In the wake of a 27-game losing streak, Coach Josh Riddell is focused on McNary’s upcoming season – one game at a time.
“The way you win games is by getting better today,” he said. “By gaining confidence, by knowing your play, by working hard, by competing against the other person – then those wins happen.”
Riddell, who assistant coached for McNary in 2009, looks forward to McNary’s new district, the Special District 2 that combines 5A and 6A schools. The Celts will face fresh opponents, including at their home kickoff game against Redmond High School on Friday, Aug. 29.
The district includes Aloha, Canby, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, McKay, and Wilsonville. Riddell anticipates Wilsonville, the returning state champion, to lead the pack. Other coaches from the conference noted Canby and Aloha as potential challengers.
Ken Ramirez, the McKay head coach, expects a rally from the Celts. McNary will have its first league game on Friday, Sept. 19, at Forest Grove High School.
“It’s going to be a strong league,” Riddell said. “I’m excited for it.”
Leading up to their first game, McNary had a busy month. The team had five weightlifting sessions and 14 practices, sometimes in 100-degree heat. Sixty-five players attended practice consistently, the coach said, filling the varsity and junior varsity rosters.
Both Riddell and Marvin Mason, McNary’s wide receiver coach, noticed a team culture of diligence surface during summer workouts.
“Kids are buying in, and they’re working their butts off,” Riddell said. “A lot of times, when you take over a program that hasn’t had a lot of success, there’s going to be a lot of holes to fill. But the cupboard is not empty. There’s some good athletes here, some kids that definitely work hard.”
Mason agreed.
“We’ve built a good culture here, hard-working. I came this morning, and there were kids working out, hitting the weights, before we even had workouts,” he said after a team workout earlier in the month.
Riddell hasn’t noticed any self-pity on a player level, despite their three-season slump. He said a carpe diem attitude energizes each practice.
“The past you can’t change. You can only worry about how you’re getting better today. You work hard, you get in the weight room. You do things that are hard, it gets you in better shape…then you have the confidence to go and display that on the field,” he said.
At the Celts’ first official practice on Monday, Aug. 18, the coaching staff brought intensity. Without any start-of-the-season speeches, the players formed warmup lines and got to work.
After breaking a sweat with high knees, side shuffles, and other movements, the team split off for drills. On one side of the field, the defense practiced punt formation.
“I need 11 guys who can block a punt,” said KJ McCrae, the defensive coordinator. “Let me know if you’re one of them. Blocking kicks, that’s where the glory is.”
McCrae is a McNary graduate who played football for Portland State University.
On the other end of the field, linemen practiced blocks and swim moves. Duane Riddell, the lineman coach, lightened the atmosphere with humorous quips.
“I guess those ballerina practices didn’t do you much good,” he said to a player who was pushed over during a blocking drill. The lineman laughed.
With over 20 years of coaching football, Duane Riddell, father of Josh Riddell, has compiled an overall record of 126-84.
“A lot of it is bringing great energy,” Josh Riddell said. “And I made sure to do that by hiring the right coaches.
The coach said that the team has a strong offense “around the edges.” Many of the team’s key returners are running backs, wide receivers, and quarterbacks.
Both Mason and Riddell mentioned passing the ball as McNary’s strength.
“I think we can throw the ball around a little bit,” Riddell said. “But in my mind, we need to keep the defense off balance. So we need to deliver the ball quickly with some quick game. We need to run play-action and get outside the pocket…all these things that change the quarterback’s launching point.”
On defense, the team is working on speed, effort, and assignment.
“Can you understand our scheme and spring whistle to whistle? If you can, we’re going to figure out a way to play you,” Riddell said.
For their first game against the Panthers, coaches have emphasized effort and responsibility.
“Just doing your job, every play, whistle to whistle,” Mason said. “We’re just trying to get them ready, knowing everything, and in their right position.”
“If you can take care of the things you need to, then all of the other stuff will translate,” Riddell said. “If you compete, show mental toughness, show physical toughness, you’re not making excuses…if you do that, then those wins will translate.”
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News tip? Contact reporter Riley Ellis: [email protected].
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