Team Preview:
Written By: Matt Harris

For the second straight year, Friday Night Lights are back in Mackay.

After not fielding a varsity team in 2015 or 2016, last year the Miners were just happy to be back playing on Friday nights. While they posted a 2-5 record and had some struggles along the way, Mackay feels that they are ready to break out and truly announce their return.

“These young men are just plain hungry for wins. They have taken some lumps but are ready to return the favor,” said Travis Drussel, the new head coach of the Miners. “As a coach, just seeing how hard they work is amazing.”

He added that part of what he wants to accomplish with this team includes helping the players truly understand the storied tradition of Miner football.

“I want to help these young men feel what it is like to win at Mackay High School,” Drussel said. “We want them to guide the younger generations to want to continue Mackay’s pride and tradition.”

Plenty of talent returns for the Miners in 2018, including senior quarterback Dallin Green, who will be flanked by Riley Johnson, Jacoda Whitworth, Sereck Peterson and Bryson Woodbury at running back, with freshman Max Bell expected to see field time. Caleb Green will lead the receiving corps along with Nolan Moorman, Wyatt Warner, and Kyle Peterson.

Up front, the Miners will deploy Bert Rodgers, Joey Robertson, Wes Winters, Kolton Holt, and Dakota Woodbury to anchor the protection.

Drussel is confident in the abilities of the offense heading into the season.

“We will be able to attack on both the ground and through the air. We have good size and speed from our Single Wing to get in open space and let our athletes make plays,” he said. “Running behind Kolton and Wes will be huge for us.”

The coach added that limiting penalties and turnovers will be a major key to their success this season.

Defensively, look for Rodgers, Robertson, Holt, Winters, and Dakota Woodbury to anchor the line, while the Green brothers along with Johnson and Sereck Peterson provide coverage in the linebacking corps. Whitworth, Warner, Bell, Moorman, Kyle Peterson, and Bryson Woodbury will lead the way in the secondary.

Drussel says that his defense will simply be aggressive in their schemes and hope that by doing so they can improve the number of takeaways they get this season. He added that overall health will be a major factor to their success this year.

Mackay will play a seven-game schedule this season and will begin the year on the road when they face Challis on Aug. 24. Their first home contest of the year will be Aug. 31 against Murtaugh.

The Miners open up September with a tough non-conference contest against Oakley at home on Sept. 7, followed by a trip to Dietrich on Sept. 14. League play in the Rocky Mountain Conference then begins with two straight home dates against Rockland on Sept. 21 and Clark-Watersprings on Sept. 28. Mackay finishes their regular season schedule on Oct. 5 at North Gem.