Dragon football set for season’s first snap Friday at Rye

Last season, the Holyoke Dragon football team didn’t get a chance to play its first game until Oct. 10 due to a later start to the season. This year, the Dragons are ready to kick off the season within a more normal time frame as they prepare for the season opener Friday, Sept. 3.

“It’s been good to get to a normal start in August,” coach Dusty Sprague said. “Anything after last year will be normal.”

He added that the players are excited to build off what they did last year, when they made the playoffs but lost in the first round to Limon, the team that ultimately won the state championship.

Sprague noted that he was pleased with the Dragons being a playoff team last year but said the expectations are higher.

“We want to win playoff games,” Sprague said, adding that one goal for the team is to build off being in the playoffs last season to being a contender this season.

Sprague pointed out that the Dragons were a young team last year, meaning they didn’t lose a lot of seniors and they’re returning a lot of players who got good experience on the field.

“All our kids are a year older,” said Sprague. “It’s super exciting to see them grow.”

Sprague said former HHS football coach Dale Stoner visited practices Tuesday-Wednesday, Aug. 24-25. On Aug. 25, Stoner spoke to the team about winning.

Sprague said the ideas presented to the players during Stoner’s talk focused on the fact that teams that win do a little more, work a little harder and work a little longer.

Also coaching the Dragons are Russ Sprague, Logan Hines, Bryan Beckner and Aaron Sprague.

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