Sheffield quarterback Colby Barr threw for a school-record 427 yards and six touchdowns in a 74-42 loss against Bucktail last season. The Wolverines will be looking for their first win since 2019 on Saturday when they face the Bucks at Wolverine Mountain at 1:30 p.m. Archive photo by Times Observer
Sheffield’s football team seeks its first win in five years today when it hosts Bucktail at Wolverine Mountain.
It’s been an uphill battle since head coach Mike Barr helped revive a program that played just one game in 2020 – an 86-0 loss to Keystone – before shutting down due to COVID and a lack of healthy players. Abraxas opted not to compete with Sheffield’s team this year due to the pandemic, and the remaining Wolverines could join Warren’s high school team for the remainder of the season.
Since then, three winless seasons have passed and Sheffield (in partnership with Abraxas) will now play in 2024 while the school board discusses closing the high school.
“We use it for motivation, of course, but I told them that we have to focus on one game at a time and let things run as they run,” said Barr, who graduated from Sheffield High School in 1994 after playing football for four years. He later became a football coach at Sheffield’s middle and high schools.
His son, Colby Barr, is now a senior starting quarterback at Sheffield. Last season, as a junior, he set a school record with 427 yards passing and six touchdowns in a 74-42 loss to Bucktail.
He later fought hard to return from a meniscus injury for the last game of a winless season.
“He is a warrior,” said his father.
Colby will lead a group of over 30 players on a roster that includes top returners Alex Marfink, Andrew Kyler, Hayden Holden, Zach Barnes and Nick Hagg, as well as top freshman Cire Brown-House.
“We have the majority back after losing three seniors last year. (Only) one was a starter,” said coach Barr. “Those who are coming back have worked hard since February. I think we are on the right track. The children are learning and understanding that football is more than just X’s and O’s.”
But it’s nice to have numbers for position battles. “We had a battle for wide receivers in camp,” said the coach. “(The training game on Saturday) showed that our boys have a certain intensity. It showed that we are more balanced this year.”
After today’s home game, Sheffield has three straight away games in the D9 Conference before returning home to face Otto-Eldred/Oswayo Valley on Saturday, September 28. The Wolverines don’t want to wait that long for a home win.
“The focus this year would be to get a win in the win column,” said Barr, who is joined by Todd Fitch, Nate Lindberg, Walker Kyler, Cooper Traister, Jon Uplinger, Sam Knapp, Tom Eaton and Nate Mocney. “(Bucktail’s) main opponent is Brody Pence; he’s going to be tough. I mean, I want a good game. When we play against each other, the competition is always tough.”
Sheffield’s roster also includes Issac Hammerbeck, Wyatt Newark, Ben Lindberg, Michael Knapp, Caleb Steffan, Andrew Hoden, James Wagner, Travis Childress, Joby Hilyer, Kyler Carlson, Garrett Copley, Lydell Gibson, Tayvion Herring, Darrell Barno, Leandre Walck, Carneal Parker, Tyrek Bryant, Spencer White, Daniel Govora, Maleek Gordon, Luke McCabe, Jeremiah Alberto, Trayshawn Dunn and AJ McLean.
What would make this season successful?
“Honestly, to finish a season competitively and get a win,” said Barr.
