High school football: Monticello Buckaroos 2009 preview

Monticello head coach Jake Downard was left a task not for the faint of heart when he accepted his first career coaching job. He has the distinct pleasure of restoring tradition back into a program that has fallen into a slump in recent past.

"We're gonna bring excitement and enthusiasm (back to the program)," said Downard.

Right now, there are boatloads of question marks hovering around the Buckaroos concerning the transition of a new coach, implementing new philosophies and a depth chart swarmed with underclassmen. With such questions stacked sky-high, how will it affect the performance of the team and the outcome of the season?

The way Downard explained the process could easily be summed up with a famous quote by the legendary ex-Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, "If you try and fight the course, it will beat you." Basically, mistakes are inevitable with a young roster. Being able to minimize those mistakes and capitalize on young talent is the main goal.

"(We're) not throwing a lot at the kids right now, as far as getting the explicit details of the offense," said Downard, "(We're) just keeping it simple and making sure the kids can execute efficiently. That will allow them to succeed at a high level. With the realignment, I still like our chances in 1A. We can compete. We have good talent, but we are definitely young."

However, the schedule this year has no rest for the weary, as the Bucks are thrown straight into the fire to open the year with road games against Grand and Rich and a rivalry game with San Juan sandwiched between the two. It's more than likely that Monticello's youth could be exposed.

With the first game creeping closer, the Buckaroos are still searching for answers and playmakers on both sides of the ball. Nothing is currently set in stone, which makes two-a-days even more crucial to the success of the team.

"Offensively we're still exploring. It's gonna be more of a run-based offense," stated Downard, "A lot of it depends on personnel. More than likely (we'll) be an option team. Defensively we're still trying to figure out numbers."

Monticello is making strides in the right direction; however, they are still behind the curve as of now. If they can get things smooth by season start, they have the potential to be pretty good. If not, it could be a rough learning lesson.

Monticello Buckaroos 2009 prep football preview

Coach: Jake Downard is in his 1st year at Monticello with a 0-0 record.