Mission football ‘second family’ for athletes
Melea Burke
Quarterback Dylan Evans calls out orders before the snap during Mission’s homecoming game against Deer Lodge Friday. The Bulldogs won, 15-6.
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Ryce Hegwood is attacked by Wardens as he carries the ball for Mission.
Melea Burke
Will Powell takes a tumble after being tackled by Deer Lodge’s Tristen Clark.
Melea Burke
Senior Nikko Alexander yells in celebration after making a tackle during Mission’s Friday night football game.
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Bulldogs Jarred Brown and Will Powell take down Deer Lodge’s Trevor Cuchine Friday night.
Melea Burke
Bulldog-blue helmets get a break at halftime.
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Steven Bravo listens to pointers from head coach Rich Ferris.
Melea Burke
Dylan Evans and Sara Nerby smile after being crowned Mission’s homecoming king and queen.
Melea Burke
Mission’s 2012 homecoming candidates are, from left, Barret Sargent and Emyli Gillingham; Dylan Evans and Sara Nerby; Nikko Alexander and Stephanie Lewandowski; and Nick Johnson and Emily McCrea.
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MISSION — Football is, by definition, a team sport. This simple fact has not changed since the sport’s invention, and it remains a powerful deciding factor as to whether or not a team will succeed.
It is a widely accepted fact that skill level, age, and athletic ability are minimal factors in the wake of unified, unabashed dedication and teamwork toward a common goal. Team sports are unique in this way, as they are the only sports that offer competitors an opportunity to succeed by being a part of something bigger than themselves.
By all accounts, the 2012 St. Ignatius Bulldog football squad fits this description to a “T.”
With only three seniors and more than 20 freshmen, the Bulldogs are a young team this year. As a result, the seniors expected a lot of the freshmen and brought them into the fold. This created an inclusive atmosphere and a team-oriented work ethic.
“We’re all just so connected — more than most teams are, I think,” said senior center and defensive end Nikko Alexander. “My favorite part is the teamwork. It’s not just from us three seniors, but it’s from all the freshmen who stepped up to play varsity.”
Senior Barret Sargent agreed with Alexander and added, “It’s honestly more of a family than it is a team.”
“As a freshman, it’s hard to make the transition from middle school to high school. We definitely expected a lot from our freshmen, and I don’t think anybody expected the effort they put out,” Sargent said.
Assistant coach Jason Sargent said the Bulldogs, 3-3 on the season prior to Friday’s game, were a class act and had done a phenomenal job this season.
“They support one another, work hard and do the right thing for the right reasons,” Sargent said.
First-year head coach Rich Ferris said the team has been fun to coach because of the athlete’s attitudes and willingness to work hard.
“I really enjoy coaching this team this year,” Ferris said. “They’ve been a delight to work with every day in practice, and they really try to get better. Their goal is to get better every day, and they have.”
Both coaches credited senior leadership as a major contributor to the team’s dynamic during the 2012 season.
“Our seniors have all done a really good job of leading the team and helping to play well,” Ferris said. “They’re coaches at practice; they’re coaches at film; they’re coaches all the time. A lot of it has to do with attitude rather than Xs and Os. They teach the young guys when to listen up and when to speak up ... I’m proud of them. They play hard.”
Alexander has played for the Bulldogs for the past four years. When asked what his favorite memory has been, he replied, “I think (Friday night’s game against Powell County) will be my best memory. All my family, and my other family, my football family — everyone is going to be there supporting us. It’s probably going to be the best memory I’ve ever had.”
Friday night’s game against Powell County was not only homecoming night for the Bulldogs, it was senior night, and the Bulldogs came back from behind after halftime to win the game by a score of 15-6.
“Barret Sargent and Nikko Alexander had fantastic games,” Ferris said in an email after Friday’s game. “Barret played the run exceptionally well and Nikko was able to put pressure on the quarterback.”
In addition, Dylan Evans and Raymond Matt both earned large rushing totals, and Matt’s kickoff return after the Deer Lodge score, “put the offense in scoring position and allowed the Dawgs to maintain a two score buffer.”
