With back to back wins against McClintock's rival schools Tempe and Marcos de Niza, the Chargers are coming into this week with a record of 2-1 going into their matchup with Central High School (0-3) on Friday. 

Last Friday the McClintock Chargers got by Tempe 21-7. Slotback and free safety Estevan Fraijo responded to last week’s game very optimistic about how there is always room for improvement, whether it is a win or a loss.

“Well, with us I think it’s just all about energy," he said. "Usually we start off coming out dead, but we need to come out lit and have a lot more energy.”

Fraijo made a great play in the first quarter of the game, with a touchdown pass to wide receiver Bryce Tate and said, “That play made me feel pretty great. It was the first touchdown of the game, it brought the energy straight up and I hope to bring that same energy to this week’s game against Central.”

Despite Central's record of 0-3 Corbin Smith, McClintock's head coach, is coming into this Friday’s game not worried about who they are playing but just how the players perform as a team. "We take every game as a playoff game. We do not have the experience or the depth as a team to handle it any other way," Smith said.

Smith went on to comment on the past two weeks and what winning against their rival schools meant to the players, school, and the Tempe district, “The biggest thing with getting both of those schools back on our schedules was the impact it had on the community of Tempe. Our kids know one another at all three of the schools, so it brings a lot more pride to our district and to the kids in general.”

Quarterback Xavier Benitez expressed his drive for the advancement of the team and how they need to take in and learn as much as they can during the practices. Benitez went on and explained his thoughts for Friday night, “We won against Tempe last week but that means we just have to work harder and hustle faster,” he said.

Coach Smith gave a similar answer and said, “every day, every game regardless of this game, we always have things we need to Improve upon because we are a young football team and the kids do not have a lot of varsity experience. With that comes a lot of repeating things, but it becomes ingrained in them and hopefully turns into a habit. “

During halftime this Friday, McClintock Athletics will honor former coach Karl Kiefer, also known as King Karl. Kiefer started in 1964 and ended in 1991 with a record of 218-73. Coach Smith raved about Kiefer using the word “instrumental” and how “rich” and “important” his history with the school has been.

One of Smith's role models and inspirations to become a coach came from Kiefer and he went on to say, “I talk to Kiefer once a week, I have known him since I was a little boy and have always respected and admired him as a coach and we are going to honor him at halftime with as many players that played for him. We always have to pay homage to our past and make sure that they know that they are always welcome.”