FRESH OFF A PLAYOFF APPEARANCE THE CODY BRONCS FOOTBALL TEAM ENTERS THE 2019 SEASON WITH HIGH ASPIRATIONS. THEY RETURN 20 SENIORS FROM LAST YEAR’S SQUAD AND ARE PLANNING TO ‘WIN IN THE DARK’ THAT IS THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR AND THAT SLOGAN WAS ON FULL DISPLAY EARLY MONDAY MORNING FOR THEIR FIRST PRACTICE. THE BRONCS WANTED TO BE THE FIRST TEAM IN CLASS 3A TO TAKE TO THE GRIDIRON AND HEAD COACH MATT MCFADDEN TALKS ABOUT WHY IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIS TEAM TO HOLD THAT FIRST PRACTICE UNDER THE LIGHTS.
“OUR KIDS WANTED TO BE THE FIRST ONES ON THE FIELD IN 3A, AND HOPEFULLY THE LAST ONE’S OFF THE FIELD, SO WE CHOSE TO GO AT 12:01. IT WAS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND THE KIDS WERE FIRED UP. IT’S FUN TO BE UNDERNEATH THE LIGHTS. IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE DONE THAT.”
THE BRONCS ARE COMING INTO THIS SEASON WITH HIGH EXPECTATIONS AFTER MAKING IT TO THE PLAYOFFS A YEAR AGO. COACH MCFADDEN HAS IMPLEMENTED A ONE DAY AT A TIME MENTALITY THAT THE ENTIRE TEAM HAS BOUGHT INTO.
“OUR MAIN GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO JUST GET A LITTLE BETTER EACH DAY. ONE PERCENT BETTER IN CAMP, EVERY DAY. THEN IT WILL BE TO TURN AROUND AND GO 1-0 IN THE SCRIMMAGE AND THEN 1-0 THE NEXT WEEK. TRY NOT TO LOOK TO FAR AHEAD. JUST REALIZE IT’S A LONG SEASON. IT’S JUST A PROCESS OF GRADUALLY GETTING BETTER.”
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT A GAME COMES DOWN TO A DEFINING PLAY OR MOMENT AND IF THIS YEAR’S TEAM IS TO MAKE ANY NOISE, IT ALL STARTS WITH THE PLAYERS UP FRONT.
“ANY TEAM STARTS WITH YOUR OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE LINE. AND WE’VE GOT SOME VERY TALENTED KIDS THERE, THAT ARE STRONG AND THEY’RE FAST. A LOT OF KIDS THAT WILL BE PLAYING BOTH WAYS ON O-LINE AND D-LINE. IT’S JUST FINDING THE RIGHT COMBINATION, THOSE 5 ON O-LINE AND FOUR ON D-LINE THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER. SO WE’RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT. I’M REALLY EXCITED. PHYSICALLY THEY’RE VERY TALENTED.”
THE CODY BRONCS WILL HOST A SCRIMMAGE AT SPIKE VANNOY STADIUM ON AUGUST 30TH VS BIGHORN AT 4PM. THEIR FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON IS THE FOLLOWING WEEK WHEN THE TRAVEL TO RIVERTON. KICK-OFF IS SCHEDULED FOR 7PM.
