June 13, 2020 Issue, Page 8 of 8

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Page 8 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, June 13, 2020 New Elk City football coach likes mind-set of team Elk City head football coach Dave Meadows gives a pointer to a player during a football camp last week. Staff photo by Don Munsch By Don Munsch, Editor taking over for Todd Beer. bit different. We're going to forced educators to go to dis- are confident in what they’re summer, Elk City High School’s The team went 0-20 with spend a lot of time with guys tance learning. “They’re ea- doing, regardless of what the “The closer to August football team hit the field in Beer as head coach. just trying to start from zero ger to learn what we're do- other team does. we get, the more time we'll pads last week in a camp at Before coming to Elk City, and then go.” ing and learn our new stuff. “['m very pleased with a spend running,” Meadows the high school. Meadows had been a coach Meadows said Elk City We're preaching big effort. lot of guys we have,” he said. said. And now comes a two- for 48 years — a head foot- used zone blocking tech- You can’t have a winning “We're in good shape on tal- Players have to get in month respite from the field. ball coach for 40 years — and niques in the past, and he football team unless every- ented people. That’s not go- shape, but they don’t have Players will return in Au- has an overall record of 307- will install man blocking in body out there is really big ing to be the issue. The issue to be in shape next week, gust. 147 and a playoff record of the offensive approach. on playing hard. And that’s is going to be on how hard Meadows said. The lifting At the camp last week, 44-24. He played football On the defensive side of what we really stress, and we're able to play and how program is the same one the players got acquainted with at Oklahoma State. He won the ball, fans will notice a they’re coming along with well we play together.” school began in January. the school’s new head coach. three state championships change. that.” The players return to prac- “It’s a great program and “Mainly, it was learning in Clinton — 1978, 1982 and “We're going to be in a Sixty-two players were at tice on Aug. 10, but that the kids are excited about it, our offense; it was a lot of 1984 — and one state title 3-3 stack defense, which the camp last week, Mead- date could change, given and they can feel themselves technique stuff,” said Dave in Garden City, Kansas, in is basically an odd front as ows said, with 42 of them how OSSAA has' shifted getting stronger with it,” he Meadows, ECHS head foot- 1999, opposed to an even front,” being sophomores, juniors schedules before, Mead- said. ball coach, describing the He said there will be a he said, pointing to a 4-2 and seniors. ows said. Teams were sup- activity at the camp. “And change in the offense for Elk scheme. “So, yeah, it’s pret- “We suit those guys up,” posed to have two weeks Meadows has good vibes we reviewed just basic City in 2020. ty different on defense.” he said. “At the home games, of spring practice, but that about the football program blocking and tackling drills. “T don’t know how much Players he saw in camp we haven’t decided whether was scuttled because of the going into the fall. It was just kind of a [time] to the crowd will recognize it last week “really want to be we're going to suit up all the coronavirus. OSSAA could “The kids are a fun group get to know me and my style because we’re going to line good,” Meadows said. The freshmen. We don’t know give teams another week of to be with,” he said. “They’re of football and what we're up in the same formations attitude he saw from players yet. We're just going to play practice because of the pan- excited to feel like we have going to be doing when we they used,” Meadows said. was a positive. that by ear and see when we demic, but coaches don’t a chance to be a good foot- get going in August.” “We're still going to use the “They worked really hard get there.” know what will happen yet, ball team and they want to Meadows, who ast I-formation with different in the two months we had He said his players want to Meadows said. do it together. That’s excit- coached at Katy Morton receiver sets and move the in the weightroom before feel like they have a chance The school’s Summer ing. It’s fun. We have a great Ranch High School near receivers around on the field we got shut down,” he said, Pride program will be held group of coaches and a great to win every time they play, Houston, became coach af- some. But the way we do referring to the coronavirus, and Meadows is trying to for varsity football players group of kids. We’re ready ter the Elks’ 2019 season, things is going to be quite a which closed the school and get to a point where players to lift weights and run this to go.” Baseball camp Elk City High School baseball coach Monty Mayfield talks to 9-year- old youth league baseball players during a baseball camp Tuesday morning at Red Rock Stadium in Elk City. The boys got tips on learning base running skills during their time with Mayfield. Staff photo by Don Munsch Elk City All-State Soccer All-State soccer players from Elk City High School in 2020, from left are Savannah Kauk, Alex Waters, Eduardo Bustillos and Rossy Garcia. Kauk and Garcia were co-captains of the Elk City girls varsity soccer team, while Waters and Bustillos were co-captains of the Elk City Boys varsity soccer team. Photo submitted. Send photos to editor @ ecdailynews.com