Running backs face new stakes, make adjustments

LAKEWOOD RANCH — A season ago, running backs Demardre Patterson and J.T. Fischer were torching defenses with their speed and versatility.

Only the stakes were entirely different.

The two had yet to strap on a varsity helmet or make an impact in a district game. They had yet to experience the thrill of running out onto the field and playing in front of their families, friends and classmates under the lights.

After all, at the time, the two were still playing Pop Warner — Patterson for the Sarasota Gators and Fischer for the Sarasota Sun Devils.

But that all changed this offseason when Patterson, a sophomore, and Fischer, an eighth-grader, both decided to transfer to The Out-of-Door Academy, shifting their focus to football and academics.

“I just wanted to get out of a bad spot and do something with my life,” Patterson said.

Since enrolling at ODA, both Patterson and Fischer have spent hours on the practice field adjusting to their new teammates while trying to learn an entirely new system.

“It’s been (challenging) learning all of the new plays and all of the signals — it’s a lot harder,” Fischer said. “Since I’m on the varsity team being an eighth-grader, I’ve got to work extra hard both in the classroom and on the field.”

Although it may have proven challenging at first, Patterson and Fischer appear to have adjusted to playing at the varsity level.

On Sept. 9, the two running backs both found the end zone, helping lead the Thunder to a 28-12 victory over the Community School of Naples in its district opener.

Patterson, who rushed for 24 yards on five carries, scored from four yards out with 4:58 remaining in the first half to give ODA a 14-0 advantage.

“It was very exciting,” Patterson said. “It’s nice hearing the crowd and Friday night lights is nice.”

The touchdown was Patterson’s second of the season. Patterson scored his first in an ODA uniform on an 82-yard kickoff return in the Thunder’s 35-21 victory over St. Petersburg Catholic in its season opener Sept. 2.

With ODA holding a 21-6 lead late in the third quarter, Fischer carried the ball three straight times for 11 yards — the last of which was capped off with a 3-yard touchdown.

“It’s a great experience,” Fischer said of scoring his first touchdown. “As soon as I hit that end zone, I knew and a (huge) weight was lifted off of my shoulders.”

Fischer finished with 17 yards on six carries.

“I think I heard Gary Patterson say, ‘You can’t win a championship without your twos and threes,’” coach Brett Timmons said. “We know it’s going to take a whole community, a whole group effort for us to try to reach our goals, and what better way to prepare for the future than to try and get some of these young guys some quality reps at varsity.

“Once our seniors leave, these guys are now going to have to step in and play,” Timmons said. “We need to get those guys game time reps, so that we as a staff can kind of get a feel for what we have coming in next season.”

Patterson and Fischer are two of four running backs listed on ODA’s roster. Senior Christos Eraclides, the Thunder’s starting running back, and sophomore Drew Fineberg also saw action last Friday.

And although Patterson and Fischer have the least amount of varsity experience, Timmons has been pleased with their performance thus far this season and expects the two to continue to make an impact on the field.

“It’s early, and you never know what can happen down the road,” Timmons said.

Contact Jen Blanco at j[email protected].

GAME STATS
The Out-of-Door Academy 28,
Community School of Naples 12

ODA 7 14 7 0 — 28
CSN 0 0 12 0 — 12

First Quarter
ODA — Evan Wilson 8 run (Sean Kirshie kick), 7:49

Second Quarter
ODA — Demardre Patterson 4 run (Kirshie kick), 4:58
ODA — Jack Cannon 3 pass from Wilson (Kirshie kick), 3.4

Third Quarter
CSN — Neal Defossez 7 pass from Drew Tomaini (Michael Conroy kick blocked), 6:51
ODA — J.T. Fischer 3 run (Kirshie kick), 34.6
CSN — Michael Schoeller 80 run (two-point conversion failed), 12.9