What's Going On With Einstein Football?

By Jocelyn Kay

Einstein football has struggled to win games for many years, and this year's streak is no exception. They only achieved two wins, one against Watkins Mill, with the final score being 44-38, and the other against Springbrook, 28-16. But why did Einstein struggle this season?

The Titans got a new coach in 2024 after former coach Sean Loftus left Einstein in the winter of 2023 to become a police officer. His departure left the Athletic Director, Jermaine Howell, with the responsibility of finding his replacement. Tracy Martin replaced Loftus, and then Howell left Einstein. This shift in coaching happened after Loftus’s five seasons with Einstein football, and left the program struggling to recover. 

Einstein's main flaw is that the team is struggling on defense. Opposing players are often running through tackles or are not guarded at all. This struggle to land effective tackles is allowing touchdowns for Einstein's opponents. The offense is also struggling after losing their starting quarterback, senior Michael Lainez, to injury. This position is now filled by sophomore AJ Turcios, who has not settled into the position yet. These problems within their play is preventing them from scoring and allowing opponents to walk into the endzone without trouble.

What Einstein lacks in wins, they make up for with their school spirit, poms, cheerleading, and marching band groups. The tradition of school spirit and community brings people together, and at every home game, the designated student section expands and fills with school spirit.

“Every game, students show up and show out, with their outfits on theme, which adds to the electric energy of the student section,” said senior Sylvie Peterson, a member of the student section. “Shoutout to [senior] Mikayla Friedman for dressing up as Albert Einstein himself at every game.”

Unlike Einstein football, school groups like the Titan Marching Band have had continued direction by one person. For the marching band, under the consistent guidance of director Greg Casement, they have “grown and gotten better each year,” said senior drum major Emily Markin. “We try to bring spirit and fun to football games even when the team is losing,” said Markin. 

Einstein’s final games before finishing their season were filled with community. Their final home game this season was senior night, and the student section was more energized than ever. They finished the season stronger than they started, and the transitional period of a new coach seems to be coming to a close.