Derby begins its season at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Bristol against the St. Paul Falcons.
The Valley Independent Sentinel sat down Monday with junior quarterback Ray Kreiger (#12) and junior wide receiver Jacob Tomczak (#37) to talk about the latest Red Raider squad.
Valley Independent Sentinel: How long ago did you guys begin playing football?
Kreiger: “We started the same year. So, ten years. We played Derby Pop-Warner together.”
VIS: Any other sports?
Kreiger: “I play baseball and basketball for Derby.”
Tomczak: “I do track and field.”
VIS: Jacob, no. 37 is quite unusual for a skill player. How’d you end up with that number?
Tomczak: “I picked that number because of my brother. It meant something to me.”
VIS: Describe what Derby football is all about.
Kreiger: “I think Derby football is about pride, determination, and never giving up. And also tradition. We have a great tradition.”
Tomczak: “Pretty much the same. Pride, hard work, dedication, and tradition, of course.”
VIS: What would you say is this team’s style?
Kreiger “We have a great group of guys. They’re hard working, determined, and Coach French runs a very organized practice. He keeps us moving pretty fast. He stresses execution and he keeps us very organized out there. Keeps us all focused.”
VIS: You guys play for a program with a lot of history and a town with a lot of pride. How much pressure is there on the team and on you as a student-athlete?
Kreiger: “It’s mainly a team thing, not just one person. We do everything as a team. We call ourselves ‘we,’ not ‘I.’”
Tomczak: “Lately, not so much pressure. But the past few years, the last decade or so, we’ve been trying to bring the tradition back. It’s always good to see when we have big crowds coming out to see us.”
Kreiger: “Coach French is a new coach. He played in college and fans come out to the games because they are eager to see him lead us. They love to see us play our hearts out.”
VIS: As a team, what kind of expectations do you have for the upcoming season?
Kreiger: “I have no idea where we’re going to be, but our goal from day one is to go 14 – 0. Coach French always stresses that every practice. He wants us to take it one day at a time and one game at a time. Hopefully the results will show on the field. He’s leading us in the right direction.”
Kreiger: “Our goal is 14 – 0. We could be a playoff team. It just depends on whether or not we come out to play every game.”
VIS: Coach French is a Derby graduate. What qualities does he bring to this program?
Kreiger: “He brings a lot of qualities. Coach French is a very intense, organized, and determined guy. Very energetic. He’s pretty strict and demanding and wants everything done right. He stresses on repetition and he gives everyone an equal opportunity. And it’s like having another leader on the field. He is very vocal. It’s not just Coach French, it’s all the coaches.”
VIS: How different is game-preparation this year as opposed to last?
Kreiger: Well, we have some of the coaches from last year coaching this year. But I just sense more of a feeling of emotion and we’re a lot more prepared this year than we were last year. Practices are a lot quicker and he stresses everything to be fast — everyone running to each station and running to each drill. He wants everything done quickly and organized.”
VIS: Ray, how big of a role does Jacob play in your offense?
Kreiger: “Jacob is a great player. I’ve been playing with Jacob since I was 8 or 9 years old. He just brings a lot to the table. He is fast and very athletic. I don’t know, Jacob just has that connection with me. I just know where he’s going to be.”
VIS: Jacob, name one player on this team that we don’t know about yet but will make some noise this season?
Tomczak: “Zach Salazar. He’s a wide receiver, linebacker, and our captain. He’s a quiet leader. He’s going to be a big part of our team.”
VIS: Is there a game this season you’ve already circled on your calendar?
Tomczak: “Definitely Ansonia. Shelton is going to be a big game this year, too.”
Kreiger: “I think all the games are circled. Every game to us is an important game.”
VIS: Which rivalry means more to you — the rivalry between Derby and Shelton or Derby and Ansonia?
Tomczak: “They’re both pretty close. I have a lot more friends on the Ansonia team than on Shelton. I lived in Ansonia when I was younger, so that definitely means a lot. Maybe a little more than the Shelton game.”
VIS: What’s it going to take for Derby to win the NVL?
Kreiger “I think it’s going to take a lot of hard work, determination and preparation. Health is also important. We just have to be prepared.”
VIS: Of the teams you’ve faced in this league, who is the toughest?
Tomczak: “On offense, probably Shelton. Probably Shelton both ways.”
Kreiger: “I think Shelton both ways. Rivalry games. They bring out a lot of kids and they come ready to play every year.”
VIS: You start the season this week at St. Paul in Bristol. What do you know about this team?
Kreiger: “Well, St. Paul so I hear has a very good coach, Jude Kelly. So, that team is going to be very well-coached and disciplined. He has a very smart system going on there.”
Tomczak: “I heard that one of their best wide receivers is coming back and that’s going to be a challenge on defense. We did pretty good job on them last year in the secondary.”
Kreiger: “We just couldn’t finish last year. I remember on offense, we had the ball 3 or 4 times in the red zone and we didn’t cash in with any points and it ended up hurting us. We lost the game 14 – 13.”
VIS: What’s it like managing your time between school work and sports?
Kreiger: “School work comes first. And then football comes after that. Got to have priorities in order.”
VIS: What are your favorite NFL teams?
Tomczak: “Patriots.”
Kreiger: “I’m a Giants fan.”
