The ACGC football team is doing just about anything and everything to build strength, speed, and agility heading into the fall season. But the boys in gold and black are going the extra mile to help build teamwork and civic engagement during the summer months. First year head coach Cody Matthewson has instituted a community service aspect into his offseason preparations.

Matthewson has used these opportunities to encourage kids to give back and help their teammates earn points for an in-team competition. Matthewson explains how it fits into the contest. “We have five teams, led by two seniors each…We do everything based off attendance, and each team, every month, points are applied per person based on attendance. To gain extra bonus points for their team for the month, community service plays a role in that.”

Matthewson says he has had an excellent showing from his team during these opportunities, the most recent of which was helping clean up after the All-School Reunion in Guthrie Center earlier this month. The first-year head coach talks about the importance of giving back to the community.

“It’s more to me than just football. It’s very important that these kids understand that this community supports them and that their there on Friday nights and they’ll be there through thick and thin with you. When they need some help every now and then, you’ve got to be willing to get your hands dirty and put forth the effort to support our community who does so much for us.”

Each month the winning team earns a barbecue grill out by the coaching staff. The Chargers open the 2018 season against IKM-Manning in Guthrie Center on Friday, August 24th.