After starting the season with two close losses in a row, the varsity football team has turned the season around, winning their third straight game last Friday. MaxPreps currently has Melissa ranked fourth in 5A Division II for the state.

“After starting the way we did we switched around our practice schedule and put a lot more emphasis on the little things we were doing wrong,” junior Nigel Smith said when asked about the changes the coaching staff made after the first two weeks of the season. “It took a lot of player leaders to step up and hold everyone accountable.”

Smith has been very important to the team’s recent success. With over 30 college offers, Smith certainly has a bright future ahead.

“I feel like after the first two losses we started to dial in and really focus on the small details,” junior Gunnar Wilson said when asked about the team’s success after the rough start. “Mistakes were undoubtedly going to happen since it was our first couple times playing together as a team. Heading into week three we wanted to turn some heads and show that we are still the team people thought we were going to be at the beginning. The job isn’t done yet because our goal is to win week 16. We are continuing to trust the process and get better each week.”

The Cardinals, who are now 2-0 in district, will face Poteet on Thursday, Oct. 6, in an away game starting at 7 p.m. Smith and Wilson along with their teammates hope to continue their success heading into the final half of the regular season.