Used to losing, Henry football team rushed to a winning season

Quarterback Donvonate White-Sledge leads the Patriots onto the field. Photo by Azhae’la Hanson

By Azhae’la Hanson, Reporter

The football team at Henry High hadn’t eked out a single win in two seasons.

But the Patriots marched through one of their winningest season on record. Henry finished first in the Twin City-Red Conference with a 6-0 record. The only two regular-seasons losses on the season came to non-conference foes.

Assistant coach Tyrell Sledge credits their turnaround season to a group of players tired of losing and willing to put in the time in weight training and conditioning to get bigger, stronger and faster. Henry, led by Head coach Mark Heiser, also started a summer practice schedule to better prepare the Patriots to be game-ready.

“I hope this year is a win for all of the Northside,” Sledge said. “I want Henry and North to be champions.”

The Patriots breakout season began with a blowout against Roosevelt (54-0) that set the pace for the team.
Two huge wins followed, including last year's top two conference leaders Columbia Heights (34-14) and Brooklyn Center (35-28).

As they began to rise in the rankings, the team realized they really could be winners.

Their confidence rose as well.

Senior running back Newman Thomas leads the Patriots with 13 touchdowns and 1,223 yards through seven games. This is more than double his yards from the previous season.

Last year, the Patriots were at the bottom of the conference in wins. The mentality from just trying to win a game has shifted. Now the team aims to one day bring home a trophy.

Heiser hoped to bring the team’s new winning ways to the playoffs when entered their first section game against St. Croix Lutheran on Oct. 28th. Henry fell three touchdowns short in a 44-25 loss.