The official start of the high school football season began this week with heat acclimation practices. Anyone who knows football, knows that the coaches and many of the players have been preparing for this week since they turned in their equipment after last season.
Coaches work up plays they think will work and the players work on conditioning.
All summer long the Rockets’ Football facebook page was active with posts about what kids should be working on to be prepared for the rigors of the start of the season.
Coaches work up plays they think will work and the players work on conditioning.
All summer long the Rockets’ Football facebook page was active with posts about what kids should be working on to be prepared for the rigors of the start of the season.
“We have our "Total Team Thursday" concepts. We know there are things we need to work on. Things that (our kids) can do that don’t require athletic ability,” said Rocket head coach Mike Reynolds about what these posts were meant to accomplish. “We want to see examples of effort. It doesn’t matter if you’re the biggest guy or the smallest or anything in between. We want to highlight them to emphasize those rolls of leadership to show the community and the kids how it’s done.”
Photos of community service, older players working with little gridders and the #NextStep23 photographs and videos of workouts the kids were taking part in, learning the discipline of fitness.
Photos of community service, older players working with little gridders and the #NextStep23 photographs and videos of workouts the kids were taking part in, learning the discipline of fitness.
They also spread the word about the needs of the team from volunteers to fundraising. This week they launched their 200 Club Raffle fundraiser. The funds help support the players, cheerleaders and their flag football program for youth. Reynolds said the $100 tickets can be bought online or in person from the Touchdown Club(the Rocket Boosters). He said people do not need to be present at the games to win. This opens up Rocket supporters from all over the world to get involved and help the brown and gold.
“Every week the Touchdown Club provides food, equipment, program needs and scholarships to over 200 student athletes in our community.” their Facebook page states.
They give away $250 every quarter of every home game and $5,000 in the final quarter of the last home game.
“Every week the Touchdown Club provides food, equipment, program needs and scholarships to over 200 student athletes in our community.” their Facebook page states.
They give away $250 every quarter of every home game and $5,000 in the final quarter of the last home game.
They will also have a table at this weekend's Oil Feast with basket raffles and other items to give the thousands of people who attend a chance to help.
All of this, like the practices they are currently involved in, helps the Rockets get prepared for their season.
This is the second year for Reynolds and his staff. The Rocket’s haven’t had a winning record since 2016. They were 3-7 last year under then first-year head coach Reynolds.
He sees opportunities to improve from the tough season.
“We hope to do better than last year’s 3-7. We really should’ve been at least 5-5,” Reynolds said zeroing in on a specific game especially.
All of this, like the practices they are currently involved in, helps the Rockets get prepared for their season.
This is the second year for Reynolds and his staff. The Rocket’s haven’t had a winning record since 2016. They were 3-7 last year under then first-year head coach Reynolds.
He sees opportunities to improve from the tough season.
“We hope to do better than last year’s 3-7. We really should’ve been at least 5-5,” Reynolds said zeroing in on a specific game especially.
“We scored 35 in one game and were up 35-20 at the half. We ended up losing.” The Rockets gave up over 40 points in the game and failed to score in the second half. “It was a learning experience about how to deal with a game after halftime. We’ve seen how (our players) respond and how they play and we know the things to watch for in them.”
They will be playing a scrimmage at Saegertown next week and then they open the season with two road games against Franklin on August 25 and Sharpesville the following week.
“We’ve got real good numbers, we’re feeling positive about the things the kids are doing, we have real great buy-in, and this is a hard working crew,” Reynolds said. “Kids are willing to work hard both in the classroom and on the field so we’re looking for good things this year.”
They will be playing a scrimmage at Saegertown next week and then they open the season with two road games against Franklin on August 25 and Sharpesville the following week.
“We’ve got real good numbers, we’re feeling positive about the things the kids are doing, we have real great buy-in, and this is a hard working crew,” Reynolds said. “Kids are willing to work hard both in the classroom and on the field so we’re looking for good things this year.”
Coach brought up the classroom a few times during practice this week.
“We’re really proud of what they did last year, we had a 96% eligibility rate on the season,” he said, emphasizing his players seldom had to miss a game, or practice due to bad grades. They do have tutors to help them if needed. “We emphasize to them that they are students first. So helping these kids in the classroom as well as on the field is a big deal for us.”
They have a strong group of juniors coming back with good playing experience and a lot of good athletes. “Our team has a large population of multi-sport athletes. These guys work hard balancing workloads, academics and the demands of sports.”
Reynolds said they are working through key positions with Ian MacDonald and a couple others doing really good work at QB.
“We’re really proud of what they did last year, we had a 96% eligibility rate on the season,” he said, emphasizing his players seldom had to miss a game, or practice due to bad grades. They do have tutors to help them if needed. “We emphasize to them that they are students first. So helping these kids in the classroom as well as on the field is a big deal for us.”
They have a strong group of juniors coming back with good playing experience and a lot of good athletes. “Our team has a large population of multi-sport athletes. These guys work hard balancing workloads, academics and the demands of sports.”
Reynolds said they are working through key positions with Ian MacDonald and a couple others doing really good work at QB.
“We have a good group of lineman, they’re a nice size group of guys, we have all shapes and sizes , we have real big guys and guys that can run fast and everything in between,” he said. He pointed to one student that wasn’t dressed for practice and said he was new. “He’s 310 pounds and we’re trying to find a helmet that will fit him,” he said.
Titusville is in a very tough region with perennial powerhouses Oil City and Meadville. Last year they beat Franklin, Conneaut and Maplewood only, so they are looking to improve on that.
“The biggest thing we’re talking about this year is just dealing with the adversity of playing football. Facing the challenges you face on Friday night and being able to come together as a team and deal with those things,” he said.
Titusville is in a very tough region with perennial powerhouses Oil City and Meadville. Last year they beat Franklin, Conneaut and Maplewood only, so they are looking to improve on that.
“The biggest thing we’re talking about this year is just dealing with the adversity of playing football. Facing the challenges you face on Friday night and being able to come together as a team and deal with those things,” he said.
“We have some pretty phenomenal athletes. Coming together as eleven guys on the field playing as one, that’s going to be key for dealing with those opponents.”
Coach knows the community is there to support the team and they want them to succeed and bring a winning tradition back to Carter Field..
“There are people who come to the games who don’t even have kids here anymore. We do get a lot of support from the local community and the local (civic) clubs. The kids do a lot of community service too, so it makes it kind of special here on Friday nights. This is one of the best facilities in all of District 10. The kids know when they step out on the field on Friday night it is a whole community involvement. It’s really special.
Coach knows the community is there to support the team and they want them to succeed and bring a winning tradition back to Carter Field..
“There are people who come to the games who don’t even have kids here anymore. We do get a lot of support from the local community and the local (civic) clubs. The kids do a lot of community service too, so it makes it kind of special here on Friday nights. This is one of the best facilities in all of District 10. The kids know when they step out on the field on Friday night it is a whole community involvement. It’s really special.
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