BANGS – Coming off a 9-2 playoff campaign a season ago, but with just four offensive and three defensive starters back, the Bangs Dragons kicked off their fourth season under head coach Kyle Maxfield with Monday’s practice.
“We’re excited to be back at it,” Maxfield said. “We’ve got a few familiar faces but a lot of new faces out there with the varsity. It’s fun to see their enthusiasm pick up because they know it’s next man up and their turn and it’s exciting to see younger guys try to reach the level we had this past year. We emphasize it’s a marathon, not a sprint and we have a long ways to go but with the attitude we had today it was refreshing to get started again.”
Maxfield reported 55 players at practice Monday, and the retention level from the offseason was high among returnees to the varsity roster.
“Not only the is the system the same, but the staff has stayed relatively the same the last few years and that consistency’s a big plus,” Maxfield said. “Everybody has the same expectations whether it’s coaches or kids, we feel like we’re on the same page. There’s a lot of work ahead of us, but it’s a daily process for us.”
The Dragons’ first scrimmage is Aug. 13 at home against San Saba.
Goals between now and then, according to Maxfield, are, “getting people in the right spot personnel wise, and sometimes you don’t figure that out until the first scrimmage and you mix it up with somebody. Conditioning is also big, working fundamentals and getting back into playing shape, which takes some time. This cool weather is nice the first couple of days because you do a lot of teaching anyway, and if it’s 110 degrees your focus isn’t there like it needs to be.”
