It’s Friday night, and all eyes are on the football team. While most of the team is doing what they can to get pumped up for the big game, one player takes a moment to settle down.

“Before every game, I’ll sit down with my girlfriend and she’ll give me tips,” said sophomore T’Andre Jones, known to his friends as TD. “Then she’ll give me a hug. Once she gave me a kiss; that was before the Lake Washington game.”

Must have been a lucky kiss. In the game against the Lake Washington Kangs, TD rushed for a fantastic 142 yards and scored four touchdowns to lead the team to their first win in almost two years. How did he thank his good luck charm?

“I made her my manager. “

To T’Andre, friends and family are critical to his success on the field. Upon hearing his family and newly-appointed manager amongst the crowd at last Friday’s game against Franklin, he immediately felt more confident about the game ahead.

“It’s number one to hear your family out there,” said T’Andre. “If you don’t have no one to help you and support you, you don’t have nothin’.”

As only a sophomore, T’Andre seems like he has it all. He’s one of the team’s go-to players, has rushed for a total of 190 yards in three games, and has a bright two seasons ahead of him. While the majority of younger players on varsity teams would back down to the seniority (and size) of their older teammates, Jones has never felt daunted by the big kids.

“It feels the same [only being a sophomore on a team full of seniors],” said Jones. “I always play upwards.”

At the tender age of six, TD donned his first (albeit miniature) football helmet for the City Panthers team as a center. Since then, he has played a myriad of positions, ranging from defense to quarterback before settling on running back in high school.

“I’m a running back because I’m too short [at 5’5”] to be a quarterback,” said Jones. “I couldn’t see over the line.”

While T’Andre was disappointed that he couldn’t be the playmaker, he wasn’t too upset about losing the heavy responsibility of the quarterback. As a running back, TD could have all of the glory without any of the pressures of the quarterback.

“I liked playing quarterback, but then again, I didn’t,” said Jones. “All the pressure’s on you. If you lose, it’s all on you.”

Luckily for Bulldog fans, TD has grown to love his new position, and has excelled on the field. With the resounding defeat over Lake Washington, Jones has made a name for himself at Garfield.

“I felt too happy,” said T’Andre. “It was the first game Garfield has won in a few years and I scored four touchdowns. It was real good.”

With this recent success, Jones has a new attitude about Bulldog football. As for his manager?

“She gives me and the team cold water,” said T’Andre. “If I do real well, she’ll sometimes buy me a gatorade.”