Football begins league season
The 2012 season for the Vikings has been a tough one thus far; Samo begins league at 2-3-0.Football has played nationally ranked teams, including Mater Dei High School and Hart High School, which both place in the top 40 best football teams in the state of California. However, Samo football has not taken these losses in a negative light. In fact, the Vikings, although having a hard time rebounding from these losses, are grateful for the experience and skills they have received from playing these highly ranked teams.“Our losses against these teams have pushed us and made us better. We have become stronger for the games that matter the most: the league games,” junior linebacker Jack Keslow said.According to coach Travis Clark Playing these teams required full, 100 percent commitment from every player. The season started out strong. Teams like Palisades High and Redondo were easier teams to beat. The team has to focus on stronger football teams later in the season.“Compared to last year, this year’s leadership has been a bit off and less strong but as whole we have been playing better,” junior linebacker Denicio Gonzalez-Drake said. “We are better because we are facing more competitive teams. These other high schools have reconstructed our team for the better as we are working harder overall.”Although these teams make Samo more competitive, the team is having a hard time reacting to the losses, according to co-captain Sebastian LaRue.“The hardest thing about this season altogether is our team’s response to the adversity present this season. We need to have everyone be on the same page and motivated to play,” said LaRue.This year, Clark has focused on enthusiasm and morale in order to boost the team’s performance according to co-captains LaRue, Nick Cardiel and Matthew Rusk-Kosa.“We have got to stop the moping and bleeding with this attitude around here,” Clark said to the Vikings after their loss against Valencia High School. “Anything can happen at any moment in time but we just need to stay positive; our attitude is what hurts us.”Practices for the team have remained similar to those in past years, as Clark feels the need to keep them uniform and steady in order to teach the new kids on the team what the Vikings are about.“This year, our team has adjusted because so many new athletes have joined [the team]. It was hard at first, but we have all begun to find our rhythm,” LaRue said.Clark is enthusiastic for the rest of the season, prepping the team for games to come."We have been working really hard these past few weeks. Although the losses have been frustrating, we want to move forward and focus on league," Clark said. "I am proud of the way we have endured throughout the season and I feel we are prepared and excited for games coming up."The season is not over yet. The Vikings have been physically and mentally preparing for the homecoming game against Beverly Hills High School on Oct. 12th. Samo believes that these past games will help them defeat the Normans and other teams post Homecoming."Losing is something we take to heart," Rusk-Kosa said. "As long as we play better entirely, we will leave feeling accomplished."bweiss@thesamohi.com