Palestine Football Preview 2021 | Page 30

COACH PAUL GOULD INDIANS LOOK TO CONTINUE CULTURE SHIFT

BY JUWAN LEE
Every year a coach ’ s goal is to enhance the culture of the program he presides over . Last year was no different for head coach Paul Gould and his Frankston Indian bunch who hadn ’ t seen playoff action since 2013 .
You heard it all throughout the offseason , from coaches and players , that they wanted to “ change the culture of Frankston athletics .”
At the time , those seniors main focus was on the football team and how to will their guys into the playoffs . But the message spread throughout the entire athletic program as every Frankston team earned playoff berths .
This year ? To not only repeat the process , but to prove a new way of life for Frankston football .
“ Getting [ to the playoffs ] is great , but now let ’ s go win ,” Gould said . “ Now it ’ s time to take this program to that next step . They got to see the intensity that comes with the playoffs . They understand that and we want to build on that .”
The first step in reaching that goal is to replace the production of former Frankston quarterback Brink Bizzell . Bizzell captained a Frankston offense that had three 40-point games in district and a 60-point game in their preseason finale .
Bizzell also was the District 9-2A DI Co-Offensive MVP with 700 yards passing and 13 touchdowns through five district games .
However , Gould still sees a team that could live up to expectations this year . Since he took over in 2018 , he never denied the talent Frankston is capable of putting on the field . They just needed to see it come together .
Returning from 2020 ’ s playoff team are players like Clayton Merritt – who is projected to slide into the quarterback role this year . Alex Oxford and Jared Cook command an offensive line unit that helped establish a physical rushing attack last season .

“ GETTING TO THE PLAYOFFS IS GREAT BUT NOW LET ’ S GO WIN .” - Head Coach Paul Gould

Kaymon Davis rushed for 300 yards last year in taking snaps behind K . J . Hawkins . Davis will see the lion ’ s share of snaps at starting running back this season .
Kody Loebig – who had 137 yards receiving and two touchdowns – also steps into a bigger role with Merritt moving to quarterback .
Expect a variety of experience on the field for Frankston this season . A dependable mix of freshman , sophomores , junior and senior-level talent will see action for the Indians this year .
Sophomore Ryan Harper could compete for playing time after impressing his freshman year , along with other players such as Seth Gaskin , Juan Garcia , Devin Allen and Isaiah Allen .
“ We ’ re going in the right direction ,” Gould said . “ We talk to these guys different now . We ’ re not just practicing in hopes of getting better – we ’ re getting better in order to win . We want to advance . Just making the playoffs is great but we ’ re trying to win ball games and eventually win championships .
“ It ’ s crazy how cultures can change based on mindset . In a program where winning is expected playoffs isn ’ t something you talk about . You ’ re on to state championships . Our mindset on how we approach things has changed .”
Gould spoke before last season on how he continues to carry the same three goals with him – 10-win season , a district championship and a state title . Those goals still remain , but are in a more tangible realm now .
“ Right now we ’ re better off than we I first got here ,” Gould said . “ And it ’ s fun to see that growth . I love watching these kids compete and watching that confidence grow in them . I expect us to start consistently be competitive .
“ These kids have bought in and believe in this program . We ’ re getting there and it ’ s exciting . We ’ re going to be a better program for it .”

FRANKSTON INDIANS

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