Fremont Ross coach Ken Winters might be exaggerating a little. He might not. Winters tells the Little Giants that special teams are the most important phase of the game. It certainly was true Friday as Zacarius Burel returned a kickoff 83 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in a 22-21 victory over Tiffin Columbian to start the season. Burel was nervous as he waited to receive the ball. He wasn't worried he'd drop the ball or scared of the moment. With one chance, he was afraid he wouldn't make a big play. Obviously, any concern was unfounded. He knew he was capable. He's also aware he's a sophomore on varsity. High school football Plenty of carries, never enough cookies He saw a lane open as he caught the kickoff. 'Hurry up and sprint through this hole.' The rest was easy as he abruptly changed the game. His patience is vastly improved since last year, letting a play unfold. 'My vision was horrible, I'd run into everyone. I'd rush.' Burel could do that in middle school, simply winning the race to the edge. That's not always going to work any more. He can wait, let a hole develop and keep his shoulders square. Kickoffs are an exciting play because you never know what to expect and so many things can happen. It felt great for Burel to check a return touchdown off his bucket list already. "It gets the crowd hyped up and the team," he said. "Everybody was jumping up and down." Special teams can be an excellent way to change momentum and give a group a boost. It's great when you can rely on them. Plus, they can generate memorable plays for teams and fans. Senior Carson Lewis added an essential field goal.
Burel is the backup running back to senior Ben Waggoner. Burel returns punts and kicks, after occupying a role as a reserve running back as a freshman. "I always push myself, that's what got me to starting at kick return," Burel said. Burel buys in to Winters' approach with discipline. Winters wants players who consistently improve in order to form a team that continues to grow, including Burel. A Week 1 win is always a good place to start. The Little Giants have confidence that what they're doing works. "We were playing good defense and the offense was running the ball," Burel said. "We had some big throws. We had a few sacks. The corners. The (defensive) line." Ross fans have witnessed the importance of special teams. The Little Giants won one because of a kickoff return. mhorn@gannett.com 419-307-4892 X: @MatthewHornNH This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Zacarius Burel no longer a secret for Fremont Ross football