Friday nights are about to get exciting again! The Cowboys are on the practice field, gearing up for their first match-up of the season. On Friday, August 21, at 7:30 p.m.. versus Okeechobee at Cowboy Stadium. Then they face county rival Clewiston Tigers in what Coach Chris Siner feels may be the toughest game of the year. It will be a home game for the Cowboys, August 28.

The Tigers are always well-coached, with big strong athletes, so it will be an exciting game for Cowboy fans.

With just five returning seniors this season, the Cowboys are a young team, but Coach Siner feels they’ve got talent - they just need to mature. He said the team had a good summer in the weight room and a good team experience at camp at Webber University last July. He is looking for the Cowboys get stronger and more disciplined, he said.

They’re expecting 60 players to come out - 30 for varsity, 30 for JV, but coach sees the structure as fluid, with players moving back and forth between the two as needed to add depth. They are looking for speed this year to compensate for a little deficit in size.

LHS is a A school in District, which includes Bishop Verot, Lake Placid, Avon Park, Teneroc (Lakeland), Mulberry and Gateway Charter.

Attitudes are good, he said, and he is emphasizing the development of discipline on and off the field. They are working on simple things that are the core of the game - like holding the ball and tackling.

He pointed out that the Cowboys need to play smarter when you’re facing a bigger opponent and know your assignment.

Coaches include: Raymond Marroquin defense, Raymond Marroquin Jr., defensive backs, John Gallegos, offensive line, Julian Keen defensive line, Bobby Rosario, linebackers, Mike Kaye tight ends, Brent Stevens wide receivers and Matt Miller, JV wide ends.

Coach Siner said coaches will work with both varsity and JV and they will practice together. He wants to create competition between players, hoping the kids will have to step up and work for their spot.

The Cowboys are hard at practice, honing their skills to meet their rivals on the football gridiron. They’ll be out there, giving their all, so the community needs to support their efforts. Their first opponent will be Okeechobee on August 21, then they’re at home against county rivals Clewiston Tigers August 28. Game time is 7:30 p.m. (Patty Brant/Caloosa Belle)[/caption]

Cowboys to watch this year: senior Hugo Vargas, junior Noah Lawson, junior Matt Price and senior RJ Vargas.

Returning coaches, along with Coach Siner, are Raymond Marroquin, Gallegos, Kay and Stevens. The team lost longtime coaches Hal Bennett and Armando Ayala, but Coach Siner wants to thank them for their expertise and their generosity to the team they all love.

This is Coach Siner’s third year coaching the Cowboys and he said he sees more kids coming out for football - evidence the program is growing. The Cowboys are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 1995 State Final this year.