Offseason diligence pays off for varsity football

By Bram Goldstein,

HUB Staff Writer–

Starting just one week after a disappointing 2011 season, the varsity Blue Devil football team began a rigorous training regimen involving a carefully crafted blend of both physical and mental preparation. Now sitting at 3-2 in five games of non-conference play, the offseason perseverance is certainly starting to pay off.

“You don’t win on Friday nights, you win in the offseason,” head coach Steve Smyte said.

After the season ended, the Devils came to school early, four days a week to participate in zero period.

“Zero period starts at 6:10 and we go until 7:20. We usually warm up, then do conditioning and agility either on the field or in the gym for about half an hour, then we go into the weight room and lift and then we eat a breakfast provided to us,” said Brendan MacDonald, junior tight end/middle linebacker.

After school got out, the Devils dedicated their summer to training under the merciless valley sun. As the dog days progressed, the team ran drills, went over film and worked on uniting as a team.

In football, teamwork is key. “You’ve got to have 11 guys working in perfect harmony for a play to work,” Smyte said.

“The hard work was definitely worth it because when the actual season comes around, everything you put in during the summer pays off in the games,” junior wide receiver CK Hicks said.

The early success has been exciting, but the Devils aren’t done just yet. “It’s nice to get a couple of wins early in the season, but we want to get more than two,” Hicks said.

Hicks is not the only one that wants to improve. The whole shares the sentiment that wins are nice, but more wins are always better.

The success surely has been well enjoyed by the team, but they are not alone. DHS fans have benefited from the turnaround. “I think it [winning] hypes the crowd up more and people feel less awkward about cheering for DHS,” sophomore supporter Jamie Bautista said.

DHS’s aficionados have really played their part in supporting the team. En route to last week’s road victory at Woodland, DHS fans significantly outnumbered those of the Wolves, making noise and giving support just like a home game.

The Devils have greatly improved upon their woeful 2011 season where they went just  2-7. So far, DHS is outscoring opponents 184 to 81.