WOODBURY — Over the past two years, the Northwest United football team has had a combined record of 16-1, leading the Connecticut Technical Conference. 

As the 2024-25 season starts, there are several new starters, many of whom played junior varsity for the past two years. Fans of the team are wondering how the changes in the lineup and loss of seniors will affect this team. 

Are the players coming up from JV prepared for this new challenge?

Junior wide receiver Derek Chung, feels that playing JV helped prepare him for his varsity season.

“It really helped me get a feel for the game,” Chung said. “The biggest change for me making the jump from jv to varsity was the intensity and the size of the people I’m playing with.”

While most may think JV sports is an afterthought or not beneficial, it can actually be very helpful to new athletes or athletes who need to gain confidence in themselves and their game. 

Junior offensive lineman Nic Sniffin agrees with Chung.

“Playing JV really helped me grow as a player,” Sniffin says.

For junior quarterback Brady Herman, getting time behind center at the JV level has been critical in preparing him for a stellar junior year.

“JV was very beneficial for my growth,” Herman says. “The reps of playing vs a defense was key for my game and growing as a player.¨

JV programs are essential for filling the role of varsity seniors who are leaving. Last year, the Northwest United program lost long-term starting quarterback Ben Roden, who was ranked among the top QBs in Connecticut. Herman has been the JV quarterback for the past two years, but in his third year with the program, he was tasked with filling the role of starting QB. 

In addition to losing the senior players, the Northwest United team lost three of their coaches. Some of the turnover in staff includes the linemen coach, offensive coordinator, and the defensive coordinator. 

For this year’s team members, there’s an understanding that everyone needed to step up with so many seniors graduating. 

¨Losing our seniors and some of our coaches was definitely hard for the team,¨ Sniffin said. ¨We had to make new plays and find new defenses that worked for our team¨

Herman says the change is different but good. 

¨It’s a much different atmosphere, there’s lots more pressure and responsibility,” Herman adds. “Losing our seniors was big loss as they were leaders for are team, but have to move forward and keep getting better.¨