Spoto is 2-1 this season. Riding high with confidence and hope. District Championship aspirations and state championship dreams. With a convincing 35-2 win over Wharton, a dog fight 27-22 win versus Strawberry Crest and a slim loss to Steinbrenner, the Spoto Spartans have plenty to be encouraged about early this season.
One of the team leaders, senior ATH Todd Sims is nowhere satisfied and very hungry for the Spartans to shock Tampa Bay. After a 3-8 2013 season, 9-1 is the only regular season record Sims will take. “The team overall record is going to be 9-1. We are shooting for big things this year and a state title will be one of them. We have the heart and we have the talent. “ But heart and talent are not the only factors to win a state title. The team needs to bond and bind together as one in order to accomplish the ultimate goal. Todd says, they have that. “The thing that bonded the team this summer was that we felt as if we are WAY better than what most people claimed us to be. We didn’t want to be a 3-8 football team anymore. We wanted to prove to everyone that Spoto is ‘no joke.’ We have so much to prove as a football team because so many people doubted that we could make history. So we set the tone with the summer 7 on 7s and we are still going to carry out that dedication throughout the season.”
The Money games will be the first test. The Money games are the district games, which teams need to win to earn a spot in the state playoffs. Because Spoto sits in a small district with only 3 teams (Jesuit and Middleton) they will not start playing their money games until 10/3, scheduled to travel to Jesuit to face the defending district champions. “I wouldn’t say that any game should be a challenge for us this year. Yes we make mistakes. But I honestly believe our team can go all the way this year. We are committed as players and determined to get the job done. But a good game that we will have to bring our “A” game, would be against Jesuit on October 3rd.”
What about Todd as a player? Where has he improved? “My speed, vision, and agility. Before every game I watch Adrian Peterson highlights because that’s what I base my game and skill off of. He’s my inspiration on the field. On the field I feel as if it’s life or death. My team looks to me to make plays so I don’t let them down. I fight all four quarters.” Sims, through week 3 has 471 All-Purpose Yds (223 Rush, 176 Rec, 72 Ret), 5 TDs. That’s production!
Team leadership is highly important. Every team has to have a leader to follow and patrol the team. Sims credits the majority of his team for showing leadership qualities and providing great examples of accountability on and off the field. “Pretty much everyone has displayed the leadership role on the team, because if one eats, we all eat. We have made it to where everyone on the team is a leader because we are a team and everyone’s say and hard work is needed and supported. We are one big family and would go to war for each other any day.” Against Strawberry Crest, Sims went to battle with his teammates attacking the Chargers and producing over 235 All-purpose yards with 2 tds. “I couldn’t have done it without my team.”
How is recruiting? What schools are showing interest?
Recruiting is going somewhat “ok.” I don’t have a lot of looks but soon hope to receive some. I just have to keep working and things will hopefully change for the better. – Todd Sims