ROCHELLE — For eighth grade football coach Ben Manning, the Rochelle Junior Tackle program is about teaching young players life lessons not just on the field, but off the field as well.

The eighth-graders strapped on their helmets and pads for contact practice this past week, with players going through individual skill exercises in addition to team drills on both offense and defense. After a physical workout this past Thursday, Manning and his coaching staff huddled the players together and reminded them what the team will be striving for this coming season.

“We want to teach the kids mental toughness and perseverance,” Manning said. “Being accountable for their own actions… It feels great. We’re always looking forward to this time of year. We have the whole team together and it looks like we’re going to have a really good group.”

Manning is inheriting a team that went 5-3 as seventh-graders in 2016. The Junior Hubs have depth at the skill positions in addition to size in the trenches, and Manning has been impressed with how the eighth-graders have performed to start the 2017 season.

“We’re trying to get everybody on the same page and we’re trying to figure out where the athletes need to be in order to help the team the most,” Manning said. “We’re focusing on a lot of team stuff… We’re trying to get the boys to understand that this is a family and they have to get along and work together if they want to achieve their goals.”

Rochelle will host Morrison on Saturday, Aug. 12 at 11:30 a.m. The Junior Hubs lost to Morrison in 2016 by a score of 12-6, and both Manning and the boys will be looking to avenge last season’s defeat.

“The boys need to believe in themselves and the system,” Manning said. “They need to stay confident and execute the plan we put forward every week.”