By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
DALLAS, Ore.– That 0-0 mindset has helped the Dallas football program become a respectable Football program at the 5A level. Three of the last four years saw the Dragons reach the 5A State Quarterfinals, including last season.
And despite graduating 16 seniors from last year, Dallas went back to work this Summer to prepare for another strong season ahead.
“This year has been one of the most hard-working groups I’ve been a part of. We’re always putting the extra work on the field and in the weight room. It’s just consistently going, and I think that’s good for us, and I think we’ll improve just because of that,” said Hunter Rivers. “It’s going to be huge, we’re going to have tough teams on our schedule, and there’s going to be games where we’re going to get behind. As long as we have that tough mindset that is going to be built into us from this summer, we’ll be just fine because we’re a tough football program. That 0-0 mindset plays a major factor with Dragon Football.”
Having played Sprague in 7-on-7 action earlier this month and hosting McNary and McKay on Tuesday, that mindset of just coming to work everyday looking to be that much better than yesterday.
“We’ve started on fire, I think we’re on fire and ready to go. The problem is, we can’t look at that and think good things. We got to keep working every day. Otherwise, we’ll slack off…so we got to keep working. 0-0 mindset,” said Chase Eriksen. “We’re a bunch of hometown. We don’t get no transfers no matter how we show out. We’re just a family, and we show out and show everybody why a small town like us shows our heart and it pays off.”
Eriksen, as a defensive back and Rivers at Defensive Line, were Honorable Mention All-State selections for the Dragons entering their senior season with the program. They’ll be looked to as some of the leaders entering this Fall for the program one last time of their High School programs.
“Family means everything, especially with our team. Last year was so good that it didn’t come from straight skill though or coaching. We have to be a family. It takes all of us to be good. It does take a whole team. Bonding and team,” said Eriksen. “We can’t have any slack days. We got a tough schedule coming up, and we got to be ready. We got to work on the field every day.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
