High school football preview: Keegan Frey is ready for Vermilion's resurgence

Keegan Frey is tired of losing. Frey enters his fourth varsity season with the Vermilion Sailors having been a part of only five wins while experiencing 27 setbacks, including the current 19-game losing streak dating back to Week 2 of 2021. And the senior slot receiver/outside linebacker is looking to change that, not just for his current teammates, but for those who will be in the program in future seasons. Frey wants to set the groundwork for Vermilion to be a regular contender in the Sandusky Bay Conference's Bay Division. "It's just going out with a bang, but not only is it going out with a bang for me personally," Frey said. "I really believe this year has been about how I lead the team, setting the foundation that, 'We're not going to be that team anymore.' "It's not just going to be for this one year. I really want to see this program succeed because I love Vermilion football. I've been a part of it ever since I can remember, so I just really want to see this team succeed. Not only now, but in the future as well. I really want to lay that foundation of that mentality that, 'We're not going to be that push-around Vermilion team anymore. We're going to go after people. We're going to stand up for ourselves, and we're going to be that team.' I really think that it's a mentality shift, and I want that mentality shift to stay even after I leave." On paper, Vermilion still is a young team as the Sailors have just seven seniors on the roster. However, those numbers can be deceiving. While there are only those seven fourth-year players, they are surrounded by an experienced group of sophomores and juniors who earned varsity playing time last fall and were motivated to be part of the turnaround. "I believe it's accountability, and I believe this is the most accountable, and the most end-sighted goal team that I've been a part of in my four years in this program," Frey said. "This team is hungry. Everyone's hungry, and you can just tell that the mentality has completely changed. "It's not, 'Oh, we might go win a couple games.' No, it's 'We want to go shock the world. We want to go win. We want to go out there and punish some teams. We want to go out and be successful.'" So why could this year be different for the Sailors? It is simple, at least to Frey. He has been with his teammates every day throughout the offseason, and believes the increases in hunger and accountability within the program fueled everything from comprehensive film study to intense workouts. "It's not just practices," Frey said. "It's definitely everything we've been doing. It's the weight room. It's holding each other accountable to be at everything. It's coming out on the field and throwing in May and June, all throughout the summer before getting the pads on, before getting helmets, just doing stuff on our own. We know we're holding each other accountable, and we know what each other can do just because we've been there for each other. I really think everyone's bought in to that truly for the first time that I've been here. We do not want be that team anymore, and we're really pushing for that success." During the offseason, Frey focused on becoming more of a leader by learning about the responsibilities of everyone on the field. Doing so has set a standard coach Bill DiFucci appreciates and Frey's teammates try to follow in everything they do. "Keegan's all heart and soul," DiFucci said. "We talk about alumni, and understanding the concept of purple and gold. He gets it as a senior already, and he's not even finished his senior year yet. He's our spark plug offensively, defensively. He's the heart and soul of what it means to be a Sailor football player." Quarterback Aaron Mathis added, "He's one of our biggest leaders. He's a very hard worker. He's one of my best receivers. On and off the field, he's just a great person." Throughout camp and in the scrimmages, Frey has seen his team show signs of pointing "in the right direction." Frey credits the "growing year" that was the 2022 season, where the Sailors lost three games by 12 points or less, for creating a renewed sense of resolve within the program. And he has the self-belief to do what is necessary to jump-start that turnaround. "I have a lot more confidence this year," Frey said. "Being a senior, I 100 percent know what I'm supposed to be doing. I just have a complete understanding of where everyone's supposed to be. I'm just trying to be not only a player and a leader, but I also try to help out my guys almost like a coach. I just want to be whatever they need. "It gives me a better understanding, a better feel and more confidence on the field if I know what everyone else is doing around me. I like taking on that role because it's just a comfortability thing. I really am more comfortable when I'm at the helm, and I like leading these young guys." Contact Matt Florjancic at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.