BROOKFIELD - Even during a Thursday walk-through, it's easy to see that everyone involved with Brookfield High School's football program is on the same page.
Each player and coach wears matching dark blue Under Armour shorts and shirts, and each shift in formation and groups is made without confusion or questioning.
It all works to serve the theme of the year for Brookfield: Climb The Mountain Together. The letters CTMT are on shirts all over Brookfield.
Article Photos
Tribune Chronicle / Michael Taylor
Brookfield’s Jeremy Quinlan finds room to run behind lineman Aaron Gillis. The Warriors are 4-0 for the first time since 1994.
"Everything we do - all of the time - is so every player and coach pays attention to detail and focuses on the things we need to do to win games," Brookfield coach Randy Clark said. "The way I see it is if we can't even get together to wear the same gear on the field, then how are we going to get together during a game."
The system has worked so far this season. The Warriors are 4-0 and recorded a landmark 26-20 overtime victory over a strong Campbell Memorial squad last week.
"I really think we got over the hump with that win," Clark said. "It's something I will never forget: We took everything they had and we overcame everything that happened to us in that game. We played as a team, and together we got the win."
When he reviewed the film, Clark noticed people stopped in their cars along Addison Road to see the end of the game.
"They must've been listening on the radio and decided to stop at the end of the game - it was one of the craziest things I've ever seen," he said. "It goes to show how special this community is, and how much excitement there is about this team."
That's the big picture, but on the field, there was a different story to tell.
"That game showed people that we can play against speed," senior center Cory Mild said. "We focus on playing fundamentally sound football, and if we continue to do that we can get this program back to where it should be."
Returning the Warriors to glory could be the driving force of the program, which boasts seven coaches - including Clark - graduated from Brookfield.
"This isn't about a paycheck for any of us - we're not in it for anything else but to get this program to where it should be," Clark, who was a freshman when the Warriors won the 1978 state championship," Clark said. "It's great for the players to look around and see coaches that played for the same program and want to come back and contribute."
Mild and fellow senior offensive lineman Mark Hiner anchor a unit that's been the catalyst for the Warriors' resurgence.
"Everything starts with the offensive line, so we take it personally to set the tone for every game," Hiner said. "We have to make sure we stay focused, take things one game at a time - one play at a time - and we'll achieve our goal of being 10-0."
Tonight, the Warriors continue their quest at Newton Falls.
"Things are going well for us, but there's a lot of work to do," Clark said. "There's been a lot of excitement, so it's going to be a big challenge for us to keep our feet on the ground, but one of the greatest strengths we've had since spring was our leadership, so I know we'll be ready."
The Warriors are currently ranked third in the computer rankings in Division IV, Region 13.