Pirates wrap up 2021 football season

Grants High School head football coach Brandon Hernandez and his squad stopped “rowing the boats” for this season and eagerly look forward to the post season workouts in preparation for next year’s season.

“Obviously, we will take the ‘bad’ from this season and learn from it as a team, but we genuinely feel that we are building something,” quipped Hernandez as he reflected on his 1-9 season.

“We've got our work cut out for us this offseason. Every one of us on this team has to take responsibility for their role, and work tirelessly to improve in that role. It starts with myself. I have to do a better job of putting our staff and our athletes in a position to win ball games. I will be better, and WE will be better,” said Hernandez of his off season goals.

“When we got hired, it was a ‘Get in and GO!’ situation. We will have a lot more time to plan and prep as a coaching staff, first and foremost,” added Hernandez as he reflected that he had most of the summer gone when he accepted the head coach position.

When asked what priorities he was going to focus on in the off season Hernandez said, “We are making speed and strength a huge priority this offseason. In just about every game, the lack of offseason workouts showed its ugly head for us, youth, and lack of a full preseason/offseason really played a role in that. We hit the weight room for offseason workouts starting next Monday.”

Hernandez summed up the off season by stating, “We have an entire offseason to hammer out specifics on scheme, technique, etc. We will be much, much, more prepared. We will compete during the Spring this year with some 7-on-7 tournaments, which is something we did scarcely this summer. Competition breeds excellence, and we truly want to compete this offseason.”

Hernandez and the Pirates graduate nine seniors including the starting quarterback Tyler Everhart.