What a difference a week makes. Fresh off the 48-0drubbing of Dyett High School, the Mustangs were shut out themselves 21-0 by atough Conant High School defense who forced five turnovers, three interceptionsand two fumbles.
Sophomore fifth-string quarterback Derek Heer started the game versus Conant due toinjuries to senior starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and his three varsity backups.
“Defensively we played hard, but we were out on thefield too long,” head coach Doug Millsaps said. “We missed three key tackleswhich led to touchdowns. Offensively, we were limited. If Jimmy doesn’t play,we are not very good.”
Heer threw three interceptions, but did show promisenear the end of the game by completing six consecutive passes in a 17-play,80-yard drive. Heer played well considering that he only had two days to learnthe varsity team’s plays and practice with the team.
“I was proud of Derek,” Millsaps said. “He never backeddown, he never complained and he was physically and mentally tough.”
Heer is not the only sophomore playing at the varsitylevel. Three sophomores, Artie Checchin, Garett Peterson and Ryan Gundersen, are starting for the varsity team. Of the startingdefense lineup, there are only three returning members.
“Every linebacker and every secondary player has beenreplaced. Our front three is back in seniors Jordan Farnum, Bubba Lockett and Erick Louis-Charles, but everyone else is essentially new,” Millsapssaid. “I think that the new members of varsity are going to be good. I reallylike our juniors and our sophomores across the board, but they just need gametime experience.”
Even with starting experience from prior years, thereturning members of the defense have had to assume new roles by becoming leadersfor the new players.
“It was a hard transition at first; it waskind of weird that I had to be a leader,” Farnum said. “Instead of being taughtby the older guys, now I am one of the older guys. It was kind of tough atfirst, but now I’m getting the hang of it.”