Sports

Jacks to fight line depth this fall

By Tyler Ohmann

08/21/2012

After finishing with a program-best 4-4 record last season, the Dakota College at Bottineau football team wishes to improve this season. However, they are up against the same old challenges that have made improvement difficult during the programs existence.

“We run into this same problem every year, we’re short offense and defensive lineman, and I don’t know if we’re ever going to fix that,” Pfeifer said. “We’re scrambling right now, but hopefully we can bring in a couple more, because we are short right now.”

For sophomore running back Mathis Thomas, who was the Jacks leading rusher, he said it can be tough to get used to new lineman and quarterbacks, but the back is optimistic.

“It’s a whole new corps of guys, but we’re ready,” Thomas said. “As a sophomore running back, I have to get used to new lineman and new quarterbacks, but it seems like we’re grooving, we’re gelling together, and we’re just ready to rock. In 14 days, we’ll be under the lights, and we’re ready.”

Another challenge that Thomas faces is gaining the respect of his teammates. Standing only five-foot, seven inches, Thomas is hardly imposing, but he finds other ways to lead.

“It’s kind of difficult because we got guys coming in and looking at me and going, ‘you’re so little, we don’t got to listen to you,’” Thomas said. “But so far they are listening and they see that my mind’s good, and that I’m trying to win, and try to move on.”

Pfeifer sees another challenge for the Jacks—their schedule, which he says is the toughest it’s ever been.

“It is always a struggle, and this year it really is going to be a struggle, because we have our toughest schedule we’ve ever had,” Pfeifer said. “Once you get on the map people start to see who you are, and usually a stepping stone is sending some kids off to bigger colleges, and it’s getting tougher to get into big schools, which makes JUCO’s important, and that will hopefully help us in the future.”

One of those teams will be Mayville State, a four-year NAIA squad, whose varsity and JV squads will both play against the Jacks. In fact, the Jacks season starts with the game against Mayville’s varsity in Bottineau on August 30.

“It might start a little series between us, and whether or not we get into the conference or not, but if we don’t we’ll play anybody we can get,” Pfeifer said.

The Jacks return about 20 players from last year according to Pfeifer, a number he says he wishes was higher.

“By the time everybody gets in I think we’ll have about 20 guys back, which is kind of a disappointment, I wish we had 30-35, but some got money to go to DII school, and some just weren’t a good fit, but we’re happy with what we got back, and we’ll go from there,” Pfeifer said.

“We hope we have some receivers that can help us, and some running backs, but it’s only the first week, so we’ll see how it is as we go,” Pfeifer said.

The numbers are a bit down on the squad, which Pfeifer said is due to the changeover in coaching. Former coaches from last year have left, which put a big dent in recruiting this off season.

“We got a whole new coaching staff in, and we’re still looking for one more guy, and we’re hoping that will add to our program,” Pfeifer said. “Hopefully it will help make us better, but it probably hurt us in recruiting a little, because with the coaches leaving, we lost those connections, and we’ll have to establish new connections.”

Thomas thinks the new coaches are good, and that they might help the Jacks get their first winning season. However, Thomas’ sights are set even higher than just having a winning record.

“Undefeated, that’s what we expect, nothing less,” Thomas said. “Defense is working hard, we got some new defensive coaches, line coaches, and it seems like they know what they’re doing, all the guys got to do is listen to them.”

“Coach Pfeifer is here in his third year, and all we have to do is listen to him and keep grindin’,” Thomas added.

Grinding, and having unity are two keys Thomas thinks will breed success in 2012.

“We are going to have more team unity, and keep grindin’,’” Thomas said. “I’m going to try and be a better leader for the team, and get better play from me.”

As far as the season, which isn’t too far off, Pfeifer is glad it’s starting.

“It’s a good time of the year for football coaches,” Pfeifer said.