Finishing games is Falcons goal for 2015

CONNELLSVILLE — Connellsville head football coach Dave McDonald, like all coaches, is anxiously looking forward to the start of another season. McDonald says he is more personally relaxed this year.
“I’ve had to deal with some family health issues and the loss of a player over the last couple of years,” he said. “This is the best I’ve felt coming into a season in the last two years at Connellsville. It’s great to have that stress off your shoulders.”
McDonald says his main focus is to get the Falcons to finish games. The Falcons made the playoffs last year having the best fifth-place record and lost to eventual WPIAL champion and PIAA runner-up Pine-Richland. McDonald said it was a good experience for Connellsville to play a team like that.
“Anytime you can get to the playoffs in Quad-A football is an accomplishment,” McDonald said. “They got to see and play a team that went to the state final. I think it was a measuring stick for the kids. They saw what it’s like to compete at that level. I think that helped us going into our off-season program.”
The Falcons played teams in the Foothills Conference very tough at times last season. They trailed McKeesport 7-0 through most of the first half before giving up a couple of big plays. They took the early lead against Plum before another tough loss and played Penn-Trafford tough on the road, at times. McDonald says a couple of those games could have went either way for the Falcons.
“Football is a game where you have to learn how to finish teams off,” McDonald said. “That was a hard lesson we learned last season.”
He said a prime example of that was the Plum game when the Falcons had the early lead and had things going their way.
“We didn’t close them out when we had the opportunity,” he said. “They hung in there with us and it turned into a little bit of a heavyweight bout. I’m proud of the way we came back and played them in the second half, but it’s still a loss. That was a big learning experience for us.”
McDonald wants to keep the overall good feeling going throughout the season and knows if can put the right combination together the Falcons can make another run at the playoffs and a possible the conference title.
“I love coming here everyday because they are good kids and they put a smile on your face,” he said. “I like the chemistry and unity these kids have and what they have to offer, not only to me and the staff but the Connellsville community.”