Up until a 21-0 loss to the Rome Wolves, the Hiram Hornets football team seemed to be getting better, but it has become clear that more work has to be done and more players are needed on the field, the head coach said.

“I was disappointed in the way we played against Rome. Up to that point we were progressing each week. We are a much better team than the way we played against the Wolves,” said head football coach Andy Dorsey.

In the competition against Rome Sept. 7, the Hornets had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown, two touchdowns called back due to penalties and a missed chip shot field goal due to exchange issues with the center and holder. However, Dorsey said he is not discouraged by the mistakes his team made.

“You can’t win against good teams and make those kinds of mistakes. The good news is they are all things that we can fix,” Dorsey said.

While the Hornets can commit fewer penalties and work better as a team, there is one thing they cannot control and that is the size of their team. If the numbers aren’t there, they just aren’t there.

“Our biggest weakness is depth. We are playing more players on both sides of the ball then we traditionally have in the past. To compete in this tough region we are forced to keep the best players on the field at all times,” Dorsey said.

With some of his guys playing on offense and defense, the chance of those players being injured is doubled, causing the Hornets to lose not just one player, but two in essence.

However, on the up side, according to Dorsey, his team is full of hard working players and coaches.

“We are a blue collar football team. We have a great group of young men with an impeccable work ethic. They come to practice every day with a great attitude to get better every single day. Our strength lies in our players’ and coaches’ devotion to God, family and team,” Dorsey said.

The Hornets currently have two leaders, Justin Collett and Fabian Ryan, making a difference on the field and off, motivating their team everyday.

“They have led by example to the rest of their teammates by their actions. They are great role models in the classroom, on the field and in our community. We preach that actions speak louder than words and these two young men demonstrate those leadership qualities,” Dorsey said.

The Hornets defeated Villa Rica Friday, 25-19. The next game is against North Paulding and their first-year coaching staff Friday night.