Football is a game of adjustments during the game and when analyzing previous wins and losses. The CDO coaching staff, led by new coach Scott McKee, knew adjustments were needed after their season opening loss to Mesa Eastmark last week.
The coaches took a hard look at how they utilized players and switched things for their Week 2 home opener against Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain.
Those adjustments were successful as the Dorados (1-1) took care of business with a 38-7 win over Bradshaw Mountain (0-2), giving McKee his first win as CDO’s coach.
“Find a role, get in the role and go and then use them on all different elements.” McKee said. “The thing we did wrong in the first week was we tried to give each of those kids two positions where this week it was just you have this job, you have that job and we tried to specialize a little better and you can see they played faster so that’s on me for the first week.”
McKee, a former Arizona walk-on who was a roommate of Wildcat receivers coach Bobby Wade during their playing days, is in his 19th season as a head coach. This is his first season at CDO after serving as an assistant under Dustin Peace the previous two years, including the state championship team last year. He has also coached at Pueblo and Sahuaro.
Canyon del Oro head coach Scott McKee talks about getting the first win of the season and the first win as the Dorados head man, building off the legacy of Dustin Peace and utilizing players in multiple positions (offense, defense and special teams).@AllSportsTucson… pic.twitter.com/dKCI4AWIjc
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) September 7, 2024
The Dorados won the coin toss and elected to defer.
CDO got on the board with 1:43 left in the first quarter when senior quarterback Gavin Bower found junior Reece Douglas over the middle for a short touchdown pass.
“First win, home win too it makes it even better. The stands are awesome, stands pumping up. Bradshaw played a great game and receivers made some great catches, it was a fun game,” Bower said after the game.
QB1 for the Dorados, Gavin Bower on his receivers, reading the defense and the excitement for the season after CDO’s 38-7 victory over Bradshaw Mountain. @cdo_football @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/rlecGFE4Uf
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) September 7, 2024
After scoring the touchdown, Douglas put his kicker helmet on and hit the extra point.
Douglas is a prime example of how the Dorado coaching staff are utilizing players in multiple positions. Primarily a kicker, Douglas is seeing time on all sides of the ball. Added to his touchdown catch, he hit all his five extra-point attempts, hitting a 41-yard field goal and made his presence known on defense.
“He’s a utility knife, you can use him everywhere” McKee said of his kicker. “He can catch, he can block, he can run and then obviously you just can’t put a price on three points right. Every drive finishes with points.”
Douglas added, “It’s all the work all the guys up front put up for me and the catch was just a good play call. I looked back at Gavin on the route and he started smiling when he threw the ball. So it’s one of those where it’s a special moment for me. The field goal, that’s just a great hold by Avyen Sholl, shout out Avyen Sholl, shout out my snapper Caleb Dooley, it was just my night but gotta keep going.”
Mr. Automatic, Reece Douglas was 5 of 5 on extra points, hit a 41 yard field goal and caught a touchdown in the Dorados 37-7 win over Bradshaw Mountain. He talks about playing different positions this year and how he prepares before a kick. @AllSportsTucson @cdo_football pic.twitter.com/gZ73Ra2RFu
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) September 7, 2024
At the start of the second quarter, Bower threw a nice floater to junior Lucas Cachoeira for another Dorado touchdown, putting CDO up 14-0 over Bradshaw Mountain.
The Bears fumbled the kick-off on their own 23-yard line. The Dorados capitalized on the turnover when Evan Greer bullied through the defense for six.
Greer was used on short yardage runs throughout the game.
“We don’t need him there all the time, but boy, he’s a special young man,” McKee said of Greer. “I’ll tell you the best part about him is his leadership. He could’ve just put his legs back and walked around with his state championship ring and everybody talking about Evan Greer from last year but he’s really working hard with those young guys and he’ll grab me by the ear and say, ‘Hey coach, let’s get this guy going a little more.’
“You know it’s been pretty humbling you’ve got a guy that is that unselfish.”
With CDO leading 21-0, Bradshaw Mountain scored its one and only touchdown off of a Kylin Jackson 7-yard run.
With 2:01 left in the second quarter Douglas nailed a 41-yard field goal giving CDO a 24-7 lead that they carried with them into halftime.
After a few penalties slowed down the Dorados to begin the third quarter, a pass completion from Bower to junior receiver Cash Dickey put CDO in the red zone. Nick Mondragon got the handoff from Bower and found the right edge for the 6-yard touchdown run.
“That was not on me at all; our front line guys don’t get the recognition they deserve,” said a humble Mondragon on his touchdown run.
CDO starting running back Nick Mondragon talks about finding the edge for a touchdown and winning at home after CDO’s first win of the season. @AllSportsTucson @cdo_football pic.twitter.com/yrms8YqQWW
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) September 7, 2024
CDO’s final touchdown of the game came with 6:13 left when Dickey, cutting to the end zone, caught a 34-yard pass from Bower putting the Dorados up 38-7.
“Great ball, right in the end zone, it was right where we had to get to,” Dickey said about his touchdown catch.
CDO receiver Cash Dickey on his 34 yard touchdown catch and feeling comfortable in his routes after the Dorados 38-7 win over Bradshaw Mountain. @cdo_football @AllSportsTucson pic.twitter.com/LfojDhMihS
— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) September 7, 2024
The Dorados next travel across town to play 5A opponent Desert View on Friday.
Stat Highlights:
Nick Mondragon – 82-yards rushing on 18 carries and 1 touchdown.
Evan Greer – Rushed for 24-yard on 5 carries and 1 touchdown.
Reece Douglas – 5 of 5 extra points, 41-yard field goal and 1 touchdown catch.
Gavin Bower – Completed 4 out of 8 passes for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The defense recovered a fumble on a lateral pass and intercepted the Bears twice.
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