Is it Badgers' year in football?
by Barry Ferris/Sierra Star Sports During pre-season conditioning drills, YHS football plalyer Brian Rold
makes a catch in front of defensive player Alec Campbell.
In the foreground, Yosemite High School senior Justen Peek shows his passing
form during practice. Peek was last year's starting quarterback.

"During pre-season conditioning for the up-coming football season, the numbers have greatly surpassed the number of participants in past years," says Yosemite High School head football coach Aaron Eames. "Also, there has been increased attendance in the weight room," says Eames. The coaching staff and the players have high expectations. This is evident by watching them performing their conditioning drills.

The varsity will scrimmage Mariposa on August 31 at Yosemite. The freshmen will scrimmage at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity at 6 p.m. There are more than 30 potential players involved with the conditioning phase of the program. In the past, the Badgers have been plagules by a lack of participants. When a team lacks nu;mbers, each injury to a starting player becomes glaring.

Maybe this year's increased numbers will aid this problem. Also, players who have to go both ways (offense and defense) are more likely to be fatigued increasing the chance of injury.

The pre-season begins Friday, September 14, against Roosevelt at Yosemite. The junior varsity plays at 5:30 p.m. and the varsity plays at 7:30 p.m.

The varsity will play Bullard on Friday, September 21, at Bullard. This glame will be a real challenge for the Badgers. Game time is 5:30 for junior varsity and 7:30 for varsity.

The third practice game is against Chowchilla at Chowchilla, and the fourth and last practice game is against Granite Hills on October 5 at Yosemite. The junior varsities will play at 5:30 and the varsities will play at 7:30 p.m.