It has been an exciting year for Reagan Football fans. With a 9 - 4 season, and just one game short of going to the state championship, Reagan fans had a lot to cheer about. It was a slow beginning, however. Winning just 1 of their first 4 games, members of the team knew some things were going to have to change.

Marcus Wright, a junior and one of the Rattlers leading running backs, remembers a turning point near the start of the season. “We knew we had to put forth more effort. We began practicing harder, getting our plays down and working together. Once we started winning, it felt great! We wanted more of it!” The football team gets a lot of support from many areas. On game days, the Rattler Booster Club provides meals for the team. Players wear game shirts and lots of fans come to cheer their Rattlers on.

With committed and talented players like Marcus Wright, it’s not surprising that Reagan football has become synonymous with excellence. Marcus’ dad, Michael, started him in youth football at 5 years of age. With 3 older sisters, LaToya, Michelle, and LaShaun, to “keep him in line” and an older brother, Michael “Peanut” Wright, Jr., formerly #21 for the Rattlers, Marcus has had a lot of support from home, which has helped him succeed. His mother, LaShaun, has seen the benefits of being involved in sports. “Football teaches him to be a team player and to give others credit. We also teach him that his grades come before football and this has given him a lot of incentive to do well academically.”

Marcus is quick to point out the hard work and talent of his Reagan teammates. “We start at 7am and practice through 1st period, then again after school. We are on the field most of the time as well as lifting weights. It takes a lot of commitment.” He also spoke highly of the coaches. “We spend a lot of time together. They teach us to work hard and not to quit. We have a Word of the Day, such as Perseverance. We define it and discuss what it means to our success.”

It is the talents of his teammates that has allowed Marcus to achieve some pretty impressive statistics. He scored 8 touchdowns against Laredo United while gaining 354 yards. His most memorable game is the O’Connor game which took 4 over times for Reagan to finally pull out a win.