After months of intense training, traveling to other schools and an extensive amount of games, the Naperville Central football season is over.

The final game of the season was against Waubonsie Valley High School. The score was 17-0, Waubonsie.

“The feeling that got me was that this was the last game I will ever be playing with some of my best friends,” said Luke Turner, varsity defensive back for the Redhawks. ¨The loss came way too soon.”

Varsity linebacker Laddie Skarecky agrees. “After the last game, I knew it was the last time I would ever play again with these seniors. The team was in a total state of depression after the game.”

However, the team knew they had tried their best.

“We played our butts off, and that’s all we could ask for as a brotherhood,” said Turner.

Varsity defensive line coach, Eric Novak, knows the team will recover from the loss.

“Being a part of something bigger than ourselves and having positive relationships is something that will stay with us forever,” Novak said. “We will eventually get over the losses.”

The season will restart in June, where the football players will endure a rigorous amount of training that includes a conditioning and skills camp, and waking up at 6 a.m. for various lifting exercises.

In the end, winning is not what matters.

“Our program is more that just winning,” said Novak. “From the players, to the band, and fans, football here at [Central] is more than just football.”