For the first time since 2011, DGS’s football team will host a home playoff game, sparking excitement in the area. After finishing the season 7-2 and currently having a six-game winning streak, the Mustangs are set to face off against Plainfield South on Friday, Nov. 1, hoping to continue their season.
Head varsity football coach Mark Molinari acknowledged that the road to the playoffs was difficult.
“It’s a little bit embarrassing that it took us that long to get back to having a home playoff game,” Molinari said.
However, the team’s hard work, focus, and disciplined play have led to a strong record and high hopes for a deep playoff run.
Molinari gives a lot of credit to the team’s approach to practice and game preparation.
“During the year, we talk about what a week 10 practice will look like. So, even in week four, we practiced as though we were preparing for this moment,” Molinari said.
Molinari believes that staying focused is going to be critical during the playoffs.
“There can be a lot of emotions that go into a playoff game, just because your seniors know it could be the last time they’re putting on the pads. We try to keep it as normal as possible, focusing on daily objectives and execution,” Molinari said.
For the players like senior Jonny Klaren, playing a playoff game on home turf is an honor.
“It’s a great feeling to do something we haven’t done in an extremely long time,” Klaren said. However, he added, “We’re not super satisfied. We still have goals to hit,” Klaren said.
Klaren shared that a big part of the team’s connection comes from off-the-field traditions, such as the tradition of celebrating teammate Raul’s birthday every week at team dinners.
“Raul brings great energy to the team, and that positivity will carry over into the playoffs,” Klaren said.
Both the coach and players know how hard it is to keep their calm and focus under the big playoff spotlight. To keep the team together, the coaches stick to their same routine and emphasize consistent execution. For Klaren and his teammates, playing at home for this game helps minimize distractions, as they get a bit of help from the underclassmen.
“We’ve brought up freshmen and sophomores for this week to help us stay sharp and focused,” Klaren said.
Molinari is hopeful that the DGS community will pack the stands Friday night.
“I expect a big community to come out and support us,” Molinari said.
Klaren echoed this, emphasizing how much the energy of a packed stadium means to the team.
“When we have the energy, it makes playing so much more worth it,” Klaren said.
Molinari shares a similar sentiment.
“I’m hoping that our student section decides to stay for the whole game instead of leaving at halftime,” Molinari said.
As the Mustangs prepare for this game, they’re not doing it just for themselves, but also for the DGS community. The Mustangs take on Plainfield South this Friday, Nov.. 1, at 7 pm on their home turf.
