Striving to “Rise as One”- undeterred by a rough start

Friday Night Lights.  The band is playing, the crowd is cheering, and the September air is finally cooling off.  White yard lines shine bright in the dark night sky.  The cheerleaders can be heard from across the field, and their new uniforms add to the hype of the 2016 football season. The Galena Pirates Varsity football team hustle out onto Coach Korte Field, prepared to fight until the last seconds, no matter the outcome.  This season’s Galena Pirates are just enjoying playing together; they are a tight- knit bunch, who remain optimistic despite a 0-3 start.

With losses to Amboy, Forreston, and East Dubuque, the Pirates know they need to step up their game and make the necessary adjustments in practice.  Coach Eaton said, “We need to be more consistent on both offense and defense in order to eliminate negative plays on offense and prevent big plays for scores on defense.”  Brett Shutts and Drew Peebles both agree that the team chemistry is there; now each player needs to focus on his role and do the little things.  

Galena Football has no victories, so one could make the assumption that their practices aren’t fun anymore.  The players say otherwise.  Sure they know what is at stake, but “we still f around a lot, and have a good time,” said Peebles.  “Defense is fun, but offense can get a little stressful,” he commented on practice.

Shutts said that practice is fun to an extent, but then the “motivation and hunger to win” kicks in, and it is down to business.  “The team is continuing to work together to get better each week,” said Coach Eaton.

A key aspect to note about the Pirates is their unwavering resilience.  There is an increased motivation to win, with a playoff berth on the line.  They adopted a “Look ahead, don’t look back attitude, which really helps the players to hone in their emotions and focus on the task at hand, rather than dwell in the past.  They are referred to as “one big happy family” because the players get along well, and have each other’s backs.  

Loyal Pirate fans have some exciting football to look forward to in these next few weeks.  “The team will continue to improve as some of the newer players gain more experience and we work to correct  the mistakes from the early games,” said Coach Eaton. This year’s group is “special,” and “the excitement of playing with all your buddies under the lights is irreplaceable,” said Shutts.

Last words from Galena Football?  “Go Pirates!”