North Atlanta Football is used to facing adversity, whether it’s rain, away games, or being called the underdog. However, none of this compares to the obstacles that the team has faced in the past couple of weeks. The Warrior’s biggest opponent has been the red and green that rolls through Georgia on weather forecasts. Practices on the weekend, games on fall break, and an adjustment from Friday Night Lights to hot Saturday football are what it takes for this Dubs team to compete at the level they are capable of.
Practicing on a weekend is a new scenery for any high school athlete, but at the end of the day, what’s important is remaining dedicated to making school history. The Dubs are in the driver’s seat within their region right now and it would be historical to be the champions of it. With that in mind, our devoted Warriors were yearning to get back on the turf. The vibes were good and the mentality was there as the boys prepared for their road trip up 400 to face Alpharetta High School. Senior wide receiver Grant Thompson didn’t want to waste a second of practice time that could be the deciding factor for how the last few weeks of the season will end. “A senior season isn’t one to take for granted, every practice counts towards the goals we have,” Thompson said. “Missing out on work to watch some Saturday college football won’t win us a region.”
Despite the hard work put in throughout the weekend, the weather still didn’t cooperate with the Warrior’s schedule. The game had been pushed back 2 weeks due to pollution in South Georgia and would now interfere with Fall Break. They would face adversity once again and have to fix their minds on Lambert who they would face on a Saturday. Football on Saturdays seems to become a norm for the Dubs. Senior defensive end Chase Linton assured us the craziness of this season would only improve the mentality of the team. Linton said, “Playing this Saturday was just a preview of what I hope to do in the future, I am glad we made the most of it.”
Love for the game is what it takes for hard-working athletes. Unfortunately, because of the delays due to weather conditions, the Dubs would now be tossing the football around on the football field rather than the beach. Staying back for a few days of practice over the break is usual, but practicing the whole week is a change. Junior defensive end Jonathan Diedrich isn’t having his ideal fall break this year. “Instead of putting on my swimsuit and tanning, I will be putting on my shoulder pads and working,” Diedrich said.
The hours our Dubs athletes put into their season are unmatched by any other sport. Weekends and breaks are a new scene for many fall sports, but at the end of the day, hard work pays off.
