Dufur is not looking too far ahead in 2018

For Dufur senior Abraham Kilby, however, he and his teammates are not thinking about the playoffs, but rather on progressing as a team and putting in the proper amount of work to prepare for the next opponent.

“There’s a lot talk about teams moving down and teams coming into our league, but really, we just want to focus on game-to-game,” Kilby said. “We just want to study and make sure we are mentally and physically prepared for whatever team we are playing. Trying to win the game in front of us is what we want to do. We don’t want to focus on one big goal and get stressed and develop anxiety, so we will focus on game-to-game.”

Last season, the Rangers finished 12-0 with a No. 2 ranking, added a Big Sky Conference crown, won their third consecutive state title and wound up as MaxPreps Football’s 10th-ranked program in the nation.

With the loss of graduated seniors Hagen Pence, Ian Cleveland, Curtis Crawford, and Wade Blake, and with the season-ending injury of Tabor McLaughlin, incoming seniors Derek Frakes, Cole Kortge, Russell Peters, Abraham Kilby, Anthony Thomas and Tanner Masterson are the new leaders in the locker room for a Dufur team that has won 20 consecutive games and is vying for a fourth straight championship.

“The seniors have done a good job of leading by example,” Dufur head coach Jack Henderson said. “It is really important for them to help the younger kids mature really fast and get them to where we want Dufur football to be. These guys have been a part of three state championship wins and they actually have a chance at another one. That’s a long way away and they have to improve a lot to even think about having a chance to be playing at the end of the season again.”

In 12 games last season, Dufur rattled off 5,147 yards of offense and 91 touchdowns, with 3,595 of those yards coming on the ground for 59 scores.

Back at quarterback is Frakes and he has Kortge, Asa Farrell, Thomas and Masterson poised to put up big numbers.

Henderson said that the dynamic is shifted a bit from the physical style of running delivered by Pence and Cleveland, so using speed and quickness is going to carry the team.

“We have fast guys that can get in the open field and make plays,” Frakes said. “Coach wants us to attack all game long and we have the skilled players to keep defenses on their heels. We need to be able to make adjustments and get our offensive players out in the open.”

The saving grace of any prolific offense lies on the line and the Rangers are breaking in some new players to make up for some of recent graduates.

While the linemen are lighter in terms of weight, technique and footwork will be critical areas to sharpen up to keep the offense moving.

“The offensive line is going to be a big part of our offense,” Masterson said. “If you don’t have the guys on the line blocking well, then you are not going to have enough space to make plays. We need the big blocks and those guys moving defenders around, so we can get those big gains.”

Dufur’s defense allowed 199 points, holding teams to two touchdowns or fewer five times, and gave up 20 points or less in seven games, with one shutout.

The Rangers also had 43 sacks, 126 tackles for loss, 14 fumble recoveries, 13 interceptions and three defensive scores.

Through the 1A state playoffs, wins over Lowell, Adrian, Falls City and Hosanna Christian, Dufur’s No. 6-ranked scoring defense (16.5 points a game) allowed 794 yards, 282 rushing, posted 15 sacks and forced 10 turnovers and an 8 for 50 conversion rate on third downs.

Getting everyone on the same page and communicating are going to be places where the Rangers need to raise their level of play.

“I am not sure if we are better is the term we should use this year for this defense,” Kilby said. “It is how much more willing we are to work hard and how much we are going to take it day-to-day and work our butts off to get better every single day. That’s really what we are trying to go for. It is just a lot of repetition and consistency.

“We are just trying to play the game of football. That’s what we love and that’s what we love about this program. I can’t wait to get in the game and see how we do as a team.”

Henderson said the team concept carried Dufur in 2017, which meant players may be asked to play a different position than they are used to.

McLaughlin moved to offensive line and earned an all-state award for his performance, giving credence to that philosophy.

Masterson said that everyone needs to adopt that mindset.

“When you get called into the game, it is important that you are ready to play hard in whatever position coach asks you to play,” Masterson said. “If you are normally a running back and they put you in at left guard, you need to play that position as hard as you can, so it helps the team.”

In athletics, change is constant, whether it is players graduating, leaving or being injured.

The offensive line is ironing out a few aspects and coaches are trying to fit the best parts to get the team to its peak again.

That is the fun part.

“There really are a lot of unanswered questions with this team,” Henderson said. “Every season is a different season and every team is a different team, but I look forward to spending the next three or four months with these guys, working hard every day trying to maximize how good we can be and get them to be the best players and people possible.”

Dufur takes on Triad at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Eight-Man Classic.