Good chemistry is a quintessential factor to having a successful team. The View Park Knights football team has already showed a will to learn and found a bond of trust this season.
“They’re a little bit more engaged, more acclimated to the coaches and our coaching style,” said head coach Ken Henderson when comparing them to the team in past seasons.
Junior free safety Jaden Lyons also noticed the sense of brotherhood among the squad after being together since July.
“We’re one and you can’t break one,” Lyons said. “The coaches, the way they bring us up, we have no other choice to be great.”
View Park defeated the Morningside Monarchs 33-31 on Thursday. The victory came after a devastating 52-6 loss by the Los Angeles Romans in their season opening game.
“I feel like I left plays on the field, I didn’t finish my job,” Lyons said about the season-opening game.
In 2015, View Park had a 4-5 overall record, winning two out of their three Metro League games. They finished the season second in the Metro League. New Designs Watts, Dymally, and Mendez are also in the league.
Junior Mekhi Ellis is going into his second season as varsity quarterback. He mentioned how the coaches stress discipline and teamwork.
“It’s a dangerous game, but hard work beats talent,” Ellis said. “You got to be smart to play this game.”
Ellis had been working on reading defensive patterns and throwing accurate passes over the summer. Ellis mentioned how the coaches empathize how players must rely on one another instead of taking on their opponents by themselves.
What the team lacks in size, they make up for in will power and football intelligence. Lyons takes time to study the game by watching film.
“They may be bigger or they may be faster, but if you have heart and know what you’re doing, there’s really no big difference,” said senior middle linebacker Zarion Patton.
View Park will host their first home game against the Washington Preparatory Generals on Friday, September 9.
