Homecoming has always been an exciting week, and one of the most important aspects of homecoming is our homecoming game. Most people attend to see the game, putting a new level of pressure on the team. What are the preparations the players make to get ready for this important matchup? 

Our football team practices Monday through Thursday to prepare for Friday games. All players gather in their own conference rooms with “their side,” offensive or defensive, to review films and go over plays. At practice, players are divided into smaller groups that conduct different drills dependent on the position they play. 

“We prepare each week the same way, we do what we have to do, watch our films and play football.”  Junior offensive Varsity Football player, Xzion Mathis says. 

“We lock in at practice, watch our films, and try to limit mistakes in practice.” Senior defensive Varsity Football player, Elias Winters says. 

“We focus, lock in, play hard in practice, do our meetings, hit the weight room, and just do our best.” Senior offensive Varsity Football player, Jeremyah Libema says. 

With our homecoming being one of our most important games, this comes with a lot of pressure, or so we think. 

“As a coach there isn’t a lot of pressure on this game in particular because it’s just another game. Our only real challenge is going against the other team just like every other time we play.” Coach Travis “Gabe” Gabriel says . 

“There’s really no pressure, we’re just going week by week with it.” Mathis says 

“There was never really pressure; it’s always been about doing what we have to do to get the win.” Winters says. 

“There’s no pressure we’re going to get the win, just to keep it simple.” Libema says.

Homecoming, which takes place the day following the game, can elicit a wide range of feelings in both our players and coaches. Our coaches must concentrate on retaining our players’ attention on the game, which must be difficult. 

“Of course it’s difficult to keep the players focused, but I try to keep the players focused by limiting other extra activities.” Coach Gabe says. 

The homecoming game is a crucial game that elicits strong emotions in the players, with not just students but also professors and coaches rooting them on. 

“All of our fans and students are going to be there so it’s going to be a big game for us and its a week for us to have fun.”  Mathis says. 

“I think it’s going to be a fun game, we are going to do our jobs, we might put our second line in, and it’s just going to be a fun game overall.” Libema says 

“I feel like we’re going to go out there and do what we have to do to get the win.”  Winters says. 

In the end, our team came out on top (48-8). Overall, it was a good game, and our Titans put in a lot of hard work and effort, which was evident throughout the game. We congratulate our titans on their victory over the Freedom Patriots. This victory has set us closer to becoming district champions. Our Titans have been working extremely hard, and it’s shown on the field.