From Monday after-school practices to Friday night lights, the time and effort the Foran Lions put into succeeding shows in the 2-2 record despite facing upper-level teams.
“We have the same confidence level after every game no matter what was in the past. If anything it drives us even more,” states wide receiver Ray Jackson.
Despite the loss to Notre Dame, Jackson reminds the team’s fans that no matter how much they lose, their confidence level doesn’t move. Every week, the Lions have a team dinner after practice the day before game day. Jackson explained that all those practices, dinners, and time spent together make the team bond as a family where everyone has each other’s back.
“So far it’s great, great leadership from our five captains,” explains Coach Garrett Walker.
Senior captains Joey Gagliardi, Jagger Rees, Wyatt Shallis, Brandon Marschner, and Zach Queiroz have had great luck influencing the team’s rising players.
Coach Walker, who recently became the team’s head coach, has had a great impact, too.
“I am very fortunate to have Foran athletics in the family—my dad being a coach and me being a Foran athlete growing up,” states Coach Walker
When preparing for upcoming games they will base their practices off of film of the other team and try to play off plays they think the other team will perform. From the first day being offense day against the opposing team’s defense, they are preparing.
With Friday being game day, throughout the week the Lions change with different pads and plays to get them most prepared for the upcoming games.
“We rely on our run game offense,” Walker explains
Queiroz has been on a roll this season with an average of 186.3 yards per game. If he keeps this average all season, he will have a near 1863 yards for the entire season.
Through Walker’s years, football has developed from being “pass-happy” to now relying heavily on their run game. Walker spends hours developing plays to pull out on teams when not expected.
As the season goes on, obstacles tend to arise. Walker explains how the injury bug is always something to worry about, whether players are playing through an injury or out for weeks. But Walker isn’t overly worried, because he has his athletes prepared for any obstacles that come at them.
