JV football a learning experience

by Mark Dykes

The Bobcats JV Football season came to an official close on Monday, following a home game against Worland, and Coach Jordan McKittrick emphasized the learning the boys go through.

McKittrick noted the team's losses to Worland and Wind River, but pointed out the team did well against Burns, winning 14-0.

There were some good turnovers on defense at the recent game against Worland, McKittrick said, and though there were some opportunities to score the team did not capitalize on them.

Due to injuries on the Rocky Mountain and Greybull teams, Thermopolis did not play them. McKittrick said it's always a negative thing when the kids don't get the experience, but the Thermopolis team has suffered injuries as well, and has been appreciative of the time to heal.

Overall, he said, the JV guys have been doing pretty well.

"We ask them to do a lot. Throughout the week, not only do we ask them to mentally learn our offense and defense, but we also ask them to learn our opponents' offense and defense and give us a look. So, when they do get out there physically, it's a lot for them to learn, and I think they do a pretty good job of doing that."

For the players in between now and next year, McKittrick said, it's a lot of getting in the weight room, if they're not into winter and spring sports, and developing their skills for next season. There were a few approached, he noted, who were asked where they want to be next season and what can they take away from the season.

"They truly are the future of our football program," he said.

As far as standouts, there were some that stepped up and played some varsity roles when needed, including Dustin Harvey, Jarron Mortimore, Jason Clouse and Riley Shaffer. McKittrick said it's always exciting to see the kids step up, given the opportunity they're presented even those that people might not expect who make the most of it.

"Fundamentally, we definitely just need to improve overall blocking," McKittrick said. "Blocking, tackling definitely needs to improve a lot. As far as things we excelled on, our growth week to week on understanding the plays, the playbook itself." He noted there is not a set playbook, but as they've gotten better and better the playbook has expanded.

McKittrick said the biggest emphasis, with it being a young team, is to take the experience from the season and to get the most kids in during the off-season, to continue building the program for next season and season's moving forward.

"We want to build a winning culture here, a family culture and a winning program."