Bucs defense back to make a point
By Banji Bamidele
MDJ Sports Writer
The 2021 season did not end
the way Allatoona had planned
the previous summer.
A 12-year home playoff win
streak was broken, and the Buccaneers
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would spend the offseason
putting the loss behind
them and looking forward to a
new aim.
Heading into the summer V inny
Canosa, along with senior
defensive ends Mekhi Buchanan
and Ezra O dinjor decided to
take it upon themselves to reinvigorate
the team by leading
by example.
“It’s really the work effort
that we’re trying to build on,”
Buchanan said. “We’re all trying
to come together, give 100%
working out and on the field.
We have to know that we can’t
put our heads down even when
we’re tired. I know when we go
into games, I’m going to have
to play even when I’m tired.We
really focused on trying to build
players and trying to make play
makers.”
The defenders have been putting
extra work in the weight
room as O dinjor who stands
at 6 -foot-4, 230-pounds set an
Allatoona school record with
a 355-pound bench press. The
senior also squats 500 pounds
and is a member of the Buccaneer
1,000-pound club.
Buchanan, who stands at
6 -foot-5, 230-pounds, is not
far behind as he benches 315
pounds and power cleans over
300 pounds.
At linebacker Canosa leads
the defense and believes that
the defense and the front seven
in particular is where the Buccaneers
will make their money
and live up to the gold standard
of past championship teams.
Even though the seniors find
solace in the weight room and
on the field, they also recognize
the importance and the
weight of their performances
in the classroom as all have a
G PA over 3.0.
“We got guys on the team that
we know are smarter and doing
good in their classes and you
got a teammate in your class,
you’re obligated to help them,”
Canosa said. “I don’t care if you
like the kid or not. He’s on your
team. You have to help him.
It’s a team. It’s a brotherhood.
You’re not just gonna leave your
friend to just fail.”
Relentless. Fearless. Selflessness.
Family. These four words
are placed in the halls of the
school and are used as a motto
for students to live by. The motto
goes beyond being just words
and represents the overall community
in the Allatoona area.
“We’ve all known each other
since we were all kids,” Canosa
said. “Everyone knows each
other around here. There’s not
a person I really don’t know on
the scene that I haven’t known
for a while. Around here in this
area in Cobb County, it’s a football
community. Everybody goes
to the football games, no matter
who you are.”
With packed home games,
the seniors are also attracting
the attention of recruiters as
they hold a combined 6 0 collegiate
offers.
“It’s been a blessing for all of
us,” O dinjor said. “Especially
coming in, everybody was really
doubting coming into senior
year. We all thought that
we’d deserved more while other
people were getting it. But we
stayed patient.”
With so much talent on the
defensive side of the ball the seniors
believe they have all the
right pieces to not only start a
new home playoff win streak,
but to go all the way and win
the state title.
“Allatoona has always been
on the outskirts,” Canosa said.
“We really want to bring ourselves
and this entire program
into the spotlight and leave a
legacy. I said for the three of
us, without a doubt, I think
all three of us can agree that
our goal is to create a defense
that people can’t move the
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