Coyotes open new season with week-to-week approach

By Lethbridge Herald on September 7, 2023.

Herald Photo by Justin Seward Herald photo by JUSTIN SEWARD Chinook CoyotesÕ Gage Parker attempts to move around a defender during practice on Wednesday.

By Justin Seward

Lethbridge Herald

Chinook Coyotes high football head coach Nick Straat thinks preparations for the upcoming season have been good ahead of Friday’s season  opener against the Catholic Central Cougars.

“We start practice in the middle of summer, essentially, well a couple of weeks at least before school starts ,” said Straat.

“I think we had 50 guys out for our first practice, which was fantastic. That’s the most we ever had since I’ve been here for this school, and so numbers have been great and we got good athletes. Like top to bottom, we’re pretty happy with the guys that we have. So it’s just a matter of getting everybody use to the system we’re running and making sure we’re ready come game time.”

The team has high expectations because they feel they’re a good team.

“But it all comes down to who shows up to play the game,” said Straat.

“So we’re not getting  ahead of ourselves. We’re playing week by week and just hoping to bring our best game every week.”

While it was tough to say, Straat sees the team’s strengths in all three phases of the game.

“So whether it’s offence, defence or special teams, we feel like, yeah, we got good players (and) we got guys ready to play.”

One of the areas to address this season was special teams.

“We wanted to be able to win that phase of the game and we feel like we’ve struggled a little bit there in the last couple of years,” said Straat.

The team is doing things differently to improve the offensive side of the ball.

“We had games last year where we put up lots of points, but we also had games last year where we weren’t able to put up a lot of points,” he said.

“So yeah the focus is being … more consistent there, for sure, and having a balanced offence that can score no matter what we go up against.”

Straat thought the team had a strong defensive group a season ago and have most of their starters returning.

“I think it’s going to be even stronger this year,” he said.

“So, yeah, I think we’re going to be pretty tough to score in.”

Players to look out for this season are running back Aiden Fletcher and slot receiver Gage Parker.

“They’re going to be a big part of our offence and probably our defence too,” said Straat.

“ And then up front, on the line, we got some big boys. One of our captains Mitch Qually, (is) playing offence and defence inside (and a) big strong guy that we expect big things from.”

Parker will be one of the leaders having been named one of the four captains.

“I do like to step into that role as a leader and I try my best to push these boys,” he said.

 “So they are prepared and ready for game time, as well as in game ,(and) just making sure everyone stays focused, stays in the game and doesn’t get off their game.”

Parker said it’s just if we can execute and stay together as a team, when asked about how the team will put up wins.

“We have some ballers on this team,” said Parker.

“We have some great players and if we can just work together as a team and stay together, and not fight,  just click every game, it’ll be good,” said Parker.

Game time  tonight versus the Cougars is at 7 p.m. tonight at University of Lethbridge Community Sports Stadium.