ELK GROVE, CA (MPG)- The Elk Grove Thundering Herd football teams and Granite Bay Grizzlies scrimmaged Friday Aug. 15 at the Elk Grove High School football stadium.

This was the first opportunity for the teams to compete against a different school, going through all of the phases of a football game: offense, defense and special teams.

 “It was a good test today. I was happy to see our kids respond and play well. There is a lot to build on,” said Elk Grove Head Coach John Heffernan.

 

Head Coach John Heffernan After Scrimmage 

With the team putting everything on film, they are going to have a lot to review. Whether that is to fix big mistakes or even just the little details, they will want to improve all they can with the 2025-2026 season quickly approaching.            

“We’re going to look at all of our mistakes and try and clean all of those up before we get into next week,” Heffernan said. He and his coaching staff are going to continue to relay the assurance of the little details with an abundance of reps along with not allowing the kids to get away with anything. They will want their players to play on instinct and not have to think about a play before making it.           

This will also hold the players on the team accountable to each other: playing both fast and physical as a team, where each player depends on one another for the success of the team.   

 

Coach Heffernan Talking to Team After Scrimmage 

“That’s always been our M.O. It’s always team first, always us instead of me. So we try to get the kids to really understand the importance of playing together and to play for your brother,” stated Heffernan.  

Playing as a team is what they showed during the scrimmage against Granite Bay on Friday in all three phases of the game: flying around on the field making plays, swarming the ball and not afraid of contact.    

Heffernan is taking it one week at a time and trusting in the process that he is laying out for his team. He said he is really excited to see his players have opportunities to show what they have been working for.

 

Both Teams Shaking Hands After Competing 

“One at a time, baby! And that’s it. Just take one Friday at a time,” Heffernan stated.                       

They go into this next week with only one thing on their mind, and that is who they play Week 1 of the season: Manteca High School.