York Institute Dragons Head Coach Derwin Wright Looking To Improve Everyday This Season

One season after going 9-3 and advancing to the postseason, the York Institute Dragons are prepared to start the 2019 campaign.

Led by Head Coach Derwin Wright, the Dragons are rebuilding after losing a wealth of talent to graduation. Last year’s team delivered three shutouts and dominated opposing offenses on the gridiron. With graduation comes the reality that Wright will have to replace some key players.

“We’re replacing several starters who were seniors,” Wright said. “Our quarterback, two of our three inside linebackers, three offensive lineman and our running back (are some that graduated). It’s every year you have to replace players that graduate, but it seems like last year we lost a lot of our starters.”

That hasn’t stopped the team from doing what it can to improve, as it hit the ground running for its summer camps and programs. Wright knows they can’t hang their head about what they’ve lost; they can only work with what they have.

“You’ve got to work hard in the offseason programs,” Wright said. “Stay focused, and hope that going into the season, you’ll have some luck and as few injuries as possible.”

One of the keys, according to Wright, will be constant growth and improvement every time his players step on the field.

“Every year, you hope that the team gels and matures and has a great season,” Wright said. “This team is definitely capable of doing that. My hope is that they improve and get better everyday. (I hope) they come to practice ready to work, and they learn from their mistakes throughout the season.”

The Dragons’ season kicks off on Friday, Aug. 23, at Jackson County at 7 P.M.