The Dixie State College football team will try for back to back wins as they take on Azusa Pacific University on Saturday.
APU was one of the top teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics last year.
“They are a good team,” said head coach Scott Brumfield. “They have been a powerhouse in the NAIA forever. So we are glad to have them in our conference.”
DSC has confidence on the field against APU after the Western Oregon University win.
“We feel like it is going to be a rivalry between us just because of location,” Brumfield said. “It’s our closest conference team.”
Brumfield said this is unknown territory because APU is a new team in the conference. He said DSC has played them in the preseason the last couple years, and APU is well-coached and will be a physical team.
“I expect to win every time we come out,” said junior linebacker Nick Largent, a criminal justice major from Escalon, Calif. “I don’t think that anybody on this team has a mindset that they want to lose. So I think that our whole team goal should to just be out there and win no matter what it takes. If you have to sacrifice yourself you do.”
DSC expects this to be a tough game, but preparing for it will be no different than preparing for any other game.
“There are no pushovers in our conference,” said junior lineman Colin Wilson, a communication major from Frisco, Texas. “So we are still going to prepare just as any other game, and it will be a battle.”
DSC has made new objectives after losing its first game against Adams State University.
“Our first game was a tough one,” Brumfield said. “But our offense put up over 400 yards and our defense about 220. We just have to eliminate a lot of mistakes like turnovers and red zone efficiency, and I think we will be OK.”
DSC set new ambition after last year’s season. The team is now focusing on the competition of the game.
“We didn’t set a win-loss goal,” Brumfield said. “We want to compete against every team we play and we feel like the guys can do it. So let’s go out next game and get it done.”
Defensive back coach Richard May said DSC should be a good match with APU. The Red Storm are definitely prepared.
DSC has gotten better by doing a lot of scout offense and scout defense drills.
“We always set goals,” May said. “But a big one we need to focus on is executing every play—no blown coverages. This means we always want to be in the correct assignment every time.”
The Red Storm have a winning state of mind and are willing to make the effort.
“We have been out here working and trying to get better every day—every second that we’re out here on the field,” Largent said. “No one wants to wake up at 5:30 a.m. every morning and be out here on the field, but we do it to be better.”
The Red Storm play in California on Saturday at 7 p.m.
