Totino-Grace football has had a great start to their season being 2-1, only losing to the top team in the state. Their hard work has been paying off but will it take them to state?

The football team has been working extra hard this year, in the weight room and on the practice field. Many things are making this season different from last year.

Coach Jay Anderson said he is excited for this year. He has been preparing for this season since last year. 

Anderson said that in the offseason he emphasized lifting to make the team physically stronger. All players made gains, which will help their performance during the season.

The TG football program is privileged to have great coaches, from watching hours of film each night to guiding them in practice. These coaches are one of the secrets to success.

It is not the brilliance of one player that has carried the team. Everyone has their job. The offense and defensive lines play with unity making the foundation for the team’s success. The quarterback reads the defense and gives the receivers a chance to make a big play. The defensive backs cover their zone.

This year the team has been working tirelessly to improve those skills. Each position group works hard every practice and watches film after practice to get better.

The offense has been moving the ball and the defense has been shutting the other teams down. 

Week two TG played Simley. The defense did not allow Simley any points and the offense scored a couple touchdowns.

Captain Owen Swedberg said, “I like to take it week by week and focus on the game that week.” He is confident that the team will do well this season because they are “tight-knit.” “We aren’t perfect, but we work hard,” Swedberg said.

After beating two of the top teams the morale is higher than it was last year. If the team stays positive, it can translate to better performance in games.

It is hard to predict what will happen this year because anything can happen.

The team is facing some diversity because junior Calvin McIntosh has been out due to injuries, but with other players always stepping up, the team has hope.

If one thing is looking different this year it is that the Eagles are a more robust and tighter team this year and they are ready to continue to work hard and fight every game. 

This year the football team went down to division 4A to play schools of a similar size. This will give the team more equal matchups.

If there’s one thing for sure, it’s that none of the players are slowing down. They are pushing themselves every week to get better and stronger, whether it’s lifting weights or practicing hard.

With much of the season still left, the TG football team has already made a name for themselves. The TG football team is now ranked 7th in Division 4A. As they strive to get better every day, fans are eager to see what the team can do.