Seahawks' Homecoming Opponent: 'The Man in the Mirror'

On the schedule it says the South Lakes High football team will take on Falls Church on Friday night at 7 for the Seahawks’ homecoming game at Pat Bergen Stadium.

But according to South Lakes Coach Jason Hescock, that’s not entirely accurate. “We’re still playing the man in the mirror,” Hescock said. “It doesn’t matter who the opponent is at this point. We’re still trying to get better and keep growing and improving.”

To that end, the Seahawks have put a lot of energy into this week’s practices.

South Lakes has averaged 14 penalties per game so far, and they have had five touchdowns and numerous other big plays rubbed out by those penalties. So Hescock has been on the field this week during scrimmaging acting as a ref – throwing flags and doling out “immediate consequences” for penalties.

He’s also worked to make practices harder than games. Team periods – when offense works on offense and defense on defense – are preceded by vigorous conditioning periods so players have to make decisions while tired and winded as they often must do during games.

“You have to think and execute under pressure while tired,” Hescock said.

He also said he’s limiting the amount of players who go both ways. "We have to be conscious of it, and we are,” he said. “We have people ready to play on both sides of the ball, and that's important to us.”

Hescock also said the competition for positions goes on and that Christian Wyatt, who took over at quarterback for Mohamed Shuaib late in the 27-6 loss to Robinson last Friday, continues to be considered for a wider role. “We’re having a daily competition here, and the players absolutely know what’s going on with it,” Hescock said.

At the same time, he said the Seahawks’ offensive woes don’t all fall on the quarterbacks. “Bad snaps, missed blocks, dropped passes, running the quick screen to the wrong side … those aren’t the quarterback’s fault, but they’ve hurt us. And until we fix it, until we execute and make the throws, we’re going to see eight or nine in the box every play. The pass opens up the run, and the run opens up the pass.”

Both teams come in 0-2, but Falls Church went 1-9 last year, has a new coaching staff and is looking at a season in transition. South Lakes, which went 10-0 in the regular season and won the Concorde District title, is trying to get back on track for a playoff run.

Hescock said he is looking to “find more leaders.” The Black Shirts – the elite among the elite on the team, signified by getting to wear black jerseys in practice – have returned as have other leadership training exercises. Seniors Cody Wood, Joey Falls, Canyon King, Nathan Deglel, Amare Thaxton and Xavier Swain all have taken on bigger leadership roles.

“We need to find more of them and keep growing up and getting better at it,” Hescock said. “This needs to be a player-led team. We need to be able to finish each others’ sentences.”

Falls, one of those who was going two ways but for now will focus on offense, said the start has been “a bit of a wakeup call but that the seniors have responded. “We’ve been talking this week about finding your heart … about having someone or something to play for,” Falls said. “Your grandparents … the guy to your left or right … whoever it is. You take care of them. You do this for them.”

He said he personally has been giving a history lesson this week. “Other than one guy – Marty McNicoll, who got to play in a JV game that year – we went 0-8 as freshmen. Now we have to make up for it by going 8-0. And we can do it. Frankly, the physicality in our practices this week has been a little scary.”

NOTES: It’s Homecoming week for the Seahawks, and a bevy of activities are planned. The Homecoming Parade begins Friday at 4:55 at Hunters Woods Shopping Center. The parade makes its way down South Lakes Drive to the school and lasts a little more than an hour.

Each class will have a float in the parade, as well teams and clubs, alumni groups and most elementary schools in the pyramid, and food trucks, games, face painting and more will be available in the South Lakes parking lot where the parade ends.

The band and dance team will participate in the parade and perform at halftime before the Sprit Court members are named.

Also, South Lakes will hold its first Sensory Friendly Homecoming on Saturday before the homecoming dance. The music will be lower in volume and the lights will be brighter and without flashes to help kids who need a quieter, less chaotic atmosphere.