A football sails across the field and lands in a receiver’s hands.  The AGHS football team scores another touchdown and secures another league win. The team currently stands in first place in Mountain League with a record of 3-0 in league.

“AG [football] has a legacy,” defensive back Jack Folkrod (‘25) said. “We’ve been around for a long time. And, since the ‘80s, we’ve been a good team.”

AGHS Football’s legacy leads team members to feel pressure to succeed.

“We always have high expectations,” coach Michael Hartman said. “So, if there’s pressure, it’s self-imposed pressure, which is a good thing.”

This self-imposed pressure stems from the team’s desire to win. With this desire comes hard work and extra hours that some schools don’t have the ability to put in.

“The amount of work [and] effort [the AGHS football team] puts into playing [makes AG Football a good team],” wide receiver Tristan Coates (‘25) said. “Most schools don’t have a zero period [where they] weight lift everyday like we do.”

The AGHS football team practices almost all summer, only having a three week break. During the school year, the team lifts in the morning, practices during 6th period, and, during their season, practices after school. The team’s dedication paid off last year when they won a league title—something the team hopes to repeat this year.

“We have to keep getting better each week,” Hartman said.  “We haven’t played our best game yet. We can be proud of the work we put in, but we can’t be satisfied.”

Hard work isn’t just seen among the players but also from the coaches, whose weekends are spent bettering their team.

“[Preparing for a game] starts the weekend before the game,” Hartman said. “The coaches are in [the football office] all morning—Saturday and Sunday—watching film, preparing practice plans, [and] scouting the opponent. Then, we come up with the game plan, [and] make scouting reports for our [players].”

However, the coaches are not the only ones leading the team. Athlete leaders— called “Talons”—are chosen every year.

“[The Talons are] guys who have proven to be trustworthy [and] consistent and can hold up as examples to what [players] should be doing,” Hartman said. “[Picking Talons is] something that [the coaches] take very seriously. We hold them to a higher standard.”

Coates was chosen to be one of four Talons this year—along with quarterback Sam Wulff (‘25), wide receiver and defensive back Caleb Clark (‘26), and lineman Noah ​​Schmidt (‘25).

“The responsibility that I have over the team has greatly increased,” Coates said. “I’m held to a higher expectation.”

Leadership guides the team to success, whether they’re playing at home or away. However, different players prefer different atmospheres they’re playing at.

“I like home games because there’s more people I know watching me,” Coates said. “Overall, the vibe of [AGHS] is just better than most schools.”

While Coates enjoys the home field feeling, Folkrod has a different opinion.

“Home games are nicer because we don’t have to go anywhere and all our stuff is here,” Folkrod said. “But this year, I’ve had my two best games at away games.”

While winning games is fun, football has taught the players more than just how to throw, catch, and kick a ball.

“[I’ve learned that] when I start something [to] not give up halfway through [and] sticking with it,” Coates said.

While Coates feels football has taught him the importance of perseverance, Folkrod expresses the other aspects football helped throughout his high school career.

“[Football] helps fitness wise,” Folkrod said. “I don’t know that I would get into trouble, but [football] keeps me from doing other things [that] could be bad.”

Football influences the players beyond just football. However, the players also influence the coaches and make them love coaching the sport.

“[I love coaching because of] the guys on the team,” Hartman said. “Building the relationships with them and seeing their growth, not only through the four years in [the football] program, but then when they come back and visit. [The coaches] see how their time in the football program has impacted them [in their life] after graduation. Because that’s really what we’re doing. Football is just a vehicle we have to help young people.”

To those in the AGHS Football program, it is more than just football. It is a stepping stone to becoming a better person in the real world.