Varsity:

OHS football has spiraled into the 2023 season with a confidence and work ethic worth commending. Through both wins and losses, the program continues to build a positive reputation for themselves throughout not just the district but the region.

Leadership is at the core of a successful team, not only by an accomplished coach, but also by those of players who step up in uniting one another towards one goal: finishing the season qualifying for the open division.

“We’ve had a lot of good leaders come step up, like last year we had Ryan Davis, Ben Currence; this year we’re seeing Parker [Munier], [and] we’ve got Jackson [Barton],” said Kawika Seguritan, junior.

Certain figures are nothing without an entire roster of players willing to dedicate the same amount of time and effort necessary. 

“The hardest part is the discipline; I mean you’re going out into the heat everyday, it’s a tough decision to make, especially in Arizona,” said Weston Mattice, junior. 

With OHS’ name in football growing each year, so does the pressure to live up to their reputation. 

“We have expectations; we expect to be good, and that’s a good thing when you get to the point where you are expected to be good [by others],” said Brian Cole, Varsity head coach.

With several games under their belt, the team has had to learn that playing to a collective standard is beneficial as a whole.

“We’ve definitely been trying to play more to the coaches’ standards [and] our own standards, because as a whole team a lot of people want to do their own thing, especially coming from other coaches, and JV. We’ve all been taught different things, and when on Varsity, we’re trying to listen to them more and if we play as a team, that’ll work out for all of us,” Mattice said. 

With the pressure of being an intimidation within the league, Varsity players only have so much time to prove how good OHS football really is. 

“You are only guaranteed 10 games, where other sports they’re playing 20-25 games, so it’s hard to come out and work really really hard knowing you only get 10 games guaranteed,” said Coach Brian Cole. 

Anticipation aside, the players have nothing but hope and determination to finish the season on a high note, stretching their success as far as they can while maintaining the heart of the program. 

“I’m extremely confident, I think, we’re gonna come out with the ring, so that’s exciting,” said Julian Campos, senior. 

While the team puts in hours of watching film, pushing themselves physically and mentally, and staying focused, into their season, Friday nights are the collective moments for them to shine, uniting OHS with pride and hope. 

“I want to be good on Friday nights; the crowd really motivates me, I like seeing everybody out there,” Seguritan said. 

JV: 

Junior Varsity has not gone under the radar with the success of second and third year training in the program and astounding team unity.

The benefits of conducive coaching and habitual work ethics are sure to be found on the OHS JV football team. 

“We have good comradery, have fun, we execute a lot, and we just need to keep playing good,” said Carson Craig, sophomore. 

Being familiar with your teammates can go a long way. The OHS JV football team is sure to prove that, by emphasizing the success of their chemistry on and off the field. 

“I think we’re going to look good because we’re just well connected,” said Jack Claycamp, junior. 

Trust within a team is highly important, and knowing the ins and outs of the field is just as much of a contributing factor . Ultimately, time with one another is the biggest component of JV’s confidence going into this season. 

“I feel pretty confident because I know our guys; I know who’s good. We got our receivers from last year that I’ve been throwing to for like three years,” Craig said. 

While uniting their team is the least of their worries, as pressures rise to be great the harder the competition is on the football field. 

“The more you go up from freshman to JV, competition’s harder, the kids are bigger, and it gets more fun because of the competition,” Craig said.

Ultimately, the Junior Varsity players are determined to improve both their team and themselves throughout this season, motivated to go far with the string of success they have had. 

“We all have the same goal; the same goal at all three levels is to just get better each day,” Claycamp said. 

Freshman: 

OHS has been welcomed by a wave of new athletes, keen on aiding the success of the renowned football program and its legacy.

Even with new coaching, teammates, and schedules, the current freshmen are full of high hopes and complete motivation. 

“The coaches are good, it’s [been an] all around good experience so far,” said Maksym Frugone, freshman.

As the season kicks off with many triumphs, there are just as many shocks to overcome for the newbound team. 

“I just know that I’m a freshman, and everybody else is a freshman, so they are just bigger, not older,” Frugone said. 

Staying positive is the key to a season focused on improvement, learning, and hopefully many wins to come. The freshman have three more years of the program to look forward to, just now finding their foundation in the sport. With wide eyes and open ears, they’ve already gotten to taste the rewarding fruit of their work. 

“Playing and winning [is what motivates me],” Frugone said.