As we prepare for another exciting Friday under the lights, we have asked high school students to preview one of the week’s key matchups.
Jaivon Hill
North High Polars
The North High Polars football team have their eyes on winning a state championship not just for the status or media, but for someone who can’t.
Winning a state championship is like winning a super bowl for high school football teams. But for North High, winning would be a rejoice for the program and the entire city of Minneapolis. The Polars' late QB Deshaun Hill, passed earlier this year, and since then the team has dedicated their season to him keeping his name alive through their play.
“We have a bigger reason other than ourselves to push harder,” said Polars star running back, William Smith. “DHill, wearing his picture on our helmets makes us go 10 times harder.”
Part of what makes the Polars team feel like a family is that teachers also join the students on the field. Eleventh grade U.S history teacher and assistant coach, Tom Lachermeier, said “The goal for the season is to get better each week and make sure our players play for each other and that our coaches coach for each other.”
Lachermeier has been coaching at North High for 9 years now and he believes that this season, SMB will be the Polars biggest challenge.
A different tone has been set for the Polars and it reflects very well throughout the program. They’ve started out the season with a 3-0 record and aren’t looking to lose or back down to anyone. Because this year everything is bigger than just wins and losses. They're playing for Deshaun, each other, and their city.
Each week, we ask students to publish stories about their high school's football game on social media using the tag #studentsonthesidelines.
If you are a student journalist, get off the sidelines and share stories about your school’s high school football game. Just post your story on TikTok and tag us #studentsonthesidelines.
