After finishing last year winning two of 10 games, the football team took full advantage of the off-season time to begin the 2016 season with a strong start. Peninsula beat John Glenn 48-6 in week one, Sotomayor 48-8 in week two and Torrance 45-17 in week three.

“It has been a buy-in by the boys, and they have rallied behind each other to support one another,” head coach David Young said. “As a football team they have figured out a way to become successful together. Through hard work and determination, they have overcome what was a sour note and turned it into a bright spot this year.”

Students and the Peninsula community were left shocked and disappointed last year when the football season was abruptly canceled due to a dwindling number of players and potential health risks. Since then, the team and school administration have been working to recruit more players and improve their techniques.

“Last year was so tough but I am almost glad it happened because it lit a fire under our butts and gave us the sense of urgency we needed as a unit to get better and strive for more,” senior linebacker and fullback Marco Merola said.

During the off-season, Young brought in a new playbook that emphasized football fundamentals and helped the players get into optimal football shape.

“Our preparation for our season started immediately when Coach Young was hired back in January,” junior and quarterback Aidan Kuykendall said.

Summer training was rigorous and followed strict weightlifting and diet regimes. During training, players practiced with scrimmages and watched videos of past games to identify areas in which the team could improve.

“We worked really hard to get stronger, faster and be in better shape so we could finish the game strong,” Kuykendall said. “We worked so much harder than previous summers.”

Although Young finds room for more improvement, he is optimistic about the potential the team has.

“We are still fumbling the ball and throwing interceptions and could correct those by making better decisions in practice and being a little bit more cautious with the ball,” Young said. “There is a lot of potential out here that has yet to even be cracked. Some guys don’t even know how good they could be because they have not pushed themselves to that level yet.”

Kuykendall expressed how the offensive line has shown improvement in the first couple games.

“The line is the most important part of a football team, and Gabor Nemeth, Jason Augello, Luke and Zach Denney, Andres Park and Spencer Ness have done such great jobs and are huge parts of our team’s success,” Kuykendall said.

Kuykendall says that in addition to improved play, the team’s chemistry has changed drastically this year.

“Compared to last year, the mood in the locker room has become a lot more energetic and we have really come together as a team,” Kuykendall said.

Coach Young believes that the commitment of the players has helped lead the team into the early success it has had so far.

“We have become so close, not just as a team, but as a family,” senior center and nose guard Nemeth said. “We all work together very well and have developed good team chemistry, which is something that I feel has been lacking in the program for a while. Football is the ultimate team sport, and that is why we are going to be that much better this year.”

The team looks to continue their success as week four of the season nears.

“We have to continue to work hard and improve as the season goes along,” Kuykendall said. “I am excited to see where all our hard work will get us this season.”