By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Winning championships can tell you what a youth football team has accomplished, but it doesn’t always tell you how or why. For the Renton Rangers 8U team, the answer, according to head coach Darryl “Red” Gant, begins with the bond he sees between the players.
Many of the boys have been together since they were 6 years old. They’ve grown up playing football together, spending time together during the offseason and even taking the court together in basketball. That familiarity has created something Gant believes separates the Rangers, known as the “Boom Squad,” from other teams.
“The way that these young men have come together and become brothers on and off the field is why they are so successful. They spend time together in the off-season, and they all play basketball together, and call each other every day on the phone,” said Gant. “They have each other’s back, they support each other, and they just want to play together. They don’t want to play with no other team, no other coach. They want to stay together and keep this team together. They have the success that they’ve been having for the last two years, and so far this year also too.”
The Rangers have won championships in each of the past two seasons, capturing the 6U title in the NW Premier Junior Football League before winning the Peewee Division championship last year in the North Sound Football League. Now competing in the 8U division of the Washington Youth Football League (WYFL), many of the same players have remained together as Gant has watched them develop into a disciplined team. When Gant first took over the group, football was new to many of them. What they have learned since then is a style built around effort and intensity.
“They have the desire to win and the willingness to learn. Well, when I got these guys, all they’ve learned is a certain way to play football, and that was to be strong, fast, and play the whole game,” said Gant. “That’s all they know is to go hard, give their best effort, and give it their all. That’s all they know.”
At 8U, football can be a chaotic game. Players are still learning positions, responsibilities and the importance of executing their assignments. For the Rangers, Gant says, understanding those roles has become part of their identity.
“Team chemistry is very important. They have to be friends. They have to want to play for each other. Each player has their own position, and everybody knows their position; they know that, and they respect that,” said Gant. “They respect every player’s ability to get the job done. They know the running backs are going to run the ball, and they just all defend each other, and know their roles.”
Within that group, several players have emerged as leaders. Gant points to Otulau Kamoto, known as “Monster,” and Keneti Finau, known as “Rhino,” as players who have stepped into prominent roles. Dondre Dowlen has also become a leader, while newcomer Gianni Pascua-Richards, known as “Jeezy,” has quickly made his presence felt.
“They’re vocal. They talk a lot,” said Gant. “They’re the leaders of this team that do all the talking and do all the ‘come on guys’ and encouraging. They got the biggest hearts.”
Those leaders aren’t expected simply to make plays. They’re also expected to bring their teammates with them. That’s part of a larger philosophy shared by Gant and his coaching staff. The coaches emphasize hard work and consistency while trying to create an environment in which everyone is working toward the same goal.
“We all agree that hard work pays off, and we are all on the same page as far as what these young men need to do to be successful. We support them, like we say, they support each other, and we support them too,” said Gant. “We all work together as one, to reach one common goal and that is to give these young men the best experience that they can have, and to instill that if you just do your best, then things will happen for you.”
For all the Rangers have accomplished, Gant isn’t interested in allowing championships to become the sole measure of success.
Gant said one of the few setbacks the team has experienced together was a close loss, which became another opportunity to reinforce the importance of continuing to work.
“No matter what, yeah we might yell at these young men, and we scream at them, but we show them love and we tell them we love them. They haven’t had but one adversity since they’ve been together because they only lost one game and it was a close game,” said Gant. “Then we just told them that we just have to work harder. They are a good team and they know it.”
The most meaningful part of coaching this group has little to do with what happens on the field. Gant said he’s proud of the respect the players show their coaches and parents and that their behavior away from football matters just as much as their performance on game day.
“We as coaches preach to them to go home and do the right thing. Get good grades, don’t get in trouble at school, and don’t get in trouble at home,” said Gant. “And one thing about football, is that if you don’t want to help this team be successful, then you don’t want to help this team stay together. If you do, then you need to be doing the right thing and making good choices in your life.”
For Gant, football is ultimately a vehicle for teaching lessons he hopes will remain long after these players have outgrown 8U.
“They are not going to go through life by themselves. It is going to be a team effort, and you are going to have to work well with others. You are going to have to be responsible for your duty in life at your jobs,” said Gant. “You are going to have to be a good son, respect your elders, and give it your best in life. Mistakes will cost you. Don’t develop bad habits, because bad habits will turn into the worst things that can happen in your life. And they respect that, and I’m glad that because that is what we teach and preach.”
