By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.—  Entering their ‘Spring Game’ that consist of 7-on-7 and linemen competition, the Stayton Football team have asked a lot of themselves trying to step up and carry the momentum of 2015 into 2016.

The strategy of the Spring has been go at a fast pace, learn out on the field and ask questions to each other or ask their coaches; and Head Coach Andy Campbell has enjoyed how his team has stepped up to the challenge that him and his coaching staff have presented to the kids the past two weeks.

“its been going really well, we’ve got some really good participation from our younger guys.  A lot of guys stepping up and learning, we’re asking a lot of questions which is our focus is for today,” said Campbell.

“Our plan going into the spring was to skip meetings and install on a whiteboard so we can install out on the field at a fast pace and we force guys to ask questions to help with clarity.  So instead of ‘this is how it’s done’ we’re going to explain it and when the questions come up, they have to ask their teammates, ask their coaches.”

One of those guys that have stepped up, was soon-to-be-junior Jerry Daniels.  The junior during running back drills and team drills was nearly recognizable as he help lead his squad during Wednesday’s practice with the hard summer training season on the horizon.

“We’re doing phenomenal, (but) we still have a lot of work to do,” said Daniels.  “I think we need to go from good straight to excellent to phenomenal.  So we can be playing harder teams and we can beat them.

“We just got to keep the momentum up, play together as one and we’ll just go all the way.”

Campbell mentioned that, though Thursday’s Spring Ball Finale will be passionate, competitive, and serious; it’s a good way to set that tone for the summer with the season a few weeks away.

“Competition is always serious,” started Campbell.  “But even in competition, it’s got to be fun, you got to be passionate, and when your passionate about something, it’s fun.

“That’s what we’re trying to teach, really that’s what it comes down is to teaching these kids how passion looks, what competition looks like and how we can harness all that into one package when we move ahead to the season.”

Thursday’s festivities will be at the football stadium starting at 5:30pm.

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PHOTO GALLERY (PICTURES BY JEREMY MCDONALD)