A win can change the mentality of a practice.
The Dickinson High football team picked up its first win of the season with a 24-22 victory over Mandan last Friday.
However, Dickinson High head coach John Tuchscherer said the team has brought in the same amount of energy and enthusiasm every week - whether the team is coming off a win or a loss.
“Anytime you get a win, it’s a lot easier to come to practice and continue working hard, but the one thing I’ll say about these guys is that when we lost it didn’t change how they prepared themselves for the game,” Tuchscherer said. “It hasn’t changed anything we’ve done at practice or the attitude at practice. It’s just building on some confidence that we can use down the road.”
Though the Midgets are coming off a West Region win over Mandan, their mindset traveling to Jamestown at 6 p.m. today is the same - commit zero turnovers and limit mental mistakes.
“We definitely know what it takes and what it’s going to take this week in practice and in the game,” Dickinson senior wide receiver-defensive back Trevor Nameniuk said. “Coaches have been reinforcing that we need to protect the ball.”
The Midgets’ senior kicker Tony Kostelecky connected with the game-winning 35-yard field goal to beat the Braves. Dickinson scored three touchdowns in second quarter - including two TDs from senior running back Kass Dvorak.
Despite the high offensive production, the brightest spot for the Midgets (1-3, 1-1 West) was not turning the ball over. In the previous three games, Dickinson committed at least one turnover each game which resulted in a 0-3 start.
“Turnovers have killed us and they did in the first three games,” Dickinson senior quarterback Andrew Heckaman said. “If you turn the ball over, it gives them more chances. Last Friday, we kept the ball and we had more chances.”
While not allowing any turnovers, the Midgets caused turnovers - the biggest was a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by Heckaman.
The game against Mandan was a must-win and the same can be said about the Midgets traveling to the Blue Jays. Yet, Nameniuk said the team is just looking at it as another opponent.
Jamestown - which averages 23.3 points per game and have allowed 10 - knocked Dickinson out of the playoff contention last year with a 17-13 win. The Blue Jays are 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the West.
“It’s kind of a must-win game, but we are coming into it as it’s not,” Nameniuk said. “We are just taking it week-by-week like it’s another game. We are prepared like how we should be.”
