Omaha South High’s football team faced a tough loss against Westview High School during its first game of the season Friday. Although the players are upset about the loss, they said they are determined to improve for their next game.

“My goal this year is for us to improve as a team,” said Ty Ward, a South senior and football captain. Ward also explained that they are working together to become one unit instead of just a football team.

Senior Angel Alvarado, also a football captain, said that the players do everything they can to support each other when needed. Alvarado added that coach Djuan Johnson has made the team stronger this year.

“I think we are growing from the ground up, and that’s kind of a tough part right now,” Johnson said. Johnson added that winning is a part of the process, and losses help the team get stronger. Both Ward and Alvarado added that Johnson has made them stronger players and has turned them from a poor team into a stable team.

“Whatever weakness we come across, we continue to try to overcome it and work harder every day,” Ward said. Alvarado explained that his weakness was not waking up on time and not working out. He also explained that the way he overcame it was to force himself to get up and train every morning to get stronger.