ROCHESTER — “You have to scrap and fight every single day,” said Brandon Mendez, head coach of Old Colony Regional Technical Vocational High School Varsity Football, as the team endured their first loss of the season against Seekonk High School on Friday, Sept. 19.

“We got punched in the mouth early and then we couldn’t bounce back after,” said Co-Captain Aidan Anderson of Carver, noting that the team “came out flat.”

He adds that “practice wasn’t great this week, so that reflected tonight.”

Seekonk scored a touchdown early in the first quarter, and held onto their lead for the remainder of the game.

Old Colony senior Carmine Cambra scored a touchdown in the second quarter, and was the only player to score for the rest of the game.

The Cougars’ defense strengthened in the middle of the second quarter. However, Seekonk continued to dominate and won with a final score of 6-25.

Co-Captain and senior Dylan Mendez stated that the team needs to get “more energy at the start of the game.”

Anderson emphasized that the team needs to “get together more and prove to each other that this is a family.”

“We need to work together as a team collectively,” he said. “Right now, I almost feel like it’s individuals trying to do more than everybody else,”

Mendez noted that his players “understand what it’s going to take” to succeed this season.

“It’s working as a cohesive unit. I think we do that sometimes, but not consistently.”

Anderson said that “hopefully next week we’ll come back ready.”

“Our mindset is to line up and beat the team in front of us. That’s the way we play football.”