By Katlyn Marotz, Senior Managing News Editor
As the sun set at Jaskwhich stadium on Sept. 3, the Indian Trail Hawks varsity football team faced a tough loss in their first Southeast Conference game against the Franklin Sabers varsity football team with a final score of 7-49.
The Hawks met the Evanston Wildkits varsity football team the week before and lost 6-26, leaving them with a 1-1 Southeast Conference record. Franklin stood at a 2-0 record.
Even with the rustle of pom poms mixed with shouts and chants from the crowd, the Hawks let the Sabers score three touchdowns by the end of the first quarter and three more before Indian Trail sophomore quarterback Lamont Dagen ran in the Hawks’ only touchdown with 2:38 minutes left of the second quarter and junior Muli Bale secured the extra point, making the score 7-42.
“We need to continue to improve on both sides of the ball,” said Paul Hoffman, Indian Trail’s football coach, about how the team played. “Execution errors are magnified when you play the better teams in the state.”
“Every conference game has the same weight, so the first one compared to the seventh is all the same. They all count towards making the playoffs,” Hoffman said.
Junior running back Justice Lovelace said he is proud to play an important role on his team.
“I’m glad to be a core part of our offense,” Lovelace said. “I do feel pressure because I play a critical part of how our offense runs. If I’m not doing well, the odds are the offense as a whole isn’t as well and that’s never good.”
Lovelace also mentioned that the start of conference play sets the tone for future games, and playing more physically, disciplined, and together will help his team succeed.
And as the traffic surrounding the stadium passed through like wind and rain, the allowance of fans, students, or family members in the bleachers brought vibrance and livilness to the players.
The Hawks face the Brookfield Central Lancers today (Sept. 10) for another home game. Indian Trail stands with an overall record of 1-2, and is currently sixth in the Southeast conference. Brookfield stands at a 1-1 overall record after coming off from a 14-21 loss against West Allis Hale on Sept. 3.