The back-to-back district champion Varsity Football Team kicked off their season on Aug. 16 at LaSalle High School, playing their first preseason game after losing several key players last year.

Heading into the game, questions lingered about who would start due to injuries, player changes, and new coaches settling in. Although the scoreboard showed a wide margin of defeat, the Raiders displayed moments of strong play, especially in the first half.

Early in the first quarter, the defense started strong, with the Leonard brothers both securing interceptions. Sophomore defensive back Deandre Leonard scored a pick-six, giving the Raiders an early 7-0 lead. This was a special moment for Deandre, as it was his first varsity start alongside his older sibling.

“It was amazing being able to start alongside my brother today,” junior defensive back Leandrez Leonard said. “The fact that we’re both able to make big-time plays together is truly special.”

The Leonard brothers finished the game with a combined three interceptions all in the first half. Alongside the dynamic duo, senior defensive end Julian Terry led the defense by applying pressure off the edge, forcing LaSalle to speed up its offense. However, in the second half, the defense struggled against the Royal Lions’s run game, particularly on outside handoff plays.

On the offensive side, sophomores Brendan Berry and Harvel Jackson split time at quarterback. Both quarterbacks were under severe pressure due to LaSalle’s frequent blitzes. Additionally, the absence of senior offensive lineman Owen Duffy, who was out with a leg injury, contributed to the offensive line’s struggles in picking up blitz packages throughout the game.

Next week, the Raiders begin the regular season at Doral Academy at 7 p.m. They hope injured players will recover in time as the team looks to fight its way back into the playoffs.