It is that time of year once again, when Friday night lights and raging student sections meet tailgates and spirited themes. One of the most hyped sports seasons kicked off Sept. 6, in a rematch against Poolesville. Last year, the Patriots started their football season off with a thrilling victory against the Falcons, 24-0. They looked to continue this domination into 2024.
The Patriots faced off against the Poolesville Falcons in a game that showcased promise for the rest of this season. The dominating 43-0 victory showed incredible potential for each one of our school’s players. The team’s first-year varsity quarterback, sophomore Hunter Humphries, showed out in his first game. Humphries passed for an impressive 266 yards, completing 16/20 passes, and scoring two touchdowns. “[Humphries] has a great arm and good football IQ. It’s crazy because he is only a sophomore and has a lot of time to improve,” senior captain Manny Perez said.
The Patriots worked hard this offseason to be in a winning position for the fall. After stars from last year graduated, including second team all-county wide receiver Jake Kelley and second team all-county defensive tackle Malachi Reid, athletes have had to work hard to fill their roles. “Based on the hard work we put in during the offseason and how things have been progressing, I believe we are going to have an extremely successful season,” coach Ivan Hicks said.
After losing a lot of seniors, the roster size has decreased. With just around 30 active players on this year’s team, challenges have arisen. This is the smallest team in recent years and it has caused concern for the performance and durability of the team. To overcome these challenges, coaches and players have created a system to prevent possible overworking and injuries. “We have a small team and injuries could be an issue for us. We have constant subs and great rotations,” senior captain Tyler Siegel said.
The Patriots looked to boost their record to 2-0 in their game on Friday, Sept. 13. They faced off against Rockville in the highly anticipated home opener. Students are excited to represent the school as spectators and exuberant supporters, during the barbeque club tailgate, and in the stands during the game. “This game should be in our favor. We have been practicing their potential plays and I have confidence that everybody does their job,” Perez said.
The JV team also kicked off the season with a win over Poolesville, 14-0. This shutout performance made the school’s program undefeated so far this season. Heading into Thursday, Sept. 12, the team was ready to play Rockville. The JV team had an impressive 6-2 season last year, and are attempting to exceed that this season.
