The Dorsey high school football team will play against Hamilton high school this Friday. This will be their first time playing without legendary coach Paul Knox since 1984.
Head coach Irvin Davis stresses discipline, said senior defensive end Davion Stallworth.
“The team this year is much, much closer—we got a stronger bond,” Stallworth said.
The Dorsey Dons offensive line is concentrating on hand placement and agility drills. The defensive line “has good size and good speed” according to head coach Irvin Davis.
“They’re aggressive, they move well to the ball and I think that they’re going to be a very, very important part of the defensive success this year,” Davis said.
Senior Nahje Flowers, who is a defensive end and tackle as well as offensive guard and tackle, has been playing varsity for the past two seasons. Flowers uses his experience to assist teammates.
“I just mostly want to leave a legacy, do good with my seniors, and help everybody else get better,” he said.
Running back coach Staphon Johnson has incorporated speed and strength type exercises into their workout.
“Throughout my years of coaching and playing, I know that the importance of speed and explosion is a big thing in football,” Johnson said.
Last weekend, the Dons prepared for the 2015 season by winning a scrimmage against Leuzinger High school.
Members of the coaching staff have also played for Dorsey during their teenage years. Defense line coach Jovon Hayes sees a difference in game play since when he was a Don.
“When I was here, all we did was run the ball. Now, more wide receivers [and] quarterbacks are being developed younger, it’s more of a passing league.” Hayes said.
Nowana Buchanan, the executive assistant to coach Davis, is excited to see the Dons win games and ultimately earn the championship. Her son, Houston Texans safety Rahim Moore, also attended Dorsey high school. Buchanan believes the team has improved since the beginning of training camp.
“They’re getting stronger, you can see the transformation,” Buchanan said.
Last year, Dorsey had a rough start. After winning their pre-season game to Hamilton, the Dons endured a five-game losing streak. In mid-October, Dorsey hosted Locke high school and they hit their rhythm to gain a 35-6 victory over the Saints.
The victories continued, the Dons kept their opponents down to single-digit scores, according to MaxPreps.com. Their efforts would lead them to the sixth seed in the Division I play-offs, according to the CIF.
“Many of them have varsity experience from last year and we got some guys from the JV level,” Davis said.
Dorsey shattered 11th seeded Canoga Park in a 49-7 victory. However, 3rd seeded Narbonne cut their playoff run short with a 22-6 win over the Dons, according to the CIF.
