Lewis Cass JV football officially kicked off its season with the first game against Pioneer High School. Although the Kings did not come out on top, it was still a great first effort. Coach, Bryce McDonald, stated, “The Kings fought till the very end. We had great running back play from sophomores Ty Lobenthal and Brinxston Jones. Brayden Davidson was a bruiser on the defensive line. With some more practice, JV Kings could be a contender in any game we play.” On the first game of the season against Pioneer, the final score was 28-12. Lobenthal and Jones scored both of our touchdowns in the game, Davidson had multiple significant tackles, and sophomore starting quarterback Drew Landis said, “What I have enjoyed most about being QB2 is knowing that I have a bigger role in the team and I have gotten a better relationship with my teammates.”
Usually, when people think of football, what comes to mind is the quarterback and everything there is to know about him, but the defensive line is a huge part of football, too. Dakota Morton, a part of the defensive line, stated, “My experience has been good on the football team. Getting back into the groove was hard, though. You have to be mentally and physically prepared for the hard work. The team is amazing, and everything is a lot easier when you become friends with the whole team.” When asked his opinion on the best part of being on the defensive line, Dakota stated, “Honestly, just the adrenaline. Whenever you make a good play or tackle someone, you just get a rush of adrenaline, and it’s amazing.”
There are many positives from football; however, there are some negatives as well. When asked what the biggest challenges the JV football team has faced this preseason, Bryce McDonald answered, “Freshmen learning their offensive and defensive rules is key to our success. The more confidence we have in our play, the faster and more aggressive we will execute.” Sometimes it can be challenging as a freshman to adjust to high school sports, but once athletes get more comfortable with their teammates and coaches around them, they will begin to gain more confidence. When asked about what Drew worries the most as the quarterback for the JV football team, he said, “I worry about the most as a QB is not being ready if I am needed and not being able to be a leader to my teammates.” When athletes worry too much about what they are doing, it can get in the way of what they could achieve.
In the end, the Cass Kings JV football team has a chance to improve this year if they give it their all. With a lot of practice, playing, and hard work, they could most definitely have a winning season. Go out and support the JV Kings at their next game against Peru at Lewis Cass on September 9th at 6:00. Beat the Tigers!
