The Fighting Falcons varsity football team graduated more than 20 seniors last year. With such a young roster, head Coach Trevor Hudson said skeptics expected the team to ìshy awayî from tougher opponents. After beating teams like Mesa Ridge and Pueblo South (the Falcons were predicted to lose), the Falcons haven’t shied away from anyone.The Falcons’ current record is five wins, three losses. As of the NFH publishing date, just two wins stood between the Falcons and a spot in the playoffs. Air Academy was up first Oct. 28, and D 49 rival Sand Creek followed Nov. 4.Hudson said the ultimate goal is to end up at the 4-A state competition. ìIf we keep winning, we’ll end up at state,î Hudson said.ìThe whole team has to work hard to get what we deserve in the short term,î said Keenan Britton, a junior and a running back. ìAs long as we work on what we’ve got to do, we can win as well as anyone else.îìThe trials we’ve been through this year have made us a closer team,î said senior Andrew Hunley. ìIn past years, we would bicker a lot, especially on defense; but this year we just get along better. We’re a really close-knit team.î Hunley plays middle linebacker on defense and fullback on offense.One way the team kept motivated this year was to set goals before each game. ìWe set individual goals that we want to reach,î Britton said. ìI might not accomplish my goal, but as long as I come off the field feeling like I gave it my all, that’s all I can do.îìThis year, we’ve started ‘walking the field’,î Hunley said. ìWe say inspirational speeches to each other and that really gets me focused and ready for the game. Everything after that is really physical.îìI’ve learned that you can’t ever go into a game expecting to win,î Hudson said. ìYou have to respect your opponent and be ready for whatever they’ll throw at you.îHe cited the defensive line as one of the Falcons’ strengths. Hudson said he’s also excited to anticipate the return of at least 16 starters from both the offense and defense for the 2012-2013 season.
