After the team worked hard in the offseason, Severna Park football hoped for a promising start to season.
The team acquired a new coach and had plans to completely change up the offensive lineup. Sophomore varsity player Josh Coffman said “Coach Bell is a great addition to the football program. He is a great coach as well as a great guy. He knows exactly what he is doing as a coach and I believe that in upcoming years we will be a lot better if he we have enough kids to try out…he encourages us to take practice more seriously and we definitely are. We are working as one big group, and not just individuals.” Coffman, like others, is optimistic about the Falcon’s season, as well as to come.
The Falcons were off to a rough start, however, facing significant losses with a 63-0 loss to Old Mill High School in the season opener and a 21-7 loss to South River. Joe Morrow, senior and varsity starter says, “I believe the cause of the rough start was that our team was getting to know each other on the field. We were battling with a lot of adversity with our school being under construction and playing our home games at Old Mill high School.” These challenges certainly proved to take a toll on the Falcons. In addition, Coach Bell explains, “Some injuries have played a factor early on in the season. Installing new systems on offense and defense have also been a transition early on. We opened up with one of the top ranked teams in the state this season and have steadily improved since week one.” Fortunately, the Falcons are making some changes and the team has taken a turn for the better.
With the new playing style enforced by Coach Bell, the falcons have put up 44 points in their last two games and have only allowed six. Morrow said, “We have really begun to click. Our quarterback has been making great reads, and we are unstoppable on the ground. Our defense has also been playing lights out.” Ignoring their early losses, the football team is moving in the right direction. Not only has the practice helped the team, but so has the unity of the team. The next few months will determine whether or not the team’s work has paid off.
