The first football game of the season is Saturday at The Star and the players are ready to take on Wakeland.

“I think we’re gonna win because our offense is really good this year,” junior Dimitri Jones said. “And we are playing both sides. We are definitely going to be better than last year and we work harder. This year it changed and we are really showing up.”

With a new philosophy, the team’s strategy will look a lot different this season than what most fans saw in years past.

“We changed our offense and defense so they are completely new,” junior Jordan Jones said. “I think that’s gonna work to our advantage a lot.”

Not only will it be the team’s first game at The Star but the game comes with even more weight as it’s a district game.

“It’s different starting with a district game,” Jordan Jones said. “Because we had to prepare a lot more because our games before district are kind of like practices for us, so since this first game goes to our record, we have to practice a little bit harder so that we are ready for this game.”

Despite the excitement of playing in the new facility, at the end of the day, the team is there to work hard and play football.

“I don’t really guess it’s much different,” head football coach Chris Burtch said. “In the fact that we’re still trying to go out there and do your job and count on your brother to do their job and play hard in every play. This game has a little more riding on it though, this one matter for playoffs so we have to bring our A game. This group of guys is probably in the 3 years that I’ve been here, without a doubt this group is committed, not just to the game but committed to each other, and that’s a big deal.”