Still young Indian Springs aiming for first ever playoff berth

The Indian Springs football program is still in its infancy. It’s the fifth year and there has been modest improvement each year – one win each of the first two years, then three wins and a 4-6 mark in 2016.

The Coyotes and second-year head coach Ed McMillon hope the upward trend continues the coming season.

Last year the Coyotes were third in the San Andreas League and third typically means a playoff spot, But in the new playoff format that isn’t necessarily case because there are so many teams in Division 13 in which the school competes.

COYOTES mascot photo.

So McMillon and his crew will keep trying.

The good news is that McMillon has some athleticism on his team, particularly at the skill positions. The biggest disappointment is that despite the modest improvement, there are still only 65 or so players in the program.

“The players we have here want to be here and they’re working hard,” McMillon said. “I just wish we had a few more. Kids want instant gratification and this is a tough sport. You have to work hard and sometimes the results don’t show up right away.”

Junior Johnathon Duhart will step in at quarterback  for the previous starter who transferred. He was the backup last year but also saw playing time at wide receiver and corner back.

Among the other key players will be senior offensive lineman Jacob Perez, offensive lineman-linebacker Donyae Custis, senior wide receiver Chris Cross, senior corner back-wide receiver Montae Ewing, senior  middle linebacker-running back Aaron Encke and junior running back-corner back Kylaun Woods

The team inherited a player McMillon thinks can have an immediate impact in senior wide receiver-defensive back Albert Jackson, who came over from Los Angeles Dorsey High  School.

McMillon says he will be using several players on both sides of the ball, so conditioning has been an emphasis since Day 1.

“We’re definitely pushing them because they have to be ready,” he said.

As for what McMillon would deem a successful season, he’s rather not talk wins and losses. It’s more about all the little things that go into building a program.

INDIAN SPRINGS SCHEDULE
Aug, 25 – At Ramona
Sept. 1 – Jurupa Valley
Sept. 8 – Pacific
Sept. 15 – At Twentynine Palms
Sept. 29 – Riverside-Carnegie
Oct. 5 – At Rim of the World
Oct. 13 – San Gorgonio
Oct. 20 – At Jurupa Hills
Oct, 27 – Arroyo Valley
Nov. 3 – Rialto

Share this

Facebook Twitter Plusone Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Tumblr Email