New Year New Team? Will the Football Team Finally Make It?

Lights, roaring chants, and “Rowdy Coug” spirit, this electric atmosphere can only indicate one thing: Friday night lights are on, and Oakton fall sports are officially in season! Football season is off to a strong start as Oakton won two games in a row against Fairfax and Woodson High. In doing so, they have already beaten their total number of wins last year. The winning streak of two games has created a buzz among students as they all wait patiently, wondering how far ahead the team will get this year and what has changed. 

Oakton’s football team has not been displaying the best records in recent years, with a previous state ranking of 219. This led to a discouraged school spirit among the Cougars as they all hoped for the next big win. When asked about past seasons and their effects on school spirit, Eliana Farella (11) and Anna Chen (11) responded, “We kept losing a lot because we weren’t that good; I think that affected us a lot because we wanted to win.” However, the students still hold hope for this season after the wins against Fairfax and Woodson. Priela Thessalonika (11) responded, “I think last year, after one game, everyone’s school spirit kind of died out, but this year, after winning two games in a row, everyone was really hyped, and so it definitely got a lot better.” The Cougars performance in past seasons was often seen as disappointing amongst students, so what has changed this year that is leading to positive performance from the players and how is it bringing hope to this season?

An interview with the football team’s new head coach focused on how the players have been training differently this season. Coach Slay responded, “The biggest thing is just our mindset; you know we don’t win games on Friday night; we win them Monday through Thursday. How we prepare throughout the week is our biggest change.” The emphasis on a positive mindset seems to be carrying the players far this season. The team’s determination also seems to be a differentiating factor. When asked about the team’s main goals for this season, Coach Slay responded, “I really think it would be big for our morale if we could win a district game, not just one but a couple. I think that’s the biggest. One of our main goals as a team is to get that first district win in seven years.” There is a lot of hope to break the Cougar’s losing streak and lay the groundwork for continuous improvement in seasons to come. When asked about the wins against Woodson and Fairfax, Coach Slay replied, “I think those are huge wins, you know, the Fairfax win was huge, just where Fairfax has been the last couple of years, and that was a big one to get and that carried over into Woodson. Hopefully, we keep the carryover.” He also stated his hopes going into the Homecoming game against West Springfield on Friday, September 20th, “It’s a statement type of a game,” He adds, “It’s a good challenge. West Springfield is a really good team, so it’s a game that if we come out and we win this football game, a lot of people have to take us seriously.” 

There is great hope as Oakton continues on with the season. “I think we might make it!” Limpho Watae (11) says. Elliana remarked, “I think we’re gonna do a lot better this year because we’ve improved a lot.” They are all looking forward to supporting the players throughout this season’s performance.  As Coach Slay said, it is crucial to maintain a winning mindset. “We don’t win games on Friday night; we win them Monday through Thursday.”