When talking to local high school football teams over the last couple weeks one of the biggest things I keep hearing is just how thankful the players and coaches are to be together once again and that certainly was the sentiment echoed by the Doherty Highlanders football team. They are not in school. Some kids at other schools have either been in person or a hybrid model so they get to see classmates and friends and teachers and coaches a couple times a week. Doherty and the city schools have been completely remote so these kids and the coaches are just pumped to be back together again.

Doherty tight end Sean Lewis, "It feels like a dream every week. We don't get to go in person school but we get to come out here and see my friends every day see our players every day and just have fun and play the game we love to play."

Doherty linebacker Tom Murray, "It's been a long time coming. We've all been waiting for the moment when we could come out here and see all of our friends it's real exciting to be out here with everybody."

Highlander offensive lineman Dom Belsito, "With this extra long off-season it's been tough not seeing the guys much, not being able to go anywhere with this whole pandemic going on and it's really nice to see everyone again and get after it and play." some football 

Doherty defensive back David Brissette, "Yeah it's just good to get some more human interaction. It's tough being on line every day. It's good to go out and see your friends. Everyone's happy to be here. We're all happy and playing football just a good time."

Sean Mulcahy, Doherty head coach, "One of the best parts of being a teacher and a coach is spending time with the kids. And for me coaching definitely and to not have it in the fall was completely different it made me realize that I'm not ready to give it up yet and to not see these guys and know that they're not seeing each other for a long bit of time as a group all together." 

Doherty getting ready for the season they'll open up in two weeks taking on Algonquin. Kevin Shea reporting.