Mtn. View football: Freshmen recap

In late December, I interviewed Mountain View (Idaho) freshmen football coach Dan McKnight and we talked about his team's season. Here is the article that will appear in the team's 2012 yearbook.

Mavs gain momentum with wins

By Bruce Smith
Matchup

            Coach Dan McKnight started a new era of freshmen football at Mountain View High School in 2012. The team’s 4-5 record might be considered about “average.” However, there’s more to that story.

            The Mavericks brought together two rival middle schools – Lewis & Clark and Lake Hazel who, as eighth graders, did not have much success last year. However, helped by strong line play and impressive team chemistry, they had more success than they’ve had in a long time.
            And the way the season also provided momentum for the future.
            The Mavericks won three of their last five games and finished in fifth place in the 10-team SIC. Rocky Mountain ended up undefeated and won the league crown. McKnight said that, with the exception of Rocky, the Mavs played everyone else tough.
            “We had four good wins,” he said. “We beat Capital and, any time you beat Capital, it’s a good win. We also beat our cross-town rival (Centennial), so there were definitely some good highlights.”
            It started in Week 2 with a 26-22 win over Capital. Afterward, McKnight noticed something special about the team.
            “In a back-and-forth battle, we brought home the first victory of the season and there were many tears,” he said. “I didn't understand why everybody was crying. Chandler Bangochia explained that, for many of the kids, this was the first football game they had ever won. It was a special moment and one I will never forget.”
            Close to 70 players turned out for football. McKnight knew some of them, after having coached recreational football and some area all-star teams in recent years. The team was led by Trey Bell, Andrew Schiebout, Tyler Quinn, Brett Carter and several others.
            “Bell was probably our best player, but we were pretty balanced,” McKnight said. “When we started clicking on all cylinders, we were rolling. After the Rocky game, things leveled out and we got consistent. Most of our games came down to one or two plays.”
            Mountain View’s line included Carter and Colton Sisler and McKnight said they helped make the Mavs the most dominant in the league. They helped open holes for Bell, whose talent was obvious to anyone who watched him play. His statistics were not available, but he could play a role on the varsity next year.
            “Bell is as fast as they come. He was the fastest kid on the football field in every game we had,” McKnight said. “He has good instincts and can deliver a hit.”
            Bell also served as Mountain View’s primary kick returner. He didn’t have any touchdown returns, but came close twice and made that part of the Mavs’ game a strength.
            The season ended with a 34-6 win over Vallivue. It was an opportunity for every player on the team to get into the game. Brendan Wood, who was injured most of the year, ran for 100 yards. Also, T.J. Olson, who battles autism and stayed with the team throughout, had a game he’ll always remember.
            “We told him to practice onside kicking, and I made a deal with him,” McKnight said.
            Olson got a chance in the second half and the Mavs recovered. Later, Olson caught a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion.
            “Everyone in the stands was cheering and the players rushed the field,” McKnight said.