Schools
After A Rough Start, Dowling's Dragons Finish Strong
Dowling, coaching in Brick for his second season, says the Dragons have a better chance to be playoff-bound in 2011.
The Brick Township Dragons could not have started their 2010 campaign in worse fashion.
Not only did the team drop their first two games to Brick Memorial and Lacey Township, they were shut out in both games, having failed to tally a single point.
Despite the horrid start, the Dragons improved over time, culminating their season in two close wins which gave the team a 4-6 record.
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"I'm really proud of the boys," Brick head coach Patrick Dowling said. "To finish the way we did despite the start is good."
Dowling also spoke of how he has been happy a lot of his younger players were able to gain experience during an up-and-down season.
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"We lost a lot of good players last year," he said. "So for those young guys to gain experience like that is really important. You can't coach experience so I'm glad they were able to gain that."
In the last two games, wins of 19-7 and 27-20 over Kennedy Memorial and Ocean City, respectivley, the Dragons' offense performed better than it had all season.
"The offense struggled this year," Dowling said. "There were a lot of times during the season where they had a chance to bail out the defense and they had a lot of three- and-outs. It's tough to win that way. We had a new offensive coordinator this year and a lot of young guys so that'll turn around next season."
While the head coach noted that the defense was clearly the team's strong point, he also said that special teams improved greatly.
"We only gave up a few returns," said Dowling. "We had a lot of good play from them on punt and kickoff, and they really improved over the season."
Players and coaches had a team meeting Nov. 17, where Dowling says it was obvious the team will be ready and raring to go in 2011.
"There was a difference in the guys," he said. "No question we'll be able to play next year."
As for how well the team will do in terms of wins, Dowling says there's no reason why they can't be playoff-bound in 2011.
"It's going to be tough, and the playoffs are definitely a goal," he said. "I think we do have a chance to make them, no doubt about that."
If the now-experience players can perform to their abilities a year down the road, the Dragons could be a force to be reckoned with next season, which would be Dowling's third in Brick.
