Countdown to FFF: Southwood

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Southwood senior Javious Washington says the Cowboys are done talking about their past. He says that's thanks to new head coach Deaumante Johnson.

Javious Washington - Southwood senior RB

"At the beginning of the season, he said, 'The past, we put that in the envelope and threw it in the trash.' But we just focused on like what's coming up. Like we ain't worried about what happened back then. We're ready to show the world what we got now."

Taking over as the Cowboys head coach, Johnson says it's about instilling belief in his players.

Deaumante Johnson - Southwood head coach

"Just talk about winning. That's it, you know? Like I said, I told you guys, I said it multiple times, I told his team: The past is the past. It's buried it, we buried that. You just talk about winning it with these kids and talk about how they can get better each and every day. Each and every day, we want to get 1% better. You know, no matter what it's in. If it's in the classroom, if it's in the weight room, the film room, on this football field. So those are the conversations that we have with those with these young men."

It's not just about the work during practice that makes a player better. Johnson says junior quarterback Jayden Carter is putting in extra time on his own.

Johnson: "I came up to do laundry. Jayden Carter, who you just speaking with, was pulling in as I was pulling out to get extra work in like they're right there. To better the team, to better themselves, and he's the leader of the team. So those kids are going to see that and they're going to start following along with him."

Jayden Carter - Southwood junior quarterback

"We can't change the past. So we're just going to continue to push forward and win football games... It means a lot. You know, being an underdog, no one really expects us to do anything this season, but this year, we're going to prove them all wrong."