Commerce Football: Mid-Season Recap
Written By Sports Writer
Jourdan Williams
Same story different time; is the theme of the High School of Commerce’s football team. The Red Raiders began their divisional play on October 3rd and played three games since then; unfortunately they are still searching for that 1st win of the season. Losing to West Springfield (39-6), Ludlow (37-20), and East Longmeadow (55-0), the Commerce Red Raiders stand at a disappointing 0-6.
So far their defense has given up 242 total points this season, while their offense has only scored 60 points. When asked about the defensive struggle Senior Derrick Aktins said, “The defense is a weakness right now, but if we work harder and become more disciplined we can get some wins”. Then he expressed what Head Coach Tyrone Mathis expressed just a few days earlier, “The lack of numbers is hurting us right now to, it could be better if we had more seniors, but they just couldn’t maintain the grades”.
In the fall of 2005 the freshmen team at the high school held 30 players. Since that fall only three players from that team have played all four years and they are captains Jeremy Borgotti, Travis Vaz, and Jourdan Williams. Head Coach Mathis stated that it is his job as a coach to make sure that, “All students maintain that 1.67 average,” so they can help the team in the future.
On the other hand there are some players who feel differently on the season so far, “If our team played to the best of our abilities we could have easily walked away with two wins,” said senior captain Michael Ortiz. “We have to practice harder, work harder, and play to the best of our abilities, the season started off a little slow due to inexperience but we will get better.”
When asked about other problems, Coach Mathis answered with one word, “Heart”. When talking to the team he stated, “We can’t teach heart, it’s something that you either have or you don’t… so man up and play with some heart.”
With six remaining games on the schedule (and the schedule not getting any easier) we will see how the words of Coach Mathis have affected a team who is still on the hunt for that first win of the season.
In my heart im still apart of the football team……and its not my fault why im not. Im only a junior and plan to come back next year with the heart Head Coach Tyrone Mathis is talking about. Im not saying i don’t have the heart now (which i do) but next year when im bigger and more experienced i will come and play as a senior next year. I will play different sports during the school year to stay in shape but when the summer hits, i will do some intense training.
SO TO MY FELLOW TEAM-MATES KEEP YOUR HEAD UP AND PLAY WITH THE HEART COACH IS TALKING ABOUT, AND WHEN THAT TIME COMES YOU WILL SEE A “W” ON THE RECORD!!!
“Good luck with Cathedral, Chicopee Comp,
South Hadley, and esp. Central”
Well, you guys should stop being so negative and start working harder. Forget trying to get dinners and raise money and have dances. What’s good with weekend practices and stuff like that. Half of the players are jokers and they give up early in the games.