Sports360AZ
By Gabrielle Mercer
If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.
Yuma Kofa High School football may not have succeeded last season, going winless in 2015, but this season got off to a very different start.
Despite their struggles, something different was in the air when the Kings stepped out onto the field this August.
Kofa is currently 2-0 on the season, only allowing seven points in the first two games.
Kings win! 10-7 over Central. 2-0 in 2 weeks. #kingspride #kingsdoingkingthings pic.twitter.com/7DeYPDkCbP
— Kings Pride (@KofaAthletics) August 27, 2016
Head coach Ben Franz said the program has completely changed the way they practice and have also instilled a larger sense of accountability.
“Our practices our much more intense and our athletes have taken to the new system well,” Franz told Sports360AZ.com. “Conditioning has been a huge emphasis in the last year to make sure our guys can go four quarters.”
Franz said the program has made an effort to develop younger players into varsity starters and have also gained several transfers from other schools that have brought with them a high level of talent.
“Finally we have an all senior offensive line that has been playing together for four years,” Franz said of his unit which has paved the way to close to 180 yards per game in the ground. “This is the year that we have been waiting for and all the pieces are falling into place.”
Franz said the most rewarding part of the season thus far has been seeing the excitement from the players after a win. The players are “buying in” and see results on Friday night: the perfect storm for every high school coach.
Despite their early success, the goal is still one game, continuing to emphasize team play.
The Kings will look to maintain their so-far perfect record when they take on Antelope High School this Friday.
“After having a very disappointing season last year none of them are taking it for granted,” Franz explained. “Each and every one of them is seeing their hard work pay off and that to me is priceless.”
Forget ‘Kings for a Day,’ Kofa is hoping to keep the good times rolling in southwest Arizona.
