The Los Medanos football team is rolling into conference play with an impressive 5-0 record, one of the best starts in school history. The Mustangs have dominated in the five games, averaging 53 points a game and totaling 550 yards of offense.
Head coach Chris Shipe credits the team’s success to the bond of the team playing as one.
“The biggest factor in the 5-0 start is that the team is playing well together, in all three phases—offense, defense and special teams,” Shipe said.
The numbers vouch for it. Offensively, the Mustangs are a balanced attack, rushing for over 210 yards per game and passing for nearly 340. Quarterback No. 9 Aidan Crawford has excelled with 20 touchdown passes and only one interception and the running game has contributed 16 more touchdowns on the ground. The defense has limited opponents to scoring to an average of 20 points per game while intercepting 10 passes and having 14 sacks.
But Shipe realizes the real test lies ahead of them. The Mustangs have romped through non-conference opponents, but the schedule now gets tougher with the more competitive Golden Valley Conference. Their conference opener is at home on Oct. 11 against Feather River.
“The message to the team heading into conference is that our conference, week by week, is going to be much better and much more competitive compared to non-conference,” Shipe said. “Each week, starting with Feather River, is going to be tough.”
One of the major focal points of the bye week has been avoiding complacency. “We can’t overlook anyone,” Shipe said. “Our focus right now is getting mentally and physically ready for the next five weeks.”
While the stats show the offensive and defensive stars, Shipe also praised a player who does not always receive a mention in the box score. Left tackle No. 77 Damian Perea.
“He’s been playing very well on the offensive line and is a huge contributor to our success,” Shipe said.
For the players, the start to the season has been motivating. Offensive lineman No. 66 Kyron McCoy said the undefeated record shows the work the team has put in as a collective.
“It feels great being part of this team. We grind and practice every day, and it’s amazing to see how far we’ve come,” McCoy said. “I love my team. It’s truly a blessing to be 5-0.”
McCoy also added that the team chemistry has made them feel unbeatable heading into conference play.
“Being with my team makes me feel great, and the fact that we are going into conference play is just the beginning of something even greater. Just watch and see,” he said.
When it comes to team attitude, McCoy said the goals are clear. “To never give up, keep a steady mind, respect each other on the field, and stay undefeated,” he said.
Winning a conference title would be the ultimate goal. “Honestly, right now being 5-0 is already so exciting for me, and if we were to win, I would feel like I truly made it,” McCoy said. “It would feel like being in the big leagues.”
For Shipe and the Mustangs, the same goal is at the top. “Winning the conference would be a huge accomplishment for our team and our program,” Shipe said. “We set goals at the beginning of the season, and winning our conference was at the top. We’ve started well, but there’s a lot of football left to play.”
