Football faces tough 6A field for first time

DOWN+%26+UPS.+Junior+running+back+Jaiden+Graves+gets+tackled+in+the+Sept.29%2C+2022+game+against+Collage+Park+at+Woodforest+Stadium.+One+month+earlier%2C+Graves+won+The+Courier+Player+of+the+week+for+his+performance+against+Sam+Rayburn+on+Aug.29%2C2022.

Photo: Emily Maldonado

DOWN & UPS. Junior running back Jaiden Graves gets tackled in the Sept.29, 2022 game against Collage Park at Woodforest Stadium. One month earlier, Graves won The Courier Player of the week for his performance against Sam Rayburn on Aug.29,2022.

Jose Gomez, State & International News Editor

 

AFTER MOVING TO 6A, THE FOOTBALL TEAM HAS FACED
larger schools and historically tougher teams. Despite what the scoreboard shows and the stiffer competition, the team made gains thanks to a consistent message.

“These kids have heard the same voice for three years and the message has always been the same,” Athletic Director Kendall Hineman said. “ To give it your all, every single down and every single quarter and they have bought into that.”

Last year, the team put up 106 points and allowed 399 during a 10 game season. However, after only six games in this season, the football team has put up 109 points and allowed 350. Meaning, they have scored three more points than last year’s entire season in just the first six games.

The football team began with a win over Sam Rayburn on Friday, Aug. 26 — winning the game 33–28.

“We’re more familiar with these teams than we were the last two years so familiarity wise has helped us,” Hineman said. “We really focus on training.”
Galena Park and Conroe, though, dealt two blowout losses before a close loss against Grand Oaks 38–28 in a competitive game. The biggest heartbreak was the 34–27 loss to Cleveland at homecoming. After two fierce games, the team continued the trend with blowout games against College Park and Willis.

However, in its rookie 6A season, the team is making steps toward progress and not letting what others think stop them from those gains. Senior varsity linebacker Daylin Manning believes careless errors, not talent, is what is holding the team back.

“We’re playing bigger schools, but I wouldn’t say better schools,” Manning said. “We aren’t playing to our full potential. Caney Creek is messing itself up and shooting itself in the foot by missing tackles or messing up on our plays.”

The team played Oak Ridge on Friday, at the Buddy Moorhead Stadium — after press deadlines.