Most people think that football is just another sport but it is not. Football is a high contact sport and very taxing on the players bodies and minds. Every play someone is hitting someone else.
MHS football players lift weights all summer in the school’s weight room, and even have lots of practices before the school year starts. Once school does start, the players have practice after school each day. The Friday Night Light games are a big hit for almost all of the students. The Sage Cage is constantly there cheering, yelling, and dressing the theme. A lot of people from around town come to watch the games, so there is a lot of pressure on the players to do their best.
When preparing for a game, sophomore Ayden McCool tells himself “to leave it all out of the field.” Whatever happens on the field—good or bad—the expectation is not to take it out on anyone because this could create a situation where a bad attitude could come onto the sideline and spread to the other players during the game.
Junior Nate Darnell said, “I’m not worried about getting hurt during a game, just worried about missing a snap.” Darnell, whose main position is center, has to keep his man in front of him after he snaps the ball. However, he doesn’t let the head on head contact mess with his playing. He tells himself to keep doing his best no matter what.
Senior Trey Leynes noted that away games are a little easier for him, saying, “If I mess up, most people don’t know me.” With all the Sages fans at the home games, Leynes feels pressured to do the absolute best he can. He plays left guard, so just like Darnell, he cannot let anyone past him. If someone does get past him, the quarterback gets sacked.
The Monticello Sages take on Mattoon at 7pm this Friday. Wear your best neon/construction outfit and come cheer them on!
Lilie Burse, Staff Writer
burli27@sages.us
The Sage Informer 
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