If there were ever a season to apply the program’s specific one-week, one-game-at-a-time philosophy, this is that season at Coon Rapids.

Heading into its Week 4 game against unbeaten Andover — the midpoint — winless Coon Rapids was attempting to embrace head coach Jon Young’s battle cry of “We want to be 1 and 0 this week”  more than ever.

Indeed. That’s because the start to 2009 has been more than frustrating. It has been exceptionally challenging for a program, coaching staff and athletes, which by this time had hoped for better things.

“Yeah, we have had our share of bad luck already,” said Young with a sigh.

“[On top of it] before we took the field this season we knew we were going to be a young team, but to faced with what has happened has been tough; the kids are doing well and are trying their best to handle the situations, but you could see they are wondering: ‘What else could go wrong next for us?’ ”

So far Coon Rapids has experienced and shared in the grief of senior tight end Billy Harper, whose mother died just before the season began.

Then last week, Coon Rapids lost an on-field leader — starting quarterback, captain and affable personality — senior Adam Hopps. He  was suddenly shut down by a medical condition that involved a burgeoning growth on his aorta. 

A diagnosis taken prior to Coon Rapids’ Week 3 game with Blaine and more scrutiny of his condition — something with which he has been living for most of his life — took place this week.

Ultimately, the tests acknowledged the accelerated enlargement of the growth, but nothing doctors felt that should affect him immediately. As of early this week Hopps was cleared to continue his season much to everyone’s relief.

“He will still have to get that thing taken out, but right  now he can play football while monitoring it,” said the coach.

But last week was a different story all together.

Hopps was taken off the practice field the day before Coon Rapids faced Blaine, leaving everyone from his coaches to friends wondering what was going to happen.

“We were able to work through Billy’s tragedy,” said Young. “As a team we all attended his mother’s funeral which turned out to be good therapy for all of us.

“But with the Adam thing happening so fast last week the young kids didn’t have time to come to grips with what was happening.

“We were hoping we could get through it. But last week everyone — including us [coaches] could not help but think what is really important in life and the welfare of Adam. Undoubtedly it hurt our focus, and focus is what we really needed in that game.”

Senior Brandon Flippen stepped in as the regular quarterback against Blaine and threw one touchdown pass.

For the most part though, Flippen’s debut went much like Coon Rapids’ season had gone up to that point:

When under pressure things did not go well; when the pressure was off things went better.

“We [as a group] don’t start playing until it’s all over, until the pressure is off,” said Young. “We have practiced better than we played, which is a sign of inexperience and the fact we do not have a high [collective] football I.Q. — too many first- and second-year players.”

And losing only compounds the situation.

Consequently, Young and his staff have revamped their practice formats, flip-flopping routines and throwing in more game situations to create a higher intensity and greater pressure during the week. The coach is hoping it will pay off with a greater focus.

“It has been an unusual season and it’s tough for me as a head coach to accept defeat,” said Young. “That’s why we have to continue trying to go 1 and 0 this week and 1 and 0 next week and 1 and 0 the week after...”