As the echoes of last year’s state title celebration on the field of the CSU-Pueblo Thunderbowl begin to fade, the excitement for a fresh season of Dove Creek football begins to rebuild anew.
A quest for back-to-back titles commences later this month, with plenty of faces, both old and new, setting their sights on hoisting the trophy again this November.
New head coach Jason Fury is primed to take on the task of leading the Bulldogs into the 2023 season, having served as a longtime offensive coordinator under former head coach Shane Baughman, who stepped down from his football coaching duties after the triumphant campaign last fall.
“Coach Baughman created a legacy that was based on developing positive relationships with the kids,” said Fury of his predecessor, “and that’s something that we’re wanting to continue moving forward.”
Fury’s offense diced up opponents with a combination of speed and power, and while Dove Creek will be looking to find plenty of players to step into the roles vacated by a large graduating class, the Bulldogs have visions of generating high-octane performances again this season.
The Bulldogs return the state championship game’s Most Outstanding Performer, Gage Buffington, whose big scores in Pueblo lifted the ‘Dogs over Simla in November.
“Everyone looks up to Gage,” said Fury of his 1,100-yard rusher from a season ago. “He just plays the game with an intensity that brings out the best in his teammates.”
Buffington joins a bundle of seniors ready to take on their final season for the ‘Dogs, including Taber Dejane, Mike Coffey, Colten Fury, Tyson Beanland and Aiden Chadd.
Colten Fury steps into the quarterback shoes vacated by 2022 eight-man Player of the Year Kade Hankins, as the senior rebounds from an injury that kept him out for most of last fall.
“He (Colten) really focused on regaining his balance and explosiveness,” said Fury, “and he’s spent time focusing proper technique through film study and lots of extra work he’s put in.”
Meanwhile, the weapons on offense at Fury’s disposal make a dangerous Dove Creek team a handful for opposing defenses.
“We’re always looking to improve,” said Fury, “and we have some really good skill position players that we’ll able to run a lot of the same offense that we had success with last year.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs will look to shift some of the roles, led by Coffey in the middle of the defensive line and Dejane moving to linebacker.
Dove Creek will undoubtedly receive every opponent’s full attention as defending state champions, and will be well-traveled by the time they play their first home game at the Soper Sports Complex. Three straight weekends on the road open the campaign, as the Bulldogs face Plateau Valley to open the season on Saturday, Aug. 26, in Colbran.
From there, trips to Rangely and Albuquerque to face Melrose (New Mexico) means plenty of time on the bus before the home opener on Sept. 15 against Hayden. The Bulldogs host Monticello in the Border War on the following Friday night – homecoming weekend for Dove Creek – before league play begins the following Friday with a trip to Sanford.
All eyes will be on an Oct. 6 battle against Mancos, before a trip to Dolores and Senior Night meeting with Sargent winds down the regular season.
“Everyone’s excited to get back going again,” said Fury, “but the team has the goal of making sure that they don’t take any game, practice, or repetition for granted.”
