High schoolers do not think of freshmen as leaders or innovators, but Jake Herzog exceeds the commonly accepted stereo- types.

The freshmen football team has been working in every practice and in optional practices attempting to be better football players.  So far they are keeping up easily because of the optional practices lead by their quarterback, freshman Jake Herzog.

“I just wanted more practice because JV and Varsity practice more,” said Jake Herzog.

In the early hours of August one could find members of the freshmen football team not at home but at the field running around, throwing, and catching; they were participating in optional practices.  Unlike Varsity and JV football that practice twice a day the freshmen team only gets one practice a day. To compensate for these missed opportunities Jake and his dad collaborated to form the idea that the mornings could be used to their advantage.

“My dad said we should do something extra and since we didn’t do any [football] in the morning,” said Herzog.

As the practices were held more frequently the more people started to come. This allowed for more realistic practices. The pace became faster and the players improved.

“[Practices] were good, they got people in shape and made them think about what they doing in their free time,” said freshman Joe Sulik.

The freshmen football team is a squad that does not get to practice as much as other teams due to higher levels needing more attention. At optional practices the boys broke up into offensive and defensive groups after a thorough stretching. They then practiced drills and organized a game of non-contact rugby.

“[We] did non-contact rugby to get are heart rates up and to practice teamwork,” said Sulik.

The practices better prepared anyone that went and the between the fast paced drills and serious attitude at practice players were getting better and working harder. It prepared them for the real season and gave them an edge in there games where they were able to work as a stronger well prepared for games. All those extra hours spent sweating and striving to become a better team are paying off. Most recently the freshmen football team demolished Lee High School by a score of 42 to 0.

“…The players said they got a lot of work in and it helped them with actual practices and games,” said Herzog.