Future's Bright for Dragons after 2011 Turnaround

Back in August Robert Dahl spoke about how he wanted to change the atmosphere surrounding the football program.

The prior two years were quite unusual times for the Dragons, who faced back-to-back 4-6 records as well as changes in the coaching staff, with taking over for the .

Facing heavy pressure, Dahl led the Dragons to a 6-4 record, missing out on the Central Jersey Group III playoffs and the B South crown by just one game each.

"Going in we wanted to take it one game at a time," said Dahl, "Turning the program around was the top goal, and I think we accomplished that."

Before the season, Dahl told his players if they worked they would have opportunities, and they did. The Dragons came up just short on their biggest chance of the season, an overtime loss at B South-winning Barnegat.

"There certainly was some pressure," said Dahl, a former Dragon player himself. "Part of that just comes with the job of being the head coach at Brick."

Brick opened the season with one of the toughest schedules in the Shore, facing defending Group champions Brick Memorial and Lacey.

Holding a halftime lead against the highly successful Mustangs fizzled out as the experienced Walt Currie-coached squad pulled out a 17-10 lead, but it did turn the heads of many.

The next week at Lacey, Brick cemented many of those thoughts with a solid 17-7 win.

"After playing competitive and winning some games, we realized we were a good team and could play with anybody, some of the pressure eased."

Dahl said he and his coaching staff handled the pressure by looking in the mirror and asking themselves if they thought they did everything they possibly could to prepare their team for each game.

When asked about how his players performed this year, Dahl had nothing but positive things to say.

"They were always a half-hour early for everything, without a doubt they always played hard," said Dahl. "No matter what the situation was, they never quit. After falling out of the race for the playoffs and B South title at 4-4, they reeled off two straight wins to finish the year."

Dahl seemed to be pleased the most with the leadership of his seniors.

"They really set the tone for the younger kids in the next years," said Dahl. "The excitement's back, they're excited to take the next step. Not only that, they are great role models inside the school. I'm proud to say they got us back on the winning track.

"If I were to say anything to the senior class as a whole it would be that I was extremely proud of them for turning the program around and the heart they had played with all year," Dahl said.