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PRICE - It's been a long time since football has been fun in Carbon County. The Dino's had won just four games in the last seven years. They suffered through four winless seasons. They haven't reached the postseason in 11 years.
"We'd just go down the hall and guys didn't want to be a part of the program, they'd make fun of it and just didn't want to be out here," said Dakota Cisneros, the quarterback for the Dinos. "So we didn't have that many guys we didn't have the talent we needed out here there was always better athletes in school that wouldn't come out for football because they didn't want to lose."
But this season things have changed. Head coach Jeff Blanc and his staff have been coaching this group since they were in junior high. He's instilled discipline, toughness and a winning attitude.
"I think it's just like attitude and discipline that everyone has, you know we all came together as brothers, none of us fight," said Oswaldo Loaiza, the center and defensive end for the team. "We all get along, always cheering and helping each other, picking each other up." The Dinos are off to a 4-0 start. Their best start since 2000, when they went 9-3 and reached the state quarterfinals. One more win would guarantee just the sixth winning season since 1970.
"The program's a lot better than it was in the past. We have more kids coming out, more fans." Loaiza said. "Our goal is to make the state playoffs, something we haven't done in 11 years, and that's our ultimate goal." Blanc said.
Not only has winning been a thrill for the players, it has also renewed pride in a community desperate for a winner.
"There's been a lot of buzz around us, and there's so much more people coming out to our games" Cisneros said. "The stands are packed; we've got a huge student section. We're getting put in the paper every week. It's been fun; it's been really cool to see."
"Everywhere I wear the Carbon shirt or whatever, they always look at me they are like ‘oh you guys are doing great this year, I'm proud of you guys,'" said Daulton Nelson a running back and linebacker for Carbon. "It's just so awesome that the community backs us."
"Being a small town you walk into the local Wal-Mart and you get hit up by everyone asking about the game, what's going on, how the guys are doing," Blanc said. "There's been a lot of excitement in the community, a lot of pride that's building up."
Win or lose Friday night against Delta, the Dinos have changed the culture of their football program. And have a warning for anyone who takes them lightly.
"We've been underestimated this whole year and I think people are starting to pay notice." Blanc said. "When you come to Carbon High School to play you're going to get some smash-mouth football, we're going to hit you hard and we're going to hit you all game long."
Email: jjensen@ksl.com
Twitter: @JJSportsBeat
