After being blown out by 49-18 against Apollo on Sept. 21, North is looking for its second win this season hosting Fairfax on Friday.

The Mustangs (1-4) and the Stampede (0-5) are facing each other to open their 5A Metro regional play.

During North's Thursday practice, head coach Mark Meija, defensive coach Alonzo Highsmith, and offensive coordinator coach Deter Regalado focused offensive plays and defensive plays with their second string amid the team's growing list of injured starters. 

One of North's injured captains and top two-way player Irvin Perez is undecided whether he will play against Fairfax. 

“My injury has affected me a lot," Perez said. "For the team, its affected them at the first part, but I’ve been encouraging them to keep going and I’ve been coaching up the people who are stepping up to my spot so they can be even greater than I am and hope they can lead while I’m out.” 

Highsmith developed his defensive players' weaknesses struggling at certain spots, and man-to-man coverages.  

The Mustangs' senior captains AT Desamais, Rorion Jordan, and Mark Wiedoff expressed their thoughts on how they can keep a positive mindset, regardless of what their record is.  

“It’s our senior season, we are going to go out all we can and if I don’t play at the next level but if I do that’s good for me," Desamais said. "Right now, I’m just staying focused and having a good positive mindset while going through adversity and keeping our heads up.” 

Jordan believes North has one of the hardest record in the 5A conference, but the team is still "working out and playing against good teams while also trying to have fun.”