Friday night lights are the final act of a week long rehearsal for the football team. The on field results are a product of what begins on Saturday. The boys at our school put every ounce of effort and strength into making our team the best it can be. Without these boys our Friday isn’t as bright, our school spirit as high, or our student body as alive.

Monday

Football is a mental game as much as it is physical. The team has to get to know the opposing teams’ weak spots and attack them.

“Mondays are a very physical day back from the weekend and are also very mental because it is the first day we begin to study our opponent,” senior Jelani Rainey said.

Tuesday

Tuesdays are what the team calls “Tough Tuesdays”. Every member of the team would confirm that this is the most physically taxing of the games.

“It is the most physical and longest practice of our week,” senior Brandon McKenzie said.

This day is reserved for game-speed drills and working on the hardest parts of the game plan.

Wednesday

“Win Wednesday” is a term players are relieved to say because it is their last fully padded practice of the week.

“We tend to take this day to polish up all of our plays and coverages while we are still in pads with mild contact,” Rainey said.

Wednesday is one of the most important days according to the team because they are fully padded, but they become very meticulous with the plays to make sure that they will go over without a hitch when it comes to game time Friday.

Thursday

Thursday’s practices are saved for mainly special teams and touching up on offensive and defensive technique because everything has to be in order for the upcoming game.

“It’s our all mental preparation and no contact. This day is normally to make sure we have all our special teams together and to go over any last minute changes on offense and defense, as well as to do some final polishes on a few things,” Rainey said.

After they are done making sure each play is perfected, the team gets together and has a team dinner at a teammate’s house. Team dinners consist of relaxing and hanging out to ease the tension of the upcoming game, but they always make sure to stay focused and have serious conversation about their opponent.

Friday

Gameday. All of the week’s work is on display for the community. All eyes are on the players to see how they perform.

It all begins right after 7^th period when the team makes its way into the cafeteria for the team meal. After fueling up, they make their way out to the locker rooms to gear up.

“When we go down to the locker rooms, we get changed and have our team walk. After that we take the next couple hours to relax, get taped up, and get any other personal preparations out of the way,” Brandon McKenzie said.

After a series of meetings and warm-ups, the team heads inside for a pregame pep talk.

“It’s gametime,” Jelani Rainey said.