Sanger High’s Apaches started off the football season week one with a victory of 34-17 at Dinuba High School, since then, the journey of this season has been a road of losses and victories. Week one was followed by two losses against Hanford High by 34-50 and Clovis East High by 3-56, both at Tom Flores Stadium. Then, breaking the home game losing streak with victories against both Lemoore High by 20-17 and Bullard High with 39-20.
With the record of 4-2, this year’s roster is filled with players of various stats. The team as a whole’s biggest struggle is with injuries and penalties as stated by fellow Senior Apache, Cody Coles. This was most evident in the team’s game against Clovis East High, Sanger’s “biggest adversity”, where multiple injuries to the Apaches took place that night. This did not seem to stop any hope for the Apaches as they were quick to bounce back, with back to back wins.
Bryson Baker, a wide receiver of four years for the Apaches, is at a current total of 739 yards, 327 rushing and 412 receiving yards, at the end of week seven, this season according to MaxPrep. Gaining 146 receiving yards, 27 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the game against Dinuba High made that game “a great season opener”, said Baker. However, each game is no solo effort, Baker also states that to perform best on game days the team puts trust in one another, believing everyone will try their best to complete their own individual jobs.
One of the many players who always try their best is Defensive and Tight End Cody Coles. According to MaxPrep, Coles had various defensive stats against Dinuba High, gaining a total of two sacks and 10 tackles. However, Coles states that for him personally, Homecoming against Kingsburg High was his best game as he had, “two sacks, multiple tackles and tackles for loss.” In a total of six games played, Coles has a total of 4.5 sacks and 31 total tackles, including solo and assist, as a defensive end.
Only time will tell how the Apaches will perform for the rest of the season in order to reach their goal of making it to the playoffs. Offensive Coach Isaiah Garza, who has been coaching for a total of 10 years says that in response to the multiple injuries, the team has had “guys stepping up… and helping the team”. Coming together everyday to practice for three hours and lift weights together. Garza expresses that the most rewarding part of coaching football is, “WINNING!!” And that is exactly how the Apaches plan to finish the rest of the season.
