The football team is off to a slow start this season, wrapping up its first five games with a record of 2-4. New head coach Ramsey Lambert has had a difficult debut, as his team has been outscored 195-63 so far.
The Wolverines have experienced multiple injuries, losing starters on both sides of the ball. One of those players, quarterback Marshall Howe ’21, missed a game-and-a-half with a hip injury.
Team fights through adversity
Howe said the team has impressed him so far and praised the team’s continued strength through its early struggles.
“This year, we have gone through a lot of adversity as a team,” Howe said. “A coaching change less than three weeks before our first game, numerous injuries to key players, health complications with our former teammates, it’s been a lot. I’m really proud of the way we have battled throughout the beginning of the season despite facing so much.”
Receiver Jason Thompson ’22 said he is proud of the way the team has connected throughout the season.
“I feel like we’ve really come together through this year,” Thompson said. “I’m very happy about how we’ve really bought into each other. We’re playing for each other every play. I’m excited for what’s to come the rest of the season.”
Up and down play leads to 2-4 record
After a comeback victory against Venice High School, the Wolverines were 1-1, but the team’s record soon slipped to 1-3.
The team suffered a 54-0 blowout loss to Crespi Carmelite High School, followed by a 38-21 defeat to John Burroughs High School.
Facing adversity, the team, led by four touchdowns from Thompson, beat Salesian High School 45-14 in their league opener.
The team could not capitalize on that momentum, however, falling to St. Francis High School 56-7 in its next game.
With many games left to play, though, Howe said the team will improve in the coming weeks.
“We still have a lot to work on as a team,” Howe said. “I feel like people haven’t really seen us at our best yet. We’re a young team, so just continuing to build on our previous performances and learning to play together is really our biggest priority right now.”
The team is now 1-0 in league play, and there is still plenty of time to turn things around.
Team takes a game by game approach
Howe said that despite struggling early on, the players are confident taking things one game at a time.
“While we didn’t have the start we wanted, we still have high goals for ourselves,” Howe said. “Right now, we’re going week by week, trying to be 1-0 each and every Friday for the rest of the year. If we can do that, things will take care of themselves.”
Thompson echoed the importance of a moment by moment approach, discussing what he feels the team can achieve.
“Our goal is to take the season one game at a time and win that week,” Thompson said. “But, for us, a league championship is in our sights.”
Onto the next week
The team will look to bounce back when they travel to St. Anthony High School on Friday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 P.M. In the teams’ last meeting in 2018, the Wolverines came out on top, 28-21.
