The football team has been training tirelessly during the offseason. They started training early this spring doing things like flag football leagues. The team has worked at the Woodland football field and the weight room. The team has been practicing four days a week, doing double practices each time, in order to improve from last season and, hopefully, win a championship.

This intense training has affected many of the players’ lives.

“Over the summer, at times, I was practicing for eight hours a day. I was at the field from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm in the afternoon. It prevented me from going on vacations”, said freshman Jameson Phipps.

This work was brutal, but it also helped improve the team.

“I do think our practice helped make us better as a team. Not only did it sharpen our skills, but it also disciplined us. If we were to not go hard or mess up as a team we would have to do punishments which made us get better as a team,” Phipps said.

The team was able to bond more over the hardship of football practice. practice; however, there are some great moments, as well.

“My favorite memory from practices is when we did this drill called 10 yard fight where there are two linemen fighting each other and a running back as well as a linebacker,” said Phipps. “I was the running back and my friends were on defense trying to tackle me before I reached the end zone 10 yards away. That day, I ended up scoring four touchdowns and two were on excellent plays I had made.”

Playing football is not something to take lightly. The practices are unbelievably difficult for months at a time. Day after day, the team has to push themselves to do the work when everything in their body tells them they have reached a limit. The team has done all this to help win football games and to bring joy to this school. Everyone should come support Woodland football.

PHOTO CREDIT: MADISON HARTE