By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
DAYTON, Ore.– Dayton’s Stephen Macias is ready for one more ride with his Dayton Pirate teammates.
Last Fall was a growing year for not just Macias but for the Dayton program as a bunch of new faces came in to replace some big names from the year before. Nonetheless, by the end of the year, the Pirates were clicking on all cylinders as they nearly pulled off a massive upset over Siuslaw/Mapleton in the first-seed/16th-seed match-up in the 3A State playoffs.
“It lit something in us this offseason. We’re motivated because we know that most of our guys are returning and that we can do something good this year,” Macias said. “Last year, I was learning as well as being a leader. But this year, I’m more prepared to lead this team. I’m ready to be a better leader and lead this team far. This year, I’m building the team up more.”
Macias rushed for 1,216 yards as a junior as he and Asher Maxwell combined to rush for over 2,500 yards offensively. The duo returns this year for Dayton. Macias also had 81 tackles on defense as a linebacker.
On Saturday, the Pirates were hosting their fifth-annual Small School 7-on-7 Tournament at Dayton High School. The squad reached the Championship Bracket Semi’s before falling to Taft in the Semi’s. A tournament like this will go a long way in building up that team chemistry and all the while improving on the fundamentals on both sides of the ball for the Fall.
“It taught us that when we’re down, to lift each other up when we’re down and lift each other up,” said Macias.
