Gans football seniors primed for stretch drive of final season

The Gans Grizzlies are getting ready to enter District B-6 play tonight when they entertain the Welch Wildcats at 7 tonight at Grizzly Field.

The Grizzlies (2-3) did not play last week as they were on their bye week since they opened the season with a zero week game on Aug 25 at Oaks. One Gans senior football player believed the bye week was used very well by the Grizzlies.

“We’ve gotten to focus on Welch for two straight weeks, and they had a game last week,” Gans senior Caleb Martin said. “They were more worried about last week’s game rather than coming into districts (portion of the season) with us. So, it’s helped that we’ve had two weeks to prepare for them, and they only are going to have a week to prepare for us.”

On the other hand, the Grizzlies had to take a week off before being able to seek their third straight win, but the break was still good.

“I think the bye week came at a good time for us,” Gans senior quarterback Hunter Walters said. “It’s given us more time to prepare for Welch. Those two wins (going into the bye week) did help us a lot.”

“We’re going in strong with our heads held high, going off a win (over Porum) two weeks ago — and the win a week before that (over Midway).” Martin said. “Hopefully, we can stay winning and keep pushing forward.”

One Gans football senior believed the Grizzlies took full advantage of the bye week.

“We conditioned quite a bit during the bye week,” Gans senior wide receiver Nakota White said. “I think we’re stronger than we were before (the bye week). Hopefully, we’re in good condition.”

Another thing the bye week allowed to happen is to get injured players back — or even injured players back on the sideline for moral support.

“I think we’re pretty ready,” Gans senior Riley Pullin said. “We basically have all our players back, like (senior) Caleb (Martin). I’m just glad he’s back.”

Now, that the bye week is over, it’s back to action, and important action at that with District B-6 play. The two-game winning streak, albeit abrupted by the bye week, has given the Grizzlies confidence going into their district portion of the 2023 football season.

“I feel like we should win our district games,” Gans senior running back Clay Martinez said. “That would give us a sevengame winning streak, and that would be nice.”

As Pullin said, Martin is back from injury but in a support role only. Martin tore his ACL earlier this season and is out for the remainder of the season, but the Gans senior has found a way to be supportive of his teammates.

“I strive every single day to be the best water boy I can possibly be, giving them the most precious H2O with the cleanest ice I possibly can — with clean water cups, so they can get their water whenever they need it,” Martin said. “I’m ball boy at times, too.”

When asked about giving advice and acting as an extra coach on the sideline, Martin said he doesn’t feel the need to do that.

“They know a lot more than me,” Martin said. “There’s some pretty disciplined ball players out here — they’re pretty good. It means a lot to be back out here because I get to see their progression. It means a lot just to see them play.”