by Jackson Hongtong ’21

This Friday at 6:30 in their home opener, the boys’ varsity football team is out for redemption against the reigning 2A state champions, the Damascus Hornets. Damascus won the last encounter last year 42-7 at Damascus; just one of the wins that resulted in three state championships in the past three years and a 43-game win streak. Damascus this year features star defensive end, Bryan Bresee, who is currently the number-one ranked junior recruit in the nation, according to college website 247sports. Damascus is coming off their first win this season against Blake 28-l2.

Damascus was one of two teams who beat the Warriors during the regular season last year. Although vital players to Sherwood’s success last year graduated, the Warriors are still locked in and confident for the game against Damascus and the season as a whole.

“I think our coaches have done a great job preparing us for Damascus, and I think we have a great chance to make history Friday night by ending their win streak,” said senior Andrew Comeau, the Warriors’ running back and selected captain for the team this year.

Sherwood started the season off 1-0, beating Magruder 31-10. The Warriors led at halftime, 10-6, which led into the beginning of the third quarter until there was a lightning delay. The game resumed but once again was delayed for lightning as Magruder was leading 12-10. The game was far from over as the game resumed on the next morning, with the Warriors scoring three unanswered touchdowns to take the win 31-10.

“We came out slow at first but picked it up and played real Sherwood football in the second half,” said junior quarterback Michael Murphy, who threw for two of Sherwood’s four touchdowns.

The other two touchdowns were on the ground and came from Comeau, with a field goal also made by senior Jhosian Salgado.

No matter the outcome against Damascus, this will be one of the Warriors’ biggest games of the year, but the team is striving for more than just a win. Expectations for the season are as high as they can get as players are looking for a shot at states.

“A ring. Nothing less,” said Comeau.