Most kids heading to high school in Georgia have a long-established football program to try out for, but the senior class at Lake Oconee Academy (LOA) never had that luxury.
Garrett Payne and Rhett Sandhagen are two returning Titans who belong to the class of 2023 that helped start the program prior to last year’s six-game season. They reflected on the experience as they head into their final year as high-school students and Titan football players.
“We’ve had to work hard to do what we need to get done,” Sandhagen said.
"It’s been a lot of working hard to prove people wrong,” Payne added. “A lot of people thought that LOA starting a football team wouldn’t be that good, but we’re here to prove people wrong and play hard this year.”
After many years without Fridaynight lights, the Titans finally got to see the pigskin in action for the first time during the 2021-22 season. Now, they are set to play a full 10-game schedule against all non-region opponents.
With the added games, Sandhagen and Payne understand this year will be longer and tougher, but both feel up to the challenge.
“Things are getting serious right now,” Sandhagen said. “We’ve got to lock in because [the season] is about to start and it’s about to get real.”
Payne agreed, acknowledging, “It’s a lot of learning, and a lot different this year playing a full schedule. It’s going to be longer and mentally and physically challenging. We just have to be prepared. We’ve worked hard up to this moment and we want to keep it going.”
Lake Oconee Academy graduated a couple of players a year ago and will add about 10 more to that list once this season is over.
For most of these kids, this will be their last year on the football field and they want to make it a good one, especially for all the seniors that helped create and shape the program into what it is today.
Like many others, Payne and Sandhagen have been able to reflect on the good times they’ve had with the Titans’ program.
“There was one game last year where we were playing and the lights went out,” Payne said. “It was like a four-hour game because everything had to be delayed, but everybody came together and kept pushing through. We play as a family and there’s a lot of diversity on the team. It’s just been special being a part of this family and we want to keep pushing forward.”
Sandhagen acknowledged “dealing with a lot of negativity” in the Titan locker room’s early days, but said the team gradually came together as its first season progressed.
“We’ve stopped doing that, came through and started being real positive, and that’s really when I believe we started to realize we need to come together as a family,” he said.
Both seniors believe the team has also seen improvements with a couple of changes within the coaching staff.
“Coaching has been really positive, and just a whole different experience with a new head coach,” Payne said. “Everyone is sticking together and more positive. We’ve been working on team bonding, and I feel like that has helped.”
Again, Sandhagen agreed, then added, “Yeah, we’ve done some of the team bonding on our own, without any coaches, and just getting to know each other on a more personal level so that it helps us communicate on the field.”
Overall, the senior Titans look to ride the energy they have created around the program in hopes of having their first full season end on a winning note.