Out of a vivacious sea of faces come deafening sounds of whistles and hollers. The sea repeats itself over, and over, and over, narrowing its gaze on the green Titans field. Contrasting colors coat the bodies positioned like chess pieces; every play is more
vital than the last. Sweat trickles down onto the boys’ lips and leaves a salty taste, their thirst for victory growing more and more
every second.

Everything they’ve ever dreamed of was right in front of them.

Then reality hits; players’ heartbeats slow and suddenly they’re on a field with the faces of only their parents in the crowd.

One or two voices can be heard distinctively and the sea becomes a pond, closely watching as the Junior Titans step onto the field for their first time. The coaches’ goal: make it far from their last time.

The Junior Titans is a football program that starts players as young as 10 years old on the path to becoming a South football player and carries them all the way through 8th grade, molding Junior Titans into prospective high school players, according to Brad Verber, 7th grade Junior Titans Coach. The Junior Titans learn valuable fundamentals that set the baseline of a passionate and hard-working football player, Verber said.

Junior Aiden Sims, varsity football player, strived to make his visions of playing high school football a reality since 7th grade. He played with the Junior Titans for two years, building his skillset and his love for the game. During drills that balanced both tenacity and leisure, coaches prepared him for the rigorous work ahead. In the process, Sims developed a passion, waiting for the moment when he walked onto the field as a Titan.

“Keep working,” Sims said. “When you get to high school, practice will be much harder, and it will be worth it.”

Attention span and engagement are two of many things the Junior Titans strive to perfect during their time in the program, Verber said. Drills switch often to keep players focused and on their feet, he explained. Hours are spent critiquing things as simple as posture, he added.

“A big part of our jobs [in the Junior Titans program] is to make [kids] like the game,” Verber said. “It’s not about winning and losing, it’s about teaching the young players the right things.”

The coaches’ dedication is an admirable component of the program, Terry Harris, 8th grade Junior Titans coach said. Each coach is a volunteer that dedicates multiple hours of their week to the aspiring professional athletes, Harris said. Coaches build the program around compassion and friendship, which is the best kind of preparation for the years of the game ahead in high school, Harris said.

In the 2023 semifinals, Junior Titan Cade Verber remembers the hard earned win and his appreciation of the work the coaches have done to lead his teammates to victory on and off the football field.

“Their motto is ‘football is family,’” Harris said.“[Walking] out to the practice, you see that and you truly feel it is a family.”