By Anna Mefford
On September 6, the Lovett football team battled it out against Pace in what was arguably the most intense game of the season. They won 34-7.
Every year players and students seem to have the most emotional attachment to this game due to our deep rivalry with the Pace Knights.
“I would rather us lose every game of the season as long as we beat Pace,” junior Ridley Sands said, to which fellow Junior Mason Bosworth added, “It is the most important game of the season.”
The student section never fails to show out for this game and typically brings the most energy than any other game of the season. With the black-out theme for the game, students such as seniors Abby Odegard and Reeves Malone and Junior Nadia Infante wore black trash bags, while juniors Addison Cunningham, Ridley Sands, Mason Bosworth, and Julia Batchelor went full emo, rocking black wigs and heavy eyeliner.
Our Ultras took the lead, of course, telling me after the game that they absolutely loved the energy the students brought and their dedication to the theme. However, they added that while all students played a significant role in cheering on the team the most notable student fan was Charlie Harlan.
Charlie Harlan ran through the bleachers encouraging every student to scream as loud as they could and support our Lions. Lydia Wilson told me that fans like Charlie Harden make her job a little easier, especially by rallying the freshmen who sometimes need a lot of encouragement.
The players themselves welcomed the energy. “We couldn’t have done it without the fans and all the support we get from the student section,” senior running back Brooks Marshall said.
Going into the game the team had their usual practice schedule of Monday-Wednesday, 4 to 6:30, then on Thursday the team practiced from 7-7:45 before school in the Wallace Gym. Thursday practices are typically light as the team just runs through some extra plays.
This year the game schedule was a little different than post years. Typically the team has an off week, meaning no game, the prior week to Pace giving them an extra practice to prepare. “It’s good to have a week to recover from the first two games,” Coach Muschamp told me several; days after the game. “Two weeks of prep before you play somebody is usually going to be very beneficial to you.”
While Pace had a week off prior to the game this year and the Lions did not. It didn’t slow the players down. .
Coach Muschamp was particularly proud of his players because they didn’t have that open date. “We’ve had two scrimmages and then we played three games in a row and then we had to play Pace. Who’s arguably the best defense we’ve seen so far this year,” he said.
Coach Muschamp explained how Pace played a really good game and their coaches did a great job. He added how the Pace football team did a lot more on offense than they had done in the past, so the Lions “had to adjust on the fly, which is a great challenge, but I thought we handled it really well,” he said.
Lovett dominated the whole game, winning 34 to 7.
Highlights included senior QB Quinn Carroll’s running touchdown, senior running back Kalil Townes rushing 40 yards, senior wide receiver Casani Bartlett making two touchdown catches, and senior wide receiver Talen Frett running in a touchdown to close out the game.
Post game, energy was extremely high in the Lovett student section as we rushed the field to congratulate the players. Shortly after, students gathered around the kneeling players to listen to Coach Muschamp talk and reflect about the game.
During his speech he pulled up Quinn to congratulate him on a great game and great season so far as quarterback. Muschamp added that this win doesn’t just happen here; it involves everyone working together.
“All you knuckleheads in the stands and all of you on the field…we need everyone here with us,” he said.
Closing out his speech, he cleared his throat and pulled everyone in to chant it out. “Boys on the bank on 3, 1…2…3, boys!”
The Lovett Lions are off to a great start so far with a 4-0 record. This week is an off week for the team, however, next Friday the boys have their first region game against Kipp Academy.
“Right now they’re only giving up nine points a game,” Coach Muschamp told me.
“They’re like number six or seven in the state. So this will be a big challenge.”
I encourage everyone to come and support the Lions on the riverbank for this game. It is going to be a big battle and students need to bring the same energy they did to the Pace game.
After that game, as we approached the players, we all shouted in unison: “It is great to be a Lovett Lion!”
