some quality minutes filling in for injured Rockets or playing the fourth quarter in the many blowouts.
“This is a very team oriented squad,” said coach Mike Reynolds. “When you look at our seniors this year,, these guys have waited and worked hard in our system and have contributed to this team… we’re really excited about seeing what they are going to do.”
And his son Noah, their team ball boy doesn't only see this year's team as being good, he predicts they will be even better going 8-1.
Senior Brody Sellen, who was picked to be the likely starter at quarterback. “We want to feed off last year,” he said. “Keep winning and get back in the playoffs. Keep this culture of Rocket football strong.
In his fourth season as head coach Reynolds has a 16-15 including playoffs. His first season was a 3-7 season that he thought should have been at least 5-5.
Since then he has gone 13-8 and was just shy of the playoffs in 2023 by technicality and won only the second playoff game in school history last year.
In his fourth season as head coach Reynolds has a 16-15 including playoffs. His first season was a 3-7 season that he thought should have been at least 5-5.
Since then he has gone 13-8 and was just shy of the playoffs in 2023 by technicality and won only the second playoff game in school history last year.
“This is probably one of the strongest group of kids on the offensive line I’ve had in a long time,” Reynolds said.
And they seem to have the necessary work ethic to turn that strength into positive results.
“The senios from last year are hard to replace,” said Sellen. “But everyone worked really hard in the off-season, we had really good attendance for all the workouts and everyone is stepping up in a really good way.”
The Rockets open their season tonight at 7 p.m. at the historic Carter Field against Corry who they lost to last year to start the season.
NOTE: The week two game against Girard at home with start at 7:15 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.
And they seem to have the necessary work ethic to turn that strength into positive results.
“The senios from last year are hard to replace,” said Sellen. “But everyone worked really hard in the off-season, we had really good attendance for all the workouts and everyone is stepping up in a really good way.”
The Rockets open their season tonight at 7 p.m. at the historic Carter Field against Corry who they lost to last year to start the season.
NOTE: The week two game against Girard at home with start at 7:15 p.m. instead of 7 p.m.
Below is the first day of camp story we wrote for both the Meadville Tribune and the Titusville News-Journal.
| Titusville, like many other football programs across the region, opened up camp this week with heat acclimation practices. Coming off one of the school’s best seasons all-time featuring record setting performances by a solid and large senior class that gave them only their second playoff win ever, many would think this is a rebuilding year. But with 13 rising seniors, that made up a junior varsity team that went undefeated last year, some getting valuable varsity minutes, head coach Mike Reynolds sees this as another season to grow the program. Four years ago, Reynolds came back with the goal of building a successful program. Not just one that rises to the occasion because of one extraordinary senior class, but one that comes back to compete after that group graduates and still puts up numbers and wins “We had a record setting year last year with a great group of guys, but when you look at our seniors this year, and these are guys that have waited and worked hard in our system, and have contributed to this team in a variety of ways, we’re really excited to see what they are going to do,” Reynolds said. “This is really a very team oriented group… really working hard together to accomplish our vision out there on the field.” |     |
“We had two varsity teams last year,” said senior Brock Middleton looking to play tight end and defensive end this year. “I had two seniors ahead of me on the team (so I didn’t get a lot of varsity time,) so now this is my time. We are absolutely looking to repeat this year getting into and winning playoff games. Hopefully go farther.”
Lineman Coleman Knapp agrees. “We have the type of roster to go compete, we just have to play to our level,” he said.
One player that has been waiting for his turn, while also being a strong contributor on defense, is Brody Sellen who is an early favorite to take over at quarterback.
“We want to feed off of last season, keep winning and keep the culture of Rocket football strong,” Sellen said.
“Brody is the kid that has waited for this opportunity,” said Reynolds, He said Sellen has been working hard all summer to step up into a leadership role.
Jaydin O’Neill, who saw a fair amount of action last year backing up all-time leading rusher Jaxon Covell, has been “doing a great job running the football according to Reynolds.
The players and coaches all agreed that the off-season work, mainly in the weight room will pay dividends.
“We got some big boys,” said Sellen.
“Strong,” Middleton and Knapp said almost in unison.
“This is probably one of the strongest groups of kids, offensive line wise, I’ve had in a long time,” Reynolds added. “This is a group of young men that can move a lot of weight around. That’s exciting to bring out on a Friday night.”
The Rocket schedule is a mirror image of last season. They faltered in a first game on the road,losing to Corry 28-22.
But then rattled off five straight dominating Girard, Grove City, Conneaut, Warren and North East before running up against defending state champion Hickory who were way too much for the Rockets. They responded to that loss with 42 - 0 shutout against Slippery Rock.
The last game of the regular season was their worst defeat to the very strong Sharon Tigers.
In the playoffs they dismantled Fairview before losing to the Tigers a second time a week later to end their season.
They’ll face all the same teams and hope to not falter and improve against the teams they lost against.
“The seniors from last year are hard to replace, but everyone worked really hard in the off-season…we had really good attendance for all the workouts and everyone is stepping up in a really good way,” said Sellen.
The goal extends beyond just seeing how they will do after a very successful season, the goal is to keep it going.
“At the end of the day we want to be a good team and we want to execute and continue that tradition of honoring this community,” Reynolds said “ … and we want to compete for District 10 championships day in and day out.
“People are following the vision, they want to work hard and see what we can do this year,” said Middleton. “We just love to grind. We want to get better everyday.”
“At the end of the day we build to compete with teams like (Sharon and Hickory),” said Reynolds. “We understand we’re in the toughest conference in District 10 and we’ve got to gear up and get ready to go.”
“We look around whenever it is game day and we get a crazy amount of people showing up for us,” said Knapp. “Thousands of fans are coming out to watch you. There is no sport like football.”
Lineman Coleman Knapp agrees. “We have the type of roster to go compete, we just have to play to our level,” he said.
One player that has been waiting for his turn, while also being a strong contributor on defense, is Brody Sellen who is an early favorite to take over at quarterback.
“We want to feed off of last season, keep winning and keep the culture of Rocket football strong,” Sellen said.
“Brody is the kid that has waited for this opportunity,” said Reynolds, He said Sellen has been working hard all summer to step up into a leadership role.
Jaydin O’Neill, who saw a fair amount of action last year backing up all-time leading rusher Jaxon Covell, has been “doing a great job running the football according to Reynolds.
The players and coaches all agreed that the off-season work, mainly in the weight room will pay dividends.
“We got some big boys,” said Sellen.
“Strong,” Middleton and Knapp said almost in unison.
“This is probably one of the strongest groups of kids, offensive line wise, I’ve had in a long time,” Reynolds added. “This is a group of young men that can move a lot of weight around. That’s exciting to bring out on a Friday night.”
The Rocket schedule is a mirror image of last season. They faltered in a first game on the road,losing to Corry 28-22.
But then rattled off five straight dominating Girard, Grove City, Conneaut, Warren and North East before running up against defending state champion Hickory who were way too much for the Rockets. They responded to that loss with 42 - 0 shutout against Slippery Rock.
The last game of the regular season was their worst defeat to the very strong Sharon Tigers.
In the playoffs they dismantled Fairview before losing to the Tigers a second time a week later to end their season.
They’ll face all the same teams and hope to not falter and improve against the teams they lost against.
“The seniors from last year are hard to replace, but everyone worked really hard in the off-season…we had really good attendance for all the workouts and everyone is stepping up in a really good way,” said Sellen.
The goal extends beyond just seeing how they will do after a very successful season, the goal is to keep it going.
“At the end of the day we want to be a good team and we want to execute and continue that tradition of honoring this community,” Reynolds said “ … and we want to compete for District 10 championships day in and day out.
“People are following the vision, they want to work hard and see what we can do this year,” said Middleton. “We just love to grind. We want to get better everyday.”
“At the end of the day we build to compete with teams like (Sharon and Hickory),” said Reynolds. “We understand we’re in the toughest conference in District 10 and we’ve got to gear up and get ready to go.”
“We look around whenever it is game day and we get a crazy amount of people showing up for us,” said Knapp. “Thousands of fans are coming out to watch you. There is no sport like football.”
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