After a discouraging 2021 season, the varsity football team bounced back , finishing 6-4. The Knights were led by head coach Darrell Howard, who came from Hampton High School.

The Knights started their season off strong, winning their first game of the season 33-10 against KIPP Atlanta Collegiate at home on Aug. 19. The Knights suffered a 41-0 loss in their next game against Heard County, becoming 1-1. Despite a few uncertainties, they maintained a winning record, something they have not done since 2016.

“[Coaching] has been awesome, it’s been rewarding, it’s been a blessing,” Howard said. “It hasn’t been easy, there are some complexities with school culture and being the first coach after such a detrimental five year program. Just coming in with so many expectations, I love challenges, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to lead these guys. I hope we’ll set the way for the future.”  

Since his arrival at Midtown, Howard describes some of the factors that have promoted the program’s success. 

“[This season] required repetition, a lot of behavior modification and discipline,” Howard said. “We’re dealing with a lot of kids that haven’t had structure, so bringing structure to the program and focusing on dealing with skills is important. That was the biggest thing when I came into this program, the skills were low even amongst the seniors and juniors, so we had to get up to par with skills.” 

Senior Jordan Taylor appreciates the positive changes Howard has brought not just to the football team, but the school as a whole.  

“Coach Howard has brought back football spirit,” Taylor said. “No one remembers the 1-9 or 3-7 seasons anymore, no one thinks about that, they just think about winning. We’re building a new brand and bringing football back to our school, which has encouraged success.” 

Howard acknowledges the growth that needs to continue for the upcoming season. He said spending time in the weight room is key to becoming more successful as a team. 

“Going into this off season, the biggest thing is the weight room,” Howard said. “I had to decide between learning play concepts and teaching plays and the X’s and O’s, and the weight room, and this year I chose X’s and O’s and some of those games that we lost like Heard County and North Springs and even Stone Mountain, you saw where the weight room came into play and that was the difference.”

Senior kicker Roswell Bond said the uncertainty of the season’s outcome prompted hard work and led to a successful season for the Knights. 

“Proving people wrong that talked down on us was a key element, and trying to come out of the hole of being a free win for everyone motivated us,” Bond said. 

Junior Quarterback Ezekiel Teffere agrees with Bond, explaining how expectations and leadership encouraged the team. 

“The high expectations from the school to be a better football team, especially after only having a JV team last year really pushed us to be better,” Teffere said. “The physical and mental knowledge of the game helped players on and off the field. Ethan [Ward] and Jordan [Taylor] were some of the best leaders on and off the field, just making sure everyone is on top of it and on the same page.” 

As well as more hours in the weight room, Howard emphasizes the importance of academic excellence and the expectations for the team next year. 

“The structure of the team will change because the weight room will [come] before everything, even X’s and O’s so we’re going to go heavy in the weight room starting Feb. 27, our first day back to Midtown,” Howard said. “We’re going to start doing more morning practices and workouts just to get the kids acclimated to getting up and getting their days started on the right foot. Another change will be making sure we’re handling our business up front with classroom behaviors, absences, tardies and grades. Grades will be a big thing for us. We just started a Monday and Wednesday tutoring study hall program that will go throughout the year.” 

After spending four years with Midtown football, Bond expresses emotions about the end of his high school season. 

“It’s sad, never being able to play with my high school team again,” Bond said. “But it makes me proud that I was able to stick with the team for all four years with all the different ups and downs and trials and tribulations that it went through, so it’s bittersweet.”