By: Hannah Smith ’22
Friday night lights will officially illuminate the football field this Friday when the Saints travel to Bishop McGuinness for a season-opening 11-man football game. This is year four of the program, a program that has overcome challenges most young programs face. Last year the Saints went 9-3 overall and 6-0 in regular-season conference games with the season ending with a loss to Cary Christian in the state championship game.
Over the summer, the players have been working hard three times a week to prepare for the upcoming season. Doing this not only prepares them physically but brings them together mentally. JPII is known for having a family atmosphere, and that does not stop when students exit the doors of the academic building; it exists on both the academic and athletic campuses. During practice, an outsider might feel intimidated as it’s full of shouts and cries from both players and coaches. But, like any family, it is all to keep each other accountable.
For an inside look as to what practice looks like, each division breaks up into groups: running backs, offensive and defensive lines, and quarterbacks. Within each group, the coaches work with the players to hone their technical skills and position-specific drills. The offensive and defensive lines work on stance, blocking technique, and timing. The quarterbacks work on the mechanics of arm movement, communicating with the center, and hand-offs to the running backs. Ball handlers (wide receivers, tight ends, and tailbacks) focus on protecting the ball and working out runs. Toward the end of practice, the team comes together to walk and run through plays. Every practice ends with team sprints and a cool down. The team circles up and stretches while the coaches give feedback about the day’s practice.
Head Coach Sean Murphy has plenty of younger players to develop and add in the mix when this year’s team, which has the most seniors in Saints history, graduates. “The younger players still have some things to learn, but they no doubt will be much improved by the end of the season,” Murphy said. Sophomore Max Mason will start at quarterback for JV and all freshmen will play on JV to gain playing time.
Murphy and the varsity players are looking to finish out what they have twice started: a state championship season. With 45 players to choose from, Murphy is no longer concerned about depth. Murphy says he has been “very pleased” with practices and hopes to see the veteran players pick up where they left off skill-wise. Senior Brody Mitchell will start at quarterback, but junior transfer Connor Kendrick will be mixed in under center as well. Traditionally the Saints have thrown very few passes, but Murphy hopes he will be able to call more pass plays this year with the number of 11-man games on the schedule. Murphy and his team look to win the conference once again, but “finish it” in the postseason.
I talked with senior tailback and defensive lineman Rion Roseborough about how he felt going into the season. Roseborough thinks practices have gone well and noted the number of new faces. “Even though we have a lot of new guys, they are becoming accustomed to the ‘JPII way’ quickly.” He says the team has a “beat everyone” mentality as they look to go undefeated this year. Several 11-man games are sprinkled throughout the season, which is a very different type of play compared to eight-man which the Saints play in conference games. Roseborough says it will take some time for the team to adjust for those 11-man games, but it should not be too difficult as they played an 11-man game last season. Roseborough hopes that Coach Murphy allows for more throwing this season as a whole, but especially in the 11-man games where the pace is slower and lower scoring.
