Caldera finds itself in IMC playoff mix in program’s second season
Caldera coach Mike Mitchell emphasizes to his players the importance of building the program “brick by brick.”
The first bricks were added to the foundation last year, when the Wolfpack played their first varsity season and finished 3-6.
This season, the foundation has grown significantly. Caldera has already exceeded its win total of a season ago, with its 21-8 victory at Ridgeview improving its record to 4-2 entering an Intermountain Conference game against Bend this week that suddenly has playoff implications.
“We realize that, but we are really trying to keep our kids focused on ‘one brick at a time’ and improving every time we go on the field,” said Mitchell, who has coached at eight high schools with a 152-166 record since starting his career in 1969.
“So far, we feel we are getting better each time out, so we will count them up at the end and see where we stand.”
Mitchell worried in the offseason when his defensive coordinator, Kevin Feist, left the program. Mitchell brought in Neil Elshire, who played for Mitchell at South Albany in the late 1970s before heading to the University of Oregon and the NFL, and another coach with NFL ties in Jeff Bridewell to join offensive line coach Sal Cesario, a former NFL lineman.
“I think the addition of these three NFL guys made our kids realize we have some serious plans as we grow into a contender,” Mitchell said.
Elshire took over for Feist and has helped with developing players such as junior Ethan Perkey, who led the IMC with 58 tackles through five games. Bridewell has worked with junior quarterback Tommy Morris, who threw for 159 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens.
Most important, the program invested heavily in its offseason weight training program over the summer. Mitchell noted how the team went from having just three players who could bench 200 pounds to more than 20, and the Wolfpack have seen the dividends of that offseason work paid this fall.
“That is substantial growth in that short of time,” he said. “Obviously, we have much more work to do, but the work ethic has been established.”
Mike Mitchell photo by Max Rhulen
