With a team stacked full of Grade 12 veterans – the expectation for the H.J. Cody School football team is to win.
The roster, which is currently loaded with 44 eligible players, features key veterans at quarterback, running back and the offensive live and Coach Jeremy Braitenback believes “we should be scoring a lot of points and moving the ball with the talent we have.”
This was evident as the Lakers came out in their first game to handle the Wetaskwin Sabres 19-8. Wetaskwin was set to be the Lakers premier rival according to Coach Braitenback.
“We figured Wetaskwin, who we played last week and most likely Stettler is going to be a team we compete against,” Braitenback said.
With the roster littered with veterans, there is a logjam at a few positions – not necessarily a bad situation for a coach to have.
“We had a spring camp to answer a lot of those questions [of position], but some of them remain unanswered,” he said. “Some of them will continue to be unanswered while the season unfolds.”
He added that his Grade 12s have had many years to prepare for their final year as football players at H.J. Cody.
“Sometimes a group will be big on volleyball and basketball, but our Grade 12 group is heavy in football this year and have played together for a long time,” he said. “We are on a real up year.”
While winning on the field remains a priority, there is also other prerogatives that the Laker coaching staff would like to achieve, despite roster difficulties.
“Number 1 priority is to win and Number 2 is to get everybody some experience as well - which can be pretty tough such a full roster,” Braitenback said.
Braitenback is excited for the community to come out and support his team.
“We have a strong tradition and a great atmosphere,” he said. “We have a brand new tower at H.J. Cody where we will have an announcer and it will be a great atmosphere for home games.”
The Lakers next home game will be at 4:30 p.m. on September 29 at H.J. Cody Field.
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com