Special is one of many ways to describe Berkeley’s seniors UPDATE

Posted Dec 1, 2011 by Katherine Smith

Updated Dec 1, 2011 at 05:18 PM

And they’re off.

The Berkeley Prep football team loaded up two charter buses with equipment, players, coaches and administrators for their trek to Delray Beach, the site of Friday night’s against American Heritage. Coaches opted to leave Thursday afternoon instead of Friday morning, so the players wouldn’t be tired from the four-hour drive.

After lunch and early walkthrough on the football field, players loaded bags and equipment (and in Nelson Agholor’s case, a special bag of Cheetos) onto the buses. They got a proper sendoff from some of the student body and teachers. Some elementary school age students held up homemade signs and cheered on the players as they walked to the buses.

The next leg of the 2011 journey takes them over to the East Coast. But the Bucs road to 12-0 and the Class 3A state semifinals actually was paved four years ago. The 2008 6-4 season marked the beginning of a journey that has carried Berkeley to unchartered territory.

There are 14 seniors on the Bucs roster – the largest senior class since Dominick Ciao became the head coach in 2007. Four of those seniors have played since their freshmen season - Nelson Agholor, Reggie Barnes, Tyler Davis and Destin Nichols – and were a big part of laying the foundation in 2008.

“Those guys have kind of battered their way on the football field since the ninth grade,’’ Ciao said. “Now they’re seniors and I think it’s a part of our success – their leadership. The success of our season is really all about that leadership.’’

Ciao and this group grew up together. After missing the playoffs in 2008, Berkeley punched their card to the postseason with district runner-up finishes in 2009 and ’10, making it a step closer to the state championships each year. Now they’re one win away from the school’s first state title game appearance.

“The seniors’ tremendous attitude and effort every day at practice and showing what it takes to be committed, they’ve done all those things,’’ Ciao said. “The young people follow them. It will be a tough group to let go. As I always say, we salute our seniors.’’