2025 Douglas Tigers Season Preview

2025 Douglas Tigers Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

We are just under two weeks away from the start of the high school football season in The Silver State and I couldn’t be more excited. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be previewing many teams from our local area as well as a few other surprises, before getting into football season full swing on Aug. 14^th when the first games kick off. Without further ado here is Today’s team: Douglas.

Douglas Tigers

Head Coach: Kyle Mays, fifth season at Douglas (18-23 overall, 8-15 league in four seasons at Douglas and overall)

Previous Season Record: 6-5 overall, 2-3 league

Overview: When Coach Kyle Mays took over the Douglas Tigers football program, it was more than just a job – it was a culmination of a lifelong goal. A proud alum who once wore the same jersey under ‘Friday Night Lights,’ he took over the program looking to revive the town of Minden and provide a spark that had been lost in recent years. The early years of Mays tenure were tough. With limited depth, a culture being rebuilt, and a demanding schedule the wins were few and far in between as the Tigers posted a 2-16 record overall, while only winning one league game in the same timeframe. Some critics questioned if Mays was the right man for the job and two years later, he has continued to show up and his program has posted a 16-7 record overall over the last two seasons while posting an undefeated league season in 2023, and an overall record of 7-3 in league during the last two seasons.

Everything changed two seasons ago. The culture and hard work finally caught up to the vision, and the Tigers started playing with a new level of confidence and physicality. A breakout 10-win campaign silenced any doubters, this was followed up by another playoff appearance last season that netted the Tigers a home playoff game for the second season in a row, proving their success, the previous year was no fluke. Under Coach Mays, the team has found its identity – tough, physical, disciplined, hard-nosed and unafraid to punch above their weight. The growth they have shown has earned them a spot in the region’s top classification, where they more than held their own a year ago.

The Tigers faithful always show up big under the ‘Friday Night Lights,’ and this year promises even more excitement. Home games at Keith Roman Field are known for their electric atmosphere and the team feeds off that crown energy. Coach Mays pointed out that his squad looks forward to showing off the teams’ strengths of “unity, depth, and [overall] numbers” this season and that he expects his team to “compete with everyone.” If the Tigers can control the line of scrimmage, it will go a long way towards their success this season.

The Tigers will continue to rely on a ‘Two-back power’ offense, which returns four starters from last season, that is built around their dominant run that wears opponents down over four quarters. They are anchored by a dominant offensive line – their power run scheme emphasizes physicality and ball control, allowing them to dictate tempo and keep their defense fresh. By consistently winning at the line of scrimmage, the Tigers create running lanes for their backs, namely Zack Jackson – who had 1,415 yards and 19 TDs for the Tigers in the ground game last season. Jackson’s 7.2 yards per carry last season helps open up short-yardage opportunities that sustain drives and control the clock. The physical identity not only limits opponents’ possessions but also plays to their biggest competitive advantage – outmuscling teams in the trenches to try and grind out hard-fought wins.

If there’s one unit that could carry this team far, it’s the defense – which returns up to as many as six starters. Anchored by defensive line stalwarts Justin Parra-McGee and Oscar Conchas-Cruz along with hard-hitting linebacker Michael Sinclair and the aforementioned downhill safety Zack Jackson, the Tigers are always flying to the ball. The defense has impressed during the offseason and the Tigers faithful are hopeful that that momentum will carry on into the season. With an aggressive 3-4 scheme, which provides them with an odd front and multiple choices for who becomes the fourth pass rusher on any given down, combined with an additional focus on fundamentals, this side of the ball could keep the team in games even when the offense is finding their rhythm.

Potential Projected Starters:

Offense

QB Joe Michel, Senior OR Keston Sadabseng, Junior: Michel is the front runner for the QB position as he passed for 148 yards and 1 TD last season.

RB Zack Jackson, Senior: Jackson was dynamic last season as he totaled 1,975 yards and 20 TDs in eleven games. He averaged 179.5 yards per game last season, and I don’t expect his production to go down this season, in fact – I expect him to have a senior season like his older brother did two seasons ago when he rushed for over 2,000 yards.

WR Nathan Priou, Senior

TE Jacob Davis, Junior

OTs Justin Parra-McGee, Senior and Peio Ithurburu, Junior

OGs Curtis Haliwell, Junior and Camran Peake, Senior

C Luis Vega, Senior

Defense

DEs Justin Parra-McGee, Senior and Drake Ulmer, Senior

DT Oscar Conchas-Cruz, Junior

OLB Michael Sinclair, Senior: Sinclair totaled 56 Tackles, 2 TFLs, and 1 FR last season.

OLB TBD

MLBs TBD

CB Dallin Maidlow, Senior: Maidlow totaled 26 tackles, and 1 TFL last season.

CB TBD

SS Zack Jackson, Senior: Jackson, a two-way dynamo, was responsible for 71 tackles, two tackles for loss, three sacks, a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

FS TBD

K/P TBD

KR/PR Zack Jackson, Senior: Jackson had 222 kick return yards including a 99-yard TD.

Also, look out for a trio of 27’s to make an impact on the field this season as Coach Mays highlighted Brody Whalen, Wyatt Estes, and Tyler Collins as players who could make an impact for his squad this season, he’s excited about them to say the least.

Season Schedule:

Aug. 15 vs. Fernley

Aug. 22 vs. Elko

Sep. 5 at Sutter (Calif.)

Sep. 12 vs. North Valleys

Sep. 26 vs. Damonte Ranch

Oct. 3 at Bishop Manogue

Oct. 10 vs. Carson

Oct. 17 at Spanish Springs

Oct. 24 vs. Galena

Oct. 30 at Reed

J. Ray Dockter has been covering high school sports since 2022. If you have a story worth telling, let him know via Twitter/X @J_RayDoc.