Falcons find optimism in COVID riddled season

By: Mark Elliott

Despite all the problems of COVID-19, the Falcons were still able to have a 2020 football season. Despite South’s record being 1-6 it doesn’t tell the whole story.

The Falcon’s offense was adjusting to a new scheme this year; the Wing T. There were also lots of injuries most likely due to not being able to practice.

Quarterback Cooper Whitley had COVID-19 at the start of the season and he dislocated his shoulder towards the end of the season. Both starting running back Eric Butler and wide receiver Erwin Nash battled ankle injuries all season long.

Along with not near as much time to practice before the season as there has been in years past, the availability of players being able to come to practice was a week to week process. One week they could be limited and the next week there could be no football events whatsoever due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Long story short, there was a lot of tough luck this year but still many bright spots

The Falcons were in very close games the whole year most of them coming down to the wire, including multiple overtime performances. South’s only win this season was also an overtime thriller on the road against Shawnee Mission East. An edition to all Olathe schools was a new scoreboard at ODAC and CBAC. It is a shame that most students didn’t get to go to the games and see the new scoreboard, and that the seniors didn’t get to play in front of the packed student sections they have been used to their whole high school career. Mostly parents or other family members were the only ones admitted into the games this season.

One big bright spot on the Falcons team was kicker Adam Young and lineman Dawson Harrington.

Adam Young has been the kicker for South all four years he has played, his season long career field goal this season was a 46 yard field goal. Young is also rated a four star kicker.

Harrington was a workhorse on the line this season and namely he has an offer from San Diego State. There were other players besides just these two that overperformed and shocked people this season.

The Falcons will look to have a bounce back season next year, as this season may not have been the outcome that South had wanted, but there is a lot of optimism going into next season.

Aidan Bywaters, senior wide reciever and defensive back, flexes for the camera.

Photo by: Anna Palacio