After a 6-5 season last fall, Carlisle High School football is back this year with new head coach, Brandon Cook, at the helm. Appointed after former coach, Brett Ickes’s retirement, Cook is no stranger to Carlisle, having served as the defensive coach from 2016 to 2018. After his stint in Carlisle, he spent the last six seasons as a defensive coach at Shippensburg University. 

Cook wants to build off of what past coaches have done before him, stating that the Herd’s playoff 2021 and 2022 playoff appearances are “a great stepping stone.”  He’s starting off with the little things, and keeping all of the players involved at practice. Body language, attitude, and focus are some key components he wants to keep in mind when practicing with the players. 

This year coach Cook has to start off with a “new” team. With over 15 players graduating last year, three being captains. This year the Herd’s leaders on the field are Carson Swartz, Javani Mosley, and Lucas Smith. 

With all that turnover, Cook said, “It’s hard for an athlete to get something new and be expected to get it right away.” Keeping that in mind everyday during practice, he has a list of words, like overtime, and that use to choose something to focus on for that day. 

The first two weeks of the season, the Herd racked up a 35-28 win against Mechanicsburg, but also suffered a 21-28 loss to Governor Mifflin. The team faces William Penn tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Ken Millen Stadium for the home opener.

“One and one… by no means is the season over,” Cook said. “If we keep going, we could be dangerous by the time playoffs come around.” 

Although the season has just started, Cook’s college experience and his emphasis on the mentality of the team is a combo that could lead to great success.