By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
KEZIER, Ore.– The McNary Football team wrapped up July, and the bulk of their Summer Schedule, with the second of their joint practices with West Salem on Friday afternoon.
Putting on the pads against the Titans, the 7-on’s against team’s like Dallas, have shown the Celtics where they stand for when they return in August and the first wave of official practices that will soon follow in preparation for the season.
“The practices were big, especially getting the team together. Building connections…just being together and going through adversities especially against a team that has put in the work through the years to get better all together,” said D’Sean Wynter.
“Just finding that identity. 7-on-7, just getting the team chemistry together with new plays obviously. Against West, putting on pads…trying to find an edge a little bit,” adds Gavin Burns. “We just need to have a clear head though and not to get too caught up with the emotions of everything. But I definitely think we’ll be ready for the season.”
For first-year Head Coach Josh Riddell, it was a little bit of a Homecoming of sorts having joint practice with the Titans. Riddell coached at West Salem for six years before coming to McNary, so to share that standard he coached at West with his new team was a cool experience and that experience of his team seeing how it’s done and scrimmaging against the Titans on Thursday night and then again on Friday will hopefully sell the message of what they’re trying to bring to McNary.
“They’re a program that does it the right way. They’re worried about themselves and getting better, competing every day. They got a bunch of great coaches over there, and you can tell the kids respect it and work hard for him (Head Coach Shawn Stanley),” said Riddell. “Those are things that we try to instill here and I think we’re on the right track and getting around a bunch of good quality coaches and another program that’s doing it right is always a good thing.”
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
