After a Paul VI pupil posted an Instagram picture of Peterson’s face on a clown costume, Flint Hill coaches purchased clown masks they hoped gamers may put on after a win. Peterson taped a photograph of the scoreboard from final 12 months’s loss to the Panthers on his workplace door.
But Friday wouldn’t carry Flint Hill’s first victory since 2019. The Huskies surrendered an early lead of their 34-7 defeat in Oakton, this system’s thirteenth consecutive loss.
“The fire inside of me to get back to that team that we had before and be able to build us back up, it’s immense,” senior linebacker Wil Thomas mentioned. “I don’t want to have another season like we had last year. This means more than anything to me right now.”
Four years in the past, Thomas was a member of one of many D.C. space’s prime applications. Flint Hill (0-2) had gained 22 consecutive video games and back-to-back Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference and Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I titles. After Coach Tom Verbanic stepped down in December 2018, his substitute lasted one season. An interim coach led the 10-time MAC champions throughout a condensed marketing campaign in 2020.
Peterson knew he’d want to earn his 16 gamers’ belief in August 2021, when he left his assistant job at Loudoun County High to change into Flint Hill’s fourth coach in as many seasons. He constructed relationships by aiding gamers’ faculty recruitments — contacting coaches and driving gamers to faculties for camps and visits. By Aug. 20 — Peterson’s birthday — his gamers threw a shock get together between two-a-day practices with marble cake, handmade playing cards and a water balloon struggle.
“Come on, man,” Peterson instructed his gamers by way of tears. “I’m trying to get ready for game one, and you guys got me in here snotting and stuff.”
Building a winner has taken longer. Last September, Flint Hill suffered its first loss to Paul VI, 41-7, since Sept. 2012. The Huskies suffered 9 losses by a mean of 29.1 factors. After including coaches and gamers in his first full offseason, Peterson regarded ahead to a win Friday as gamers suited up.
“When we beat these people, you can swag out,” he instructed gamers. “Right now, it’s a business meeting.”
Flint Hill took a 7-0 lead about 9 minutes in when large receiver Joshua Clarke caught a nine-yard landing go from quarterback Ty Harris. But together with his workforce trailing 14-7 at halftime, Peterson instructed his gamers: “Y’all are making us what they said we were.”
Paul VI (2-0) continued to put on down the Huskies, as operating again Gavin Colby rushed for a pair of lengthy scores. After the Panthers continued their rout with a landing late within the third quarter, a Paul VI pupil from the bleachers yelled at Peterson: “Coach P, this sucks. I came here for a good game. It’s just like last year.”
Peterson may solely stare on the discipline and stroll away, figuring out his first win would have to wait.
