Photo by Ashley Walantis

Fans cheer on the Redhawks at the Sept. 29 game against D-Y. Stands are expected to be full for Friday night’s homecoming game.

This year Barnstable’s football team has had great success despite their one loss last week against Mansfield. With a 5-1 record, the players have worked extremely hard to get to where they are this season and it shows. 

Barnstable worked throughout the summer to become a leading team in their division. “We are all working for the common goal,” senior Darren Thomas said.

Many on the team have been playing football since childhood. Senior Eric Lovell said he started playing football in Rhode Island with a youth team called Darlington Braves when he was 4 and then joined Barnstable’s youth team, the Silver Bullets. He says that the transition from youth football to high school football is more fast paced and almost like a job. Lovell said the team’s decisive wins this season feels great and adds confidence for the team. He plays the corner position (DB). His job is to cover the wide receiver. He says it’s like playing outfield in baseball. 

Thomas said he joined the Silver Bullets when he was 7. He said the transition from youth football to high school football felt weird. He said you build a bond and it is a different culture but a lot of the same people. With last year’s not so fantastic season, Thomas said this winning season has felt great and the team is like family. He plays the receiver position (WR) or free safety. His job is to get available and to be in open available space to catch the ball.

Coach Ross Jatkola also plays a huge role in these players’ success. He started coaching at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island, in 2008. He said the most challenging part of coaching high school football is having so many kids and learning and dealing with all their different personalities, yet the most rewarding thing for him is seeing the kids go off to college, a work force, or the military, and knowing he had some part of their journey. He also mentioned that his favorite part of coaching  is their time together every day and the fun competition aspect of it all. He says he is happy with the team’s 5-1 streak but prefers for it to be 6-0.

The winning season has made for a fun fan experience as well. Ashley Walantis, a senior, and photographer, said that the energy at the football games has been so exciting. Being a senior makes it that much more fun. At the  homecoming game this Friday against Newton North they want everybody up and out of their seats cheering and celebrating the players.  The game starts at 7 p.m. and there are a host of activities for fans and their families ahead of time.