Pinto Searches For Playoffs After Two-Year Absence

Every football season starts with summer camp where pads pop against tackling dummies and copious amounts of water are consumed to battle the blazing heat.

Underneath all the drudgery of repetition and the fine-tuning of the game’s principles are the simple hopes for a prosperous season.

The Mayfield Wildcats football team has had plenty of that over the years, but recently, hope has been tempered with winning seasons devoid of playoff appearances. The Wildcats haven’t made the playoffs since 2009 after appearing there four straight years, including a state semifinal appearance in 2007.

Long-time Wildcats coach Larry Pinto knows the pressure’s squarely on his shoulders this season to get the team back to its winning ways after a pair of 6-4 seasons.

The Wildcats began two-a-day sessions this Monday in preparation for the team’s opener at Nordonia on Aug. 24. But this year, Pinto will do it without his son, Larry Pinto Jr., who graduated as .

Pinto, who is going into his 15th coaching season at Mayfield, took time out of his busy schedule for a brief talk with Patch.com on Thursday about his Wildcats, his son graduating from Mayfield and a little guilty pleasure of his at the dinner table.

How is camp going?

It’s a work in progress. We’ve got a lot of young kids trying to learn how to play at varsity speed. At times, we look real good. At times, we don’t look so good. So we just got to get more consistent.

Who’s standing out for you so far in two-a-days?

Our skilled players, right now. Our quarterback, . We’ve got a good handful of receivers. Mitch Long is a returning starter. Chris Reimer.

What are your expectations for the upcoming season?

Our goals are always to win our opener. And our opener this year is against Nordonia. Our second goal is to win a conference title, and our third goal is to make the playoffs. It’s kind of our goals we set for ourselves every year.

After going 6-4 the last two years and missing the playoffs, how will you get back to the postseason?

I’m not trying to make excuses, but last year, we had a couple injuries in spots that I think if those kids are healthy, we would’ve been right there. We just have to learn how to finish games.

How much do you miss Larry Jr.?

He was the last one I had. He was the baby. The last of three boys. … I got about 90 players out here, and they’re kind of all my sons, I guess, in some way or the other.

What’s your favorite food?

I like crab legs. I don’t know. They’ve got a nice flavor. I like butter. It’s bad for you, but I enjoy it. I don’t get to eat it as often, but I do enjoy crab legs.