Thursday, April 25, 2024
As a red hot sun slowly descended over the western end zone of Pirate Stadium Thursday night, Coach Chad Zschiesche led his team through a warm-up routine.
It has been awhile since the 2020-21 season was scheduled to begin. The reality of COVID-19 has dampened any dream of a normal season.
As it was, the stadium speakers blared out instructions for spectators to wear a mask and to maintain social distancing. Still, even with the omnipresence of a pandemic the joy in the faces of the players was obvious.
Coach Zschiesche shares their enthusiasm.
“A returning 1,000+ yard RB and depth at the majority of all our positions,” the coach said.
What’s not to like.
“With so many new varsity players, many of them grew up throughout the course of the scrimmage,” he said.
“Defensively we played well at all 3 levels… Offense struggled at times, but all of it is correctable,” he said.
It was football night.
The Pirates hosted the Polytechnic High School Parrots and the Joshua High School Owls for a multisquad scrimmage on the artificial turf of Johnny Perkins Field.
More than 100 players in white, blue, and black helmets trotted around the field running their drills. Coaches, with bandanas and masks, barked instructions and encouragement.
Zschiesche added: “The mandated break in the spring actually resulted in our team becoming closer as a family once we were able to return in person over the summer.”
NEXT UP:
Granbury vs. Paschal
Friday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. @Pirate Stadium
