Caleb Bass looks the football into his hands during a passing drill for the Sachse football team on Monday afternoon. Photo by David Wolman / C&S Media
By David Wolman
In the final hours leading up to Sachse’s first fall football practice, head coach Mark “Red” Behrens wasn’t sure if his Mustangs were going to be inside or outside.
With the sun blazing, temperature of 98 degrees and heat index of 104, Behrens was hopeful to watch his squad practice inside the comforts of the school’s brand-new multipurpose activity center.
The multi-purpose activity center was part of a Garland ISD bond package – Proposition B – that was passed by voters in Garland in 2023 for a total cost of $135.91 million. Every high school in the school district has a multipurpose activity center that is completed or under construction.
Sachse’s indoor 80-yard practice field has been completed. However, the only holdup is the city of Sachse. The city needs to issue a temporary occupancy permit, which Behrens is hopeful that will be done sometime this week.
With the Mustangs having to practice outside until the permit has been issued, team trainers and coaches closely monitored the weather conditions.
Monitoring the temperature has always been a priority at Sachse and new technology is in use to ensure the players are safe.
Starting this year, the UIL mandates that teams that practice outdoors must use a Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) app on a cell phone or another electronic device. The WBGT is a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover into account.
If the temperature exceeds a certain threshold, a team can’t practice outdoors.
Sachse’s first practice went on as planned, and hydration was emphasized. Six hydration stations were set up around the practice field. After every three reps of a drill, players walked to the stations and filled up on water.
The water provided the hydration that Sachse needed to get through practice.
Monday’s practice began with stretching.
Players were then paired with their position groups. Offensive linemen worked on their handwork and footwork during a blocking drill. Defensive linemen on the opposite side of the field worked on lifting a football sled. Nearby, players for Sachse’s secondary lined up and used a pad to work on arm technique. Running backs used bags to work on their footwork and also dove to the ground to gain control of a loose ball.
Sachse will continue to hone its skills over the next two weeks, in preparation for its Aug. 28 season opener against Jesuit, scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff from Homer B. Johnson Stadium.
The Mustangs are eager to build on last year’s 6-5 record and Class 6A Division I bi-district playoff appearance.
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