Schools
The Cardinals Keep their Heads High Despite Adversity
Santa Cruz High School Cardinals football team doesn't know the meaning of quit.
In a rebuilding season for the Santa Cruz High School football team, hope is not lost in the hearts of the boys.
Typically in a rebuilding season a team is trying to make a transition to another style of play. They may have to make adjustments because of the personnel, they may have encountered some unforeseen injuries to key players, or they may just have to rebuild their team from the bottom. Whatever the reason may be, a rebuilding season usually brings on adversity faced by the team and coaching staff.
In the face of adversity the Cardinals football team has shown their true colors. Led by six year Head Coach Jesse “Bubba” Trumbull, the Cardinals have a young team. The coaching staff and the players know that the season is still a work in progress and they are building towards the future.
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“We’re just preparing to know how to play varsity football, trying to adjust to things like the speed and intensity of varsity,” said Trumbull. “I just tell the players to go as hard as they can, as long as they can.”
Aside from being young, the team has faced its fair share of injuries this season, including seven starters sitting out. The Cardinals have a 34-man team this season but are currently only suiting up 18. Even with those staggering injury numbers there is still plenty of promise that the Cardinals are building on.
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“We have the advantage of a very supportive community behind us,” said Trumbull. “Week after week the players come back to practice ready to work, no matter what happened the week before.”
A couple standout players this season that show the Cardinals future promise have been Senior offensive/defensive linemen Armando Ortiz and Junior running back/linebacker Riley Cameron.
Coming off of their first win of the season, it is obvious the player’s resiliency has not wavered. After finishing 1-9 on the season, maybe this marks the turning point for the Cardinals football team. Something that may be an anchor to bring them up to the next level and something that they can build on for the next season.
