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Sports

Divine Child Football Hopes for Winning Season With Young Team

An inexperienced DC varsity team means extra work to bring home wins, the coach says.

The Divine Child Football team began its season on a high note after last season’s Catholic League (double A) championship title. However, the Falcons have replaced 15 of their starters so inexperience maybe an obstacle to overcome.

With one game under their belt, the team is 0-1, with a on Aug. 26. This Saturday, they face off against Canadian team General Amherst at 1 p.m. in Dearborn Heights.

The Falcons went 8-3 last year and made it to the second game of the playoffs where they lost to Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard. According to Senior OL/DL (offensive lineman/defensive lineman) Perry Edgell, the team looks forward to the rematch against Gabriel Richard the most.

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“We have a really small team this year and we don’t have much experience,” Edgell said. “We’re looking to overcome that with our speed and athleticism so hopefully that will work out for us.”

Edgell recognizes that the seniors on the team have to set an example for the newer players in order to maintain positive team chemistry. He said that he will help them strive to become the best players they can be.

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“For myself, I’m just trying to anchor both the offensive line and defensive line,” Edgell explained. “I just want to go out there and make as many plays as I can in my last year here at DC.”

Jack Masserang is in his sixth year coaching football at Divine Child, his 46th year coaching football overall. It’s safe to say he knows a thing or two about motivation, especially when things get tough. He said, “We hope that we get the senior leadership so that we can bond and move forward the way we should.”

“In life when you get knocked down you’ve got to get up and you got to keep going,” Masserang continued. “It’s the same thing here. And you have to sacrifice for one another, you’re going to be sore and you’re going to have bruises; you’re going to get cut, but you still have to perform and that’s just the way life is.”

Masserang’s strategy is to take one game at a time. He said his ultimate goal is to win the league championship again, make it to Ford Field and go deeper in the playoffs. The first game is against Croswell- Lexington on Aug. 26.

“We take one game at a time,” Masserang said. “There’s no sense looking ahead because you get trapped that way then you have to respect everybody you play.”

With an overall healthy team, the Falcons have high hopes for their season.

“We know that there’s a great tradition here and we want to try and uphold the tradition,” Masserang said. “Each team is different and we set goals for the year.”

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