Kankakee Valley head coach Kirk Kennedy said mental toughness is the key to avoiding the midseason struggles that derailed last year’s campaign.
“We got off to a fast start but hit some roadblocks,” Kennedy said. “A lot of that was mental. We need to believe, be confident and play fast and hard.”
Senior leaders said their job is to keep morale strong. “I think leadership comes through actions and your voice,” Duttlinger said. “It’s about picking each other up in the huddle and showing we can keep going.”
Anderson agreed. “Don’t ever put a teammate down,” he said. “Lift them up and always have their back.”
Kennedy said the Cougars’ focus is on mental and physical execution. “Football games are won and lost before you take the field,” he said. “We’ve got to bring both every week.”
