All-access, behind the scenes with the Lancaster football team

Revealing the Inner Sanctum: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Lancaster’s Locker Room

NEWARK — Ask any coach or player and they will tell you the locker room is kind of sacred ground. What goes on in there stays in there.

Before the game, at halftime, and after the game is a time when they are together as one, and people on the outside rarely get a chance to see or hear what happens on the inside. So, when I brought up the idea of having all-access to the team during the Golden Gales’ game against rival Newark last week, I wasn’t sure what Lancaster head football coach Bryan Schoonover would say.

It’s a big leap for coaches and players to let someone in, but he was all for it and said he completely trusted in me. Thank you to Coach Schoonover, the assistant coaches, and the players. They were more than accommodating to me, and it was a truly remarkable experience.

So, without further ado, here is my perspective on what I witnessed during the Gales’ exhilarating 55-47 victory over their arch-rivals, the Wildcats, at White Field.

Before the Game

I arrived at the stadium before the players, and I noticed that several of the assistant coaches had already set up the locker room. When the bus arrived, Coach Schoonover was the first off, and I immediately noticed the laser-like focus in his eyes. Unlike our usual pre-game small talk, there was none of that on this night. He was completely immersed in the challenge that lay ahead.

The players followed him into the locker room, and one of the first things they did was set up an enormous boom box. The music started blaring, setting the tone for the intensity that was about to unfold.

I watched as several players gathered around a table just outside the locker room, getting tapped up by the team’s trainer, Leigh Spring. Others engaged in casual conversation, fully aware of the significance of the moment. One of the assistant coaches initiated a countdown, signaling when they would take the field. The quarterbacks led the way, followed by the rest of the team for warm-ups.

After the captains’ meeting at midfield, the entire team made their way back to the locker room. What struck me the most was how loose this group was. They were bouncing around, the music still blaring, fully immersed in their element. An assistant coach approached me and whispered, “This is a loose group. They seem to perform better when they are relaxed and not taking things too seriously.”

Coach Schoonover turned to an assistant coach and asked how much time remained before they took the field. Then, as the moment arrived, he called the whole team together. With the players knelt on one knee, they said the Lord’s Prayer. Schoonover then gathered them all for his final talk, emphasizing the significance of the game and the need for utmost focus. With that, they took the field.

Halftime Adjustments

The first half did not go according to plan. What many people anticipated as another dominant victory for the Gales turned out to be a fiercely contested battle. At one point, Newark took a 28-15 lead, catching Lancaster off guard. The Gales managed to tie the score at 28-28 late in the first half but watched as Newark regained the lead in the final minutes. Just as it seemed like the Wildcats had the upper hand, Gunner Richards returned the ensuing kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, giving the Gales a 35-34 halftime lead.

I made sure to enter the locker room before the players and coaches. I wanted to witness the adjustments that would be made. Coach Schoonover stormed in, clearly displeased. With his voice raised, he let the team know exactly how he felt about their first-half performance, delivering a passionate speech that masked his anger.

This is the essence of what he said, raising his voice for emphasis: “This is not who we are. Quit being so soft. Give it your all—your effort, your energy, your focus. That’s what it will take. Whether it’s a positive or negative play, the next play is coming, and we must be ready. Defense, get them off the field, and the offense will score. We must keep pushing. That special teams play right before the half was massive. What we cannot do is fall into the trap of engaging in dumb penalties with a group of guys who are trying to provoke you. We won’t stoop to their level. Walk away and find your teammate. Is everyone clear on that?”

The players responded with a resounding “yes, sir,” and Schoonover concluded his talk with, “Let’s go finish the job.” His words had ignited a fire within me as well.

It was crystal clear that everyone received the message. The offensive and defensive players huddled with their coaches to discuss the adjustments that would propel them to victory in the second half.

Pulling Out a Victory

The second half commenced, and although the Gales continued to struggle to contain Newark’s offense, they managed to seize the lead. At a critical juncture, Brendon Simcox intercepted a pass in the end zone, providing the much-needed defensive stop that Lancaster desperately needed. The Gales capitalized on the turnover, scoring a touchdown to secure a two-score lead and some much-needed breathing room.

In the end, Lancaster held on for a hard-fought victory. Schoonover exhaled in relief, acknowledging that the Wildcats had put up a much stronger fight than anticipated. But above all, he was proud of his team’s resilience. Their unwavering determination persisted throughout the entire season. With the win, they concluded the regular season with a 5-5 record, the best since their 6-4 season in 2018.

After exchanging handshakes with their opponents, the players raced over to the student section to sing the fight song, raising their gold helmets triumphantly in the air at the song’s conclusion.

Following on-field interviews, I ventured back to the locker room. As expected, the music was still blaring, and there were contagious smiles on the players’ faces. The ride back to Lancaster would undoubtedly be jubilant. Ten consecutive victories against the Wildcats, a remarkable feat.

Upon returning home to write my game story, I received an unexpected call around 1:15 a.m. It was Coach Schoonover. I was unsure of the reason behind his call, fearing that I may have done something wrong in the locker room.

Defying my expectations, he called to apologize for some of the language he had used during halftime. I reassured him that there was no need for an apology. His words had been far from offensive, and if anything, they had been inspiring. As a former high school football player myself, I understood the magnitude of his message.

Coach Schoonover then asked if I had obtained everything I needed and expressed the excitement felt by the players and coaches to have me present in the locker room. I was grateful for the trust they had placed in me to tell their story.

Having covered high school football for 31 years, I can confidently say that having all-access to a team was a first for me. This experience will undoubtedly remain one of the most memorable in my career…

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