FMS football sets its sights high in 2012

Fishburne went 2-6 in head coach Dan Baranik’s first season in 2011. But Baranik, a former assistant at Army, feels his team has a chance to be special in 2012.

“We’ve got a good bunch in the camp, and we’re looking forward to the season. Our guys are working hard, their attitude is good. We’ve got more numbers than we’ve had in the past, and that’s a good sign,” Baranik said.

Surveying practice the week before the Caissons’ Sept. 7 opener on the road at Covenant, Baranik feels he has more talent on the field than he had at his disposal in 2011, and that the young men are willing to go the extra mile.

Talking to a few of his players, they’re willing to go the extra mile because they have an end goal in mind that might seem lofty for a program coming off a losing season.

“Championship or bust,” said Michael Poillon, a senior from Stafford, Va., who will be the team’s starting quarterback and free safety.

Poillon has a rifle of an arm, and a scheme that should allow him to showcase his mobility, with some designed rollouts and bootlegs that will force defenders into decisions on the perimeter.

One of his weapons will be senior Austin Jett Michael Saunders, a speedy wide receiver and defensive back from East Point, Ga., who will also see time returning punts and kickoffs.

“We’ve got a pretty good team. We just need to get everyone’s intensity level up. I think we have some pretty good players that will bring the intesnity level up and bring their potential out,” Saunders said.

Novak Porter, a senior offensive lineman and linebacker from Silver Spring, Md., is in his fourth year in the FMS football program. Like his coach, Porter also sees a chance for the 2012 Caissons to be special.

“Everyone wants to win a championship. We’re actually willing to put the work in for it. A lot of people talk about winning a championship, but they don’t want to be out here running fifth quarters. Our team is willing to put that extra effort in,” Porter said.

Something else that Porter sees as special about this team is how close the players are.

“I feel like we have a really solid team, not just talent-wise, but we have a very good family as a team. One person can’t be the team. All 11 of us, plus the guys on the bench cheering us on, cheering us on in the locker room, really feel the energy,” Porter said.