On Aug. 26, the football team lost to Hollidaysburg with a final score of 21-13. This marks the teams’ first loss to Hollidaysburg since 2020.
“There is such an emotional build up to the game. You really want to win extremely badly, but it doesn’t set them off for the rest of the season,” athletic director Phil Riccio said.
Coming out of the Hollidaysburg game, many team members felt a sense of disappointment.
“I was sad and disappointed because we should’ve won the game. I felt angry to go back on the field afterward. It’s my senior season and that was the last time I could play them,” senior Derron Jones said.
The athletes consider the loss to be a wake up call.
“They came prepared, we came thinking it was going to be an easy game. It showed how good all players can be. They shut us up pretty quickly,” junior Mark Harrington Jr said.
Hollidaysburg came prepared and played rough.
“We should’ve come out of the game faster and better. We should’ve played on their level of physicality,” Jones said.
There were many injuries during the second half of the game.
“Beginning of the third quarter I started cramping. I wasn’t able to play back in the game and that hurt a lot,” Harrington said.
After each game, plays and strategies need to be reviewed. Watching films is a part of that process.
“Every loss is a lesson for us to become better. It helps us push forward,” Jones said.
For Riccio and the others, the game was filled with mixed emotions.
“You’re up. You’re down. You’re excited. You’re watching. It’s twofold because I was once out there playing too. But when you’re watching, you’re thinking of things and hoping that they are coming through to the kids,” Riccio said.
Having a positive culture within football is considered to be helpful to the football team.
“If you have a positive culture where people and kids are looking out for each other when they’re doing the right things, where they’re helping others out, that builds programs that build teams that build schools and that builds countries. So there’s life lessons through sports, if you can build a good culture, in your sport, through your department, you are going to carry that on with you once you get down in society,” Riccio said.
The home opener was played on Sept. 1 against Allderdice and ended with a 35-21 win.
“We bettered ourselves from losing the Hollidaysburg game. Winning feels great when you do it,” Jones said.
The team came into a better mindset during the game.
“Our team came more prepared and focused and it showed. The team came together after Hollidaysburg and it helped us win,” Harrington said.
Winning against Allderdice meant a lot to the team.
“Our whole team was proud. It showed that you can win when you work harder,” Harrington said.
DAY DATE TEAM PLACE TIME
Friday 8/25 Hollidaysburg Away 7:00
Friday 9/1 Allderdice Home 7:00
Friday 9/8 Mifflin County Away 7:00
Friday 9/15 State College Away 7:00
Friday 9/22 Central Dauphin East Home 7:00
Saturday 9/30 Harrisburg Away 1:00
Friday 10/6 Chambersburg Home 7:00
Friday 10/13 Central Dauphin Away 7:00
Friday 10/20 Carlisle Home 7:00
Friday 10/27 Cumberland Valley Home 7:00
