Strategies in Football Lead to Success

Junior+safety+Tim+Slingluff+attempts+to+catch+an+inteception%2C+preventing+the+Wheaton+Knights+from+recieving+a+first+down.+Slinguff+alongisde+the+rest+of+the+Rams+defense+only+allowed+the+Knights+to+score+one+touchdown+in+the+entire+second+half+on+Sept.+28.+--Adam+Bensimhon

Junior safety Tim Slingluff attempts to catch an inteception, preventing the Wheaton Knights from recieving a first down. Slinguff alongisde the rest of the Rams defense only allowed the Knights to score one touchdown in the entire second half on Sept. 28. –Adam Bensimhon

Junior safety Tim Slingluff attempts to catch an inteception, preventing the Wheaton Knights from recieving a first down. Slinguff alongisde the rest of the Rams defense only allowed the Knights to score one touchdown in the entire second half on Sept. 28. --Adam Bensimhon
Junior safety Tim Slingluff attempts to catch an inteception, preventing the Wheaton Knights from recieving a first down. Slinguff alongisde the rest of the Rams defense only allowed the Knights to score one touchdown in the entire second half on Sept. 28. –Adam Bensimhon

Coming back from a 25-0 deficit and beating arch-rival Richard Montgomery in a thrilling 40-38 win within the last few minutes of the fourth quarter is a victory this year’s football team has proved possible.

Although the team later on lost to Seneca Valley and Einstein, their new strategies on defense and offense contributed to their 2-2 record. In the offseason, the team worked on forming the team they want to become by conditioning to be faster and stronger, also participating in a passing league almost daily.

“This year our defense and offense has become faster. We want to get a play off every 13 seconds and exhaust the other team,” said offensive coordinator Jason Lomax.

This task is usually difficult for teams, meaning that the quarterback is not able to communicate with the coaching staff after every play.

With a faster offense and a punishing defense, the team has been able to excite fans about the upcoming season, beating Richard Montgomery for the first time in three years.

“This year we are playing as one team, not just 11 individuals, and we want to win,” senior captain Tyler Reed said.

In the season opener, the offense scored in the last two minutes of the fourth quarter off a pass from junior quarterback Chuck Reese to junior wide receiver Anthony Albert. Reese completed 35 of 45 passes and had six touchdown passes.

The team’s first win this season was one to remember not only for the team, but for the fans as well, especially after the RHS student section stormed the field after the game. Many fans have high hopes for the rest of the season, and show these hopes by supporting the team through “The Infernoa��, which helps to excite other players and fans.

“The crowd was the biggest factor in our [first] game. It’s always awesome to go to our opponents field and still have a 12th man,” Reese said.

On Sept. 28 the team beat Wheaton during their homecoming game 54-22, proving that their strategies have been effective, especially on offense. Reese threw six touchdown passes and no interceptions, throwing for 1,306 yards in total this season, making him second in Montgomery County.

Not only is the team proving to be more successful than last year, but they are setting the stage for more exciting wins to come.