Taking a football season game-by-game is a familiar mantra for any team, no matter the level.
For the Roosevelt Roughriders football team, every single player has taken that mindset to heart entering the 2021 season.
At CHSAA Media Day, Aug. 16, each player that Roosevelt had on the stand, seniors Cooper Walton, Clayton Robinson, Keaton Keiser, and Brock Saya, as well as juniors Tucker Peterson and Anthony Munoz, at one point or another stated the team’s mentality headed into the season.
Go 1-0 this week.
For the Roughriders, who are coming off a CHSAA 3A state championship game defeat to Durango in 2020, that mentality will serve as their battle cry as they enter this season as the preseason No. 1 team at the 3A ranks.
Even with that distinction, the players aren’t thinking about a return to the biggest stage in Colorado high school football this season. They are just focused on who stands in their way from accomplishing the goal of going 1-0 that week.
“Right now, we’re just worried about Holy Family,” Tucker Peterson stated. “Through the summer we’ve been having the mentality of just going 1-0 and just focusing on the next week and not getting too far ahead of ourselves and just focusing on the next opponent.”
That mindset might be what it takes to get Roosevelt over that proverbial hump in 2021. The Roughriders are no stranger to regular and postseason success, as they have made the playoffs in nine of the last 11 seasons, which includes two runner-up finishes in 2020 and 2015. That championship trophy has remained elusive though.
It is something the team recognizes and will take with them into the season as part of their goal to go 1-0.
“We’re going into every game with an underdog mentality, this is our state championship game,” Clayton Robinson declared. “To lose a game last season like that, especially in December, really, really hurts and leaves a bitter taste in your mouth. We’re coming back this year and have a lot to look forward to.”
Part of what head coach Lane Wasinger hopes will bring the team success during the season is its experienced and deep stable of wide receivers. Roosevelt returns all but one wide out from its 2020 team that finished with 98 receptions for 1,403 yards and 16 touchdowns. The yardage ranked tops in 3A, while the receiving touchdowns were third.
The depth is certainly something senior WR leader Keaton Kaiser believes will take Roosevelt to where it needs to be.
“Whether you’re first string or fifth string you’re a dog,” Kaiser exclaimed. “I feel like that’s one of the best qualities for this team we have depth at wideout. If one guy goes down the next guy is ready. We grind in practice, and we always stay ready.”
No matter the aspect for this deep and experienced Roosevelt team, who are looking to make some program history this season, one thing is for certain. They will have 100 percent of their focus on that next game.
“I just want one more game with these guys,” Brock Saya added. “Whether it’s our scheduled 10 or 14, I just want one more game. That’s all I care about is pushing every day for one more, so it’s 1-0 always.”