The spring football football season for the football team began April 16 and will conclude May 16 with the annual team Navy versus Baby intersquad scrimmage. The game will take place at Emerson High School at 7 p.m.. Spring ball is not a time where the Mavericks compete against opposing schools, but instead a time for coaches to evaluate players and a chance for the players to compete for positions among one another. One of the differing factors of spring ball from the fall season is the graduating class of senior football players does not partake, as the goal of spring football is to get ready for the upcoming fall season.
The spring football season doesn’t have a full schedule of games lined up; it ends with a large intersquad scrimmage among the team.
“I’m looking forward to…the spring game on May 16 mainly because we kind of get to get some sort of live scrimmage,” Junior defensive tackle Brandon Clemens, said. “We’re probably throwing in some trick plays and stuff, so I’m excited for that but also just being able to do a little scrimmage before summer.”
The spring allows for new implementation in order to avoid any problems the team might have faced in years past.
“My goal for spring ball is for everyone to come out of it healthy. In the past we’ve had injuries plague us during the season, so my goal this year is to make sure everyone is healthy. We’re going to start utilizing things such as yoga and stretching to give the kids…the ability to be available for this upcoming season and summer,” Leblanc said.
Leblanc enjoys multiple aspects of spring football. He has a unique vantage point being a coach who can see the progress made by athletes first-hand.
“As a coach you get to see the difference between what a kid did when they played freshman football, and then seeing what they could do with a full offseason under their belt. Seeing the athletes grow in those few months that we are lifting weights, speed, training, and practicing football specific skills all shows when spring ball comes around,” Leblanc said.
The beginning of spring ball allows for younger athletes to take charge and establish new leadership on the team.
“I’m looking forward to seeing some of the younger guys now step up. We’ve been blessed to be in a program where we had the same kids play for us for the past four years, and I’m interested to see what the next class does. Spring ball is a great way for us to see what they can do,” Defensive Line Coach Dondre Leblanc said.
Junior Linebacker, Jaxon Cannida, feels the impact of the graduating class and remembers how playing with the class of 2025 will be something near and dear to his heart.
“I built some close bonds [with that group of seniors]. They’re my brothers and I love every single one of those guys, especially on that defense. We had a lot of chemistry as a team and the reality is that I’m not going to be able to get that back,” Cannida said. Practicing without them makes me feel a little upset that I’m not going to be able to play with the same group again.”
This unique period of football the team is able to grow within itself, and does not face the pressure of playing other teams.
“It’s a team game so we’re trying to grow and get better as a team. We can’t break apart and get onto each other when mistakes happen. It’s spring ball and this is the time for making mistakes and correcting them before next season,” Cannida said.
Spring ball also marks the inauguration of the class of 2026 into their final season of high school football.
“…My favorite part about playing spring football is kind of just having fun. I’m a [rising] senior, so me and the other [rising] seniors kind of understand this is our last ever spring ball,” Clemens said. “I would definitely say kind of having fun with all of them and really taking it in, so we can all…enjoy it, live in the moment.”
