Salem High School Football Team Leaves Doubts Behind, Ready to Move to New Chapter

Tears streamed down Kurt Britnell's face, a release of emotion that only a step in the right direction could bring.

In the past, Britnell had stood in front of his Salem High School football team and openly admitted that he didn't always trust their abilities.

But after last week's dramatic 21-20 opening-night overtime win over Ann Arbor Huron, his doubts had been replaced with a newfound self-assurance he hadn't seen before.

It was only one win, but in Britnell's eyes, the overtime victory represented so much more.

That brought the tears.

"They got something that they deserved," Britnell said Wednesday, nearly a week after quarterback Jacob Deprez connected with Ryan Jankowski on a 10-yard touchdown pass in overtime to clinch the victory. "I saw these guys grow up a little bit in a matter of 12 minutes."

Until last week, getting the Rocks to believe had been a bit of an uphill battle for the third-year coach. In the past, he had seen Salem play its way into contention for victories only to see something break down and a win slip away.

In those times, heads dropped, leaving Britnell to tell his players that at times, he had his doubts.

It wasn't easy to hear. At times, Deprez and some of his teammates wondered if it was all worth it.

No more.

"Winning games like that proves that it's worth it," said Deprez, who set a new single-game school record against Huron with 26 completions while throwing for 366 yards and two touchdowns while running for a third. "The confidence from last year to this year is so much more.

"We know we can win games and keep proving people wrong because people don't think we can do it. But we know we can."

The change in mentality is as clear as the one word printed on the back of Britnell's blue t-shirt Wednesday afternoon: Attitude.

For two years, Britnell's message had been clear. Work hard in the weight room. Be willing to be coachable. Do the right thing and play assignment football. If you're willing to do that, he'd tell his players, everything else would take care of itself.

Last week's win over Huron was the proof.

"It's just a huge mentality to know we've done it, especially right out of the gate," Britnell said. "Now, we don't have to doubt anymore. Now, we know. We've done it."

But as big as the change in attitude was, Britnell's players insist it's only the beginning.

Salem - which hosts Walled Lake Central at home tonight at 7 - is ready to show they are ready to carry the momentum of last week's upset over to the course of the entire season. 

With the doubts gone, the Rocks are ready to take the next step.

"Everybody's ready to change," said Marcus Houston, whose blocked extra point set the Rocks up for victory after Huron scored first in overtime. "I think we're there. I think it's time.

"Next year, I think this team is going to be great. Next year, and every single year, it's just going to keep getting better and better."

But what about this season?

 "This," Houston said, "is the start of something new."