ALPHA OMEGA ACADEMY LIONS
Lions ready to continue building
Colton Foster Sports Editor
Bailey Hall
Hudson Allen
Seth Burkhalter
Alpha Omega Academy made the jump to 11-man football season last season and they found mixed results .
This season , AOA is leaning on finding out who their new leaders will be as training camp wraps up and the season inches closer .
“ Honestly we have been challenging the guys that we have to become stronger leaders ,” AOA head coach Jeff Norris said . “ In my opinion , we had a successful year last year considering what we were trying to do . I felt like we lacked leadership within our team . That has been a big focus during our off-season . We are understanding that we are setting standards and honestly its affected our roster a bit . The kids we do have , we are impressed with their work ethic . We want to create some consistency in this program in the second year .”
Consistency is something every program wants to see . That starts by filling the roles of key positions .
The question for AOA is how will their junior quarterback take over the role and build the team around him . Trey Mayton will be QB1 for the Lions and last season he saw some play time at the position .
Mayton played in all eight games last season but would only have 67 pass attempts . But now as the leader , the team is already rallying around him . “ They have been tremendous in the off-season ,” Norris said . “ I ’ ve seen a lot of growth in Trey and I have been really impressed with his demeanor , attitude and desire to get better . I think he will be a tremendous leader for us . He ’ s physical . He loves the game and wants to learn . The team is starting to rally around him .”
As the quarterback position is filled , the Lions still have to round out 10 other positions . They are working on that but having to stock an offensive line is mounting a challenge .
The Lions have to fill five members on the offensive line , which causes enough problems when you don ’ t have a gigantic roster size to pull from . However , despite having lower numbers , the Lions are building the culture they want to have for the long haul .
Junior Noah Weeks is one of those players that is helping pave the way for the Lions culture . Weeks has taken on a role to help bring what AOA football is about .
“ We have younger guys that have really come along ,” Norris said . “ Noah Weeks is a junior that has shown some great leadership this summer , I think he will be a factor for us . We also have some linemen that are accepting the challenge . We don ’ t have strong numbers and depth but the kids that are here want to be here . That ’ s what ’ s important .”
Norris is also trying to build this team to help prepare the athletes for their future . Norris wants his athletes to know that they have to take risks in life and the same should be had on the field .
While it relates to the Lions in an aspect of not having stellar roster numbers , they know it will teach them grit and determination to continue their
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