The season of Friday Night Lights is upon us again, and the Hawks have plowed through the competition thus far, going undefeated 6-0 with only three regular-season games left to conquer. As the Hawks approach the post-season, they will face tougher opponents that might end their winning streak.
On Thursday, November 6th, the Woodland Hawks Football Team will take on the Holy Cross Crusaders, the underdogs of the NVL. Then, for their annual Thanksgiving game, the Hawks will play the Seymour Wildcats, who are also undefeated (7-0) as of publication date. Both games promise to be thrilling and nail-biting match-ups of the season.
The Hawks have had a historic season so far. According to MaxPreps, the last time the Hawks went undefeated was in 2004, over 20 years ago. The team vibe is different this year; the brotherhood is stronger, as nine out of the 11 starters are upperclassmen who have played together before.
“We have a stronger connection between each other,” said senior captain Norman Cook. “You can tell that everyone is playing for one another and not for themselves.”
It’s not only the brotherhood that is strong, but so is the skill set.
Jack Brunetti, senior quarterback, is ranked 4th in the state with 1570 passing yards. Along with other state leaders, such as junior Justin Pringle, ranked 4th in the state with 720 receiving yards, and junior Hunter Cronk, ranked 2nd in the state for 35 extra points made from kicking. (MaxPreps)
The Hawks seem to be a strong team all-around, both in terms of skill and their ability to handle pressure, which is promising for their future match-ups.
Holy Cross is also no stranger to high-pressure performance. The Crusaders have been quietly climbing up the NVL ranks, taking down strong teams like the once-unbeaten Spartans of Waterbury Career Academy.
Dae’Sean Graves, a junior wide receiver for the Crusaders, averages about 96.2 receiving yards per game, combined with 100.2 rushing yards per game from junior running back Nathan Craft, making them a threat to the Hawks’ defense. (MaxPreps)
“We know Woodland is a good team, but I believe in our preparation and how we play together,” said Graves. “Our energy, effort, and ability to adjust during the game give us a great chance to win; we just have to execute and trust each other.”
The Hawks know they must bring their A-game to come out on top.
“We know what is at stake, and we are focused on executing our game plan,” said Cook. “Both teams are a threat, but we are ready to come out aggressive; we are going to give everybody a hard time.”
As the countdown to kickoff begins, all eyes will be on the field, eager to see which of the top NVL teams will take home the crown.
