Pellston Football uses positivity as springboard for 2024 season

PELLSTON – Jack Carter wasn't sure what to expect on his first day as Pellston football coach Monday.

But when he walked through those goal posts at practice, it felt like he had never left. Carter has been thrilled to be leading the Hornets back in their first week of practice.

Here are some early insights from Pellston's first week back.

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Positive vibrations

The Hornets know the last two seasons have been difficult, but they are aiming to get back on track under Carter, who is coming off a successful first tenure as coach.

What has helped Pellston so far is not to dwell on the past, but to remain positive and optimistic.

“These guys are here to play,” Carter said. “I don't have a lot of seniors, but the seniors I have support the young guys. The juniors who have been here since their freshman year support them. They don't demean or berate the young guys; they try to help, and it shows.”

“When you're 1-8, two things can happen. You can go into a dark place or you can say, 'Hey, you know what? We're going to work our way out of this and get out of this,' and right now, this group of guys has said, 'We've been 1-8 and we want better,' and that's what we're going for.”

Senior Brach Taylor, who has been a varsity player since his freshman year, had an apt description of these Hornets.

“It’s the most positive team I’ve seen in my entire career,” Taylor said.

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Brother QB fight?

One of the questions this fall was who would be Pellston's new starting quarterback, but it seems that two candidates – the Brady brothers and Brett Bonter – have emerged as the favorites.

Carter said he was excited about both, but no decision had been made yet.

“I think it's all up in the air right now,” Carter said. “I think each player brings something unique to the table, and in all fairness, that's up to me and Coach (Chris) Schlappi to decide, and we'll find out at practice. They're tenacious, they work super hard, and when I talk about positivity, it starts with those two.”

No matter what happens, Brady Bonter, a junior, knows what could lead the Hornets to a successful season.

“I think the experience will really help us,” Bonter said. “Last year we had a good team, but only four seniors. This year we only have a few, but we have a lot more experience compared to last year.”

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Ready to turn things around?

What didn't help the 2023 Hornets was a brutal schedule that included Inland Lakes, St. Ignace, Posen and Gaylord St. Mary. While it's by no means a cakewalk, Carter believes this year's schedule is much more manageable.

“I think that tough schedule, that 1-8 season, is going to dictate what we do this year, and I mean that in a positive way, because they've been through the ordeal, and this year you're at the end of that ordeal, and it's time to say, 'We've been through the fire, what do we need to do?' And so far, these guys have said, 'We're going to go out there and do our best, we're going to stay positive through it, we know there's going to be some adversity, but when it comes, we're going to be ready for it,'” Carter said.

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