“I’m hyped up, I’m ready to play right now,” Wilson said. “We want to prove ourselves and show everyone what we can do.”
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J Jensen couldn’t sleep Sunday night.
Even though he has been the head coach of Mayde Creek since March, he couldn’t help but be excited for his first official practice as head coach of his alma mater.
“I’m pumped, I tossed and turned all night. I came out on this field today and got down and prayed and said, ‘man it’s awesome, it’s come full circle,’” Jensen said. “It’s definitely an emotional day for me this first practice and being back here. The spring, the strength and conditioning, all that stuff was good but the actual start of fall camp, it just felt something different.”
Jenses and the Mayde Creek coaching staff spent the first day of practice going over the basics and formations as they work to install a new offense and defense before the start of the season.
“We’re teaching them how to pick their teammates up and how to be leaders,” Jensen said. “It’s hard enough to beat another team if we’re all fighting amongst each other. That’s my culture is play the next play and be positive. The biggest thing is we all are going to learn. I’m going to make mistakes and so are they, but we have to learn from it. That’s how you continue to get better.”
The intensity was there during the first day of practice and the team only expets things to get better.
“Everyone was going at it, it was pretty high intensity,” said James Rhodes, a senior. “It is the first day so there’s going to be a lot of mistakes, but as we go along it will just get better and get more intense. I’m excited for it.”
Jensen’s culture has received lot of buy in from the players, and junior cornerback and safety Tay’Shawn Wilson says it has made a difference.
Wilson will be a big piece for the Rams this season as he will be used in a hybrid role at both cornerback and safety.
“I’m just trying to be flexible and play wherever they need me,” Wilson said. “I just want to be versatile and be anywhere the team needs me to help us succeed.”
Another important player will be Jordan Kelly, a senior wide receiver who also plays safety.
“We just need more guys, we’re bringing them along and they’re learning and when those guys are ready we’ll be more versatile offensively and help us. I’m trying to help the younger guys know how the plays work and make sure they know what’s going on and have good communication. On defense I’m also trying to be one of those leaders and help out. We have to know what coverage we are in and everyone has to know what’s going on as far as calls go.”
Mayde Creek went 4-5 overall and 1-5 in District 19-6A play last season, and the team is determined for a better year this year.
“I’m hyped up, I’m ready to play right now,” Wilson said. “We want to prove ourselves and show everyone what we can do.”