Amid a rebuilding phase defined by youth and inexperience, Pyramid Lake High School football coach Brian Borden is focusing on the one variable his team can completely control.
Following the team’s third game of the season, a 40-0 loss to Carlin last Thursday, Borden acknowledged the steep learning curve facing a roster where nearly every player is brand new to the sport.
“We’re young in a lot of ways. We’re inexperienced, but these kids play hard,” Borden said. “They’re committed to the effort. That’s one thing we try to establish, is 100% effort. That’s the one thing we can control.”
Borden said only two or three players on the entire squad of about 20 players had ever played organized football. Nine of them are freshmen, and six others are sophomores.
Despite the trial by fire for a squad trying to compete and learn the game at the same time, the coach sees a silver lining in starting from scratch.
“It’s kind of tough, but it’s also one of those things that they don’t have bad habits,” Borden said. “As soon as these guys realize how good they are, how well they can prepare for games and get mentally ready, they’ll come out and play a lot better.”
After the loss to Carlin the Lakers are 0-3 and have been outscored 140-6. But throughout the early stretch, several of the young Lakers have displayed flashes of athleticism.
Junior Myron Rivers showed quickness and agility in running the ball eight times for 30 yards against Carlin, and Borden noted the athleticism and passion of freshman Kyree Phoenix that makes up for his smaller stature.
“He did an outstanding job. He loves playing,” Borden said. “He’s athletic, not real big, but that doesn't hold anything back. Again, it comes back to the passion that they step out there and they want to play. I can put them anywhere, and they go play hard.”
Facing a more level playing field this week when they host Owyhee on Thursday night, the Lakers will look to turn that passion into progress, Borden anticipates a highly competitive, evenly matched game that routinely draws significant local backing.
“It’s always a good game with the Native American community,” he said. “They’re big on support, so we look forward to those games.”
Below: Pyramid Lake’s Kyree Phoenix (1) runs with the ball during the game in Nixon on Sept. 17. Photo by Robert Perea
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