Ready…set, hut! The play commences and the quarterback receives the ball. Players collide and the fans cheer as the quarterback threads the pass through the defense, and the football is caught by the wide receiver. It’s the first down and the crowd roars.

The varsity football team has been thriving this season. Part of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division I Football League, the Warriors are currently 3-5. The team has seen success in terms of both their record and performances. This is an improvement from previous years where they went 1-9 last year and 1-10 the year before.

Chad Hunte, who has been head coach for seven years, said his coaching philosophy is to demand the best out of every player.

“We want to give our best every single day we’re on the field. Whatever we have that day, it’s going to be our best. The effort, intensity, energy, the passion we play with, it’s always going to be at a high level, and it’s going to be for one another,” Hunte said.

Junior and captain Daniel Zilberberg, who plays linebacker and running back, said that the overall effort of each player and their mentality has improved throughout the season.

“We lost a lot of seniors and a lot of our leaders last year, so we needed new people to step up. The team is buying into the program and getting more wins,” Zilberberg said. “In the offseason, we had close to 40 people showing up every day for workouts compared to years before, where we only had five or 10. So the effort has definitely improved.”

A team’s environment can spark tension and rivalry between players. While competition is still present on the football team, Hunte said that the players have been bonding well and stick together as one team.

“Being more cohesive as a team has been great this year, and I think that has made a difference. The players are holding each other accountable,” Hunte said. “Everyone has the same common goal: to win games. Having that allows them to get on each other positively. When one kid does that, it brings out the best of everybody.”

Every player’s willingness to act as one family has started to pay off for the team. Sophomore Jonathan Cartwright plays safety and running back. Cartwright said he appreciates opportunities for team bonding.

“Team chemistry is important for us. This year we had a lot of team bonding sessions, whether we went to get food or hung out as a team. It allows us to stay strong as a team instead of becoming frustrated with each other,” Cartwright said.

Hunte said the players feel a sense of belonging to the team, a sentiment that pushes them to continue improving.

“The players want to play for each other. Nobody wants to be late for practice. Nobody wants to let each other down, so they’re going to do everything they can to be successful,” Hunte said. “They like being around each other, so it’s a lot easier to play for the team.”

Effort, mentality and team chemistry have all paved the way for a successful season for the varsity football team. Zilberberg said he hopes the momentum and drive from this season will continue in the coming years.

“I think about the success we have this year and how we have to make sure that it’s not only this year,” Zilberberg said. “We have to make sure that it will be next year and the years going after that, even after we’re gone.”