WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. – After a deep run in last year’s playoffs, Oaks Christian has had their ups and downs at the start of the season, but neither of the leaders of the team are making excuses as they look to get things going.

Each practice rep has an opportunity to translate into a game like situation for the Oaks Christian Lions Senior QB.

“A lot of different scenarios happen in game so you can’t really practice them all.  But this is one that can definitely come up in the game.  You just have to use muscle memory to get the ball out,” said Jameson Wang

This season is a different experience from last year for both coach and quarterback. Two key players graduated from last year’s team, and already this year they have been dealing with injuries on both sides of the ball, including a hobbled Wang who is playing through a leg injury.

All of this could be a reason the Lions have started off 2-3

“We’re not going to use that as an excuse, but definitely the injuries have gotten the best of us so far. We are just for to every week just to get better, by league play just be the best we can be,” said Wang.

The same goes for their head coach, Charles Collins, who used to coach in the NFL. He is locked in with his preparation ready to go with the players he has available. It all starts with his legendary film prep.

“You always want to confirm what you think you know about the team as it relates to their personnel and also understanding their tendencies,” said Collins.

With all the work he and the team puts in the film room, he takes exception to people saying the Lions are a shell of their former selves.

“There’s a different thing between rebuilding and reloading. I would say we are just reloading. We are getting healthy at a good time. I would say if anything we are just getting started,” said Collins.

It is that commitment to winning that Wang, who is playing his last season at Oaks, appreciates.

“These are our last guaranteed football games, ever in our career. So we just go out every week with the mindset that this might be our last game. We just go out and ball out,” said Wang.

With league play approaching the Lions are ready to go back on the prowl.