After the first eight games of the season, the varsity football team is off to an exceptional start, with only one loss in a competitive game against Hamilton. Every player on the team is experiencing winning at this level in high school for the first time.
No active player on the team has experienced a season like this one, as all the players on previous teams that had performed at this level have graduated or are no longer in high school. So, for the players that are on the team and experiencing this level of performance in high school, it can be very special. Senior wide receiver and cornerback Kolton Coleman touched on this experience, saying, “Me and the team have really put in all this work over the past few months, and it worked up to what we have now going 7-1.” Coleman has been a standout player on the team having over 550 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns just this year.
Junior LJ Walker also elaborated on the team’s success this year, as he said, “It definitely feels good to have a winning season, kind of deserved.” The players have been giving it every ounce of effort they have, and they are now finally seeing the results for those efforts.
This success was not given, though, as the team has been doing everything they can to perform at this level. Coleman also noted this, stating, “[We have been] gameplanning very well, these few weeks we have [had] a new game plan every week.” The team does not take any opponent lightly, and prepares rigorously for each and every game. Preparing team by team is not all, though, as Walker stated that, “We have been playing like a team, bonding with each other, and making sure we do what we got to do.” Building chemistry from player to player throughout the team has been an aid to their success early on.
Motivation is a key factor for players when it comes to keeping up this level of play. Varsity head coach David Ortiz noted this, saying “…Stay humble, we always have the mantra Perry versus Perry, we only control what we can control. We dictate games on our own, not the other team.” The team continues to take it one step at a time during their playoff push at the end of the season.
Currently, the team is sitting nicely at 7-3, only losing to three powerhouse teams in Chandler, Hamilton, and Basha. Ranking 14th in the state and 12th in the 6A division, where the team is prepared to move their way through the playoffs. The team is not shaken by their losses, and will keep the winning spirit throughout the games to come.
