Emotions were high and school spirit was loud, as the Titans faced off the Wekiva Mustangs in their pre season. First Football Friday always excites students and our Titan football players. It allows our players to showcase what they have been working on all summer. A pre-season game is always a fresh new start to this new season.
This year we have gained many new transfers, as well as new coaches. Because of this, our players have had to adjust to new teammates and coaches. This game gave them the opportunity to learn each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and mindsets to help each other during future games. Sadly, they did lose this pre-season game but, this was their first actual game playing together. This loss was rough, but it gave the team a chance to learn from their mistakes before the start of the season.
“I feel like I could’ve been better as a leader. Since the team is young, in order to get the best performance from them, I have to be more hands on and provide guidance,” said Captain Parker Moss
“I feel that I just needed to trust my instincts and abilities. Coach tells us that it makes everyone’s job easier when you do your job. That is something i’ve been drilling during practices, making sure I hit my gaps, take on double teams, and dominate my assignments so that my linebackers and other players can do their jobs easily, like they are supposed to,” explained Gregory Keaton
“I feel that the biggest mistakes that I made throughout the game was reading the defense wrong and over performing. I would have taken my time and thrown the ball away if nothing was open,” stated junior Will Wankelman.
With any mistake there’s always success. In this case even though we lost the game, our Titans worked together and got a grasp of what playing with their new teammates was like.
“I feel as if my team succeeds at keeping up the energy from play to play, whenever we have mistakes we didn’t let them define us. [The mistakes gave] us even more motivation to get back in and make a play, and another play, and another one,” stated Keaton.
“I think they succeeded at just getting the experience of a real game since I’m the only returning starter. The experience [of new players] is low and even though we lost badly I think it helps out with younger players because they were just settling in and learning from their mistakes,” explained Captain Moss.
“This preseason we succeeded to fight through adversity and proved to keep our heads up. Now, we can look forward to the start of the season and not harp on the past,” said Wankelman.
As new transfers, Gregory Keaton and Will Wankelman have fit in well. They both have been able to connect with their new teammates. But, with new beginnings can come a new sense of added pressure.
“I feel very connected with my team, from my coaches, to the staff, to the players. It feels as if i’ve already been here for 3 years going into my 4th. The main thing that made me want to be a part of this program was the brotherhood, no matter how much they were down, nobody could break their spirit and that is something I had to be a part of,” stated Keaton
“As the new QB pressure is always there and will take time to get used to, but I just have to keep working harder and be prepared for the moment my name is called to go on the field. The way I deal with pressure is I believe in God, and that he has a plan for me. I just ask him to strengthen me in times of pressure. That has always helped me overcome the pressure,” explained Wankelman.
Unfortunately, football took a hard hit this game, losing 36-0. But this was a learning opportunity for the team. It allowed new players to create connections with their new teammates while also acknowledging the mistakes made. We continue to support our titans through the start of the season and can’t wait to see what this year brings us.
