Players are missing football season

Hoping to hit the field second semester

By Paulina Medina

Photo Editor

Due to COVID-19, football season was canceled this semester. Both the coaches and the senior players are very upset that they lost their play time during the students’ last year of high school.

Head Coach Jorge Pena wishes things had been different for his players.

“Games are scheduled to start Jan. 8; but that could change,” he continued, “I’m not sure if fans will or won’t be allowed to attend, but I hope so.”

If visitors are not allowed to enter the games it would be heartbreaking especially to football player Guillermo “Memo” Cervantes.

“The most memorable thing about football season was the home opener and just experiencing a full house Tom Flores for the first game of the season," said Cervantes.

Even with these uncertainties, the football team continues to work hard.

“We’ve been working out and practicing since July 15. We took the month of August off, then resumed in September,” said Pena.

Some of the players were also getting their workout in at home during quarantine.

“I’d be up early in the morning or even late at night working out on my own or sometimes with other teammates and kept on grinding praying for a chance to have a season,” said senior football player Isaiah “Hammer” Becerril.

The players miss playing football so much so that Cervantes stated, “if I had an option to play in the pandemic I would only because it is my last season and as a senior I want to experience my last year.”

Football players are also missing out on the other experiences that come with the sport.

“I missed having out-of-town trips with teammates and friends I’ve grown up with and would have had fun experiences with. But it’s in the past there’s nothing I can do about it and I wish it was different but life goes on,” said Becerril.

Though there have been many challenges, the football team can still be hopeful for what is to come.

“I’m hopeful that we can have a season in the Spring. Our kids have worked very hard, especially the seniors, and I’d love to see them finish out their careers on the football field doing what they love to do,” said Pena.

Apache fans are all looking forward to a chance that the team will return for some Sanger football, even though visitors might not be able to attend. Senior players will still get the opportunity to experience the rush of the game one last time before graduating.