Dobson football has had it’s fair share of rough stretches recently. Over the past two years, the Mustangs have gone 3-17. But in 2014, head coach George De La Torre has led his squad to a 5-2 record.
A key to De La Torre’s success in his third season at Dobson is the Freshman Academy. All freshman football players have a class before school where they work directly with the varsity coaching staff to develop their game and team chemistry.
“It really brings our freshman together,” senior linebacker Isaiah Douglas said. “Our juniors are actually the first to come from this academy, and it’s helping a lot.”
The Mustangs defense has transformed into a well-oiled machine in 2014. During the 2012 season, Dobson gave up nearly 35 points per game. This year? 16 points per game.
“I’m really happy for the effort they give us. And that’s the way they practice, and we’re going to keep that up and ask them to keep doing it. We’re going to depend on them,” De La Torre said.
While the Mustangs have some impressive individual performers, the coaching staff has stressed a team mentality over individual stars.
“It would be nice to have one or two really good superstars, but we’re blessed with 11 kids with big hearts who will play their hearts out,” De La Torre said.
Dobson’s team mentality will be crucial for the rest of the year, as they wrap up 2014 regular season with Desert Vista, Brophy and Mountain Pointe.
