Last week, I had a chance to check-in with three members of the Damonte football family: Dave, Cody, and Zach Scott. It was after practice and let me tell you, I felt like a hobbit standing next to three giants. The first of the three giants was Dave Scott, who is entering his third year as a part of the football staff at Damonte Ranch High School. It is his fourth year of coaching in Northern Nevada which followed ten years of coaching in New York state. Dave played high school football and then played four years at St. Lawrence University where he started at right guard all four years and was captain for two of those years, most valuable player his senior year. The other two giants were his sons, who have followed him into the sport, Cody and Zach.
Cody Scott started playing football his junior year, at Damonte Ranch, a defensive end and tackle. Cody’s senior year he was an all-region selection at tackle for the Mustangs. After graduation, he joined Coach Ty Gregg’s staff, and this is now his second year as a part of the Mustangs coaching staff. Cody is not just working alongside his dad, he is also helping coach his younger brother, Zach.
Zach Scott, full name is Zachery, is a junior and stands somewhere between 6’4” and 6’5” tall and weighs about 245 pounds, impressive numbers for a high school tight end. In addition to playing tight end, Zach is also a daunting defensive lineman. Zach was an all-region selection last year and hopes to build on that this year under the leadership of new head coach J.J. Milan. Zach started playing in eighth grade. When asked what he loves about football, he said, “[It is] Physical, just hitting people, it is legal to just hit people,” which is the right attitude for a tight end/defensive end. When asked about playing for his dad, he said, “It is great, I get to see him every day, it is extra time.” Dave said that at times it is hard coaching Zach because it is hard being both a coach and dad, and it is not easy separating the two, but he is doing better with Zach than he did with Cody.
Football is the family business; they talk football nonstop, when asked about that, Zach said he and Cody benefit from, and enjoy, all the football talk. Cody said that coaching with his dad is phenomenal, and that he loves it. Last season they coached together on both junior varsity and varsity. When asked if Cody coaches Zach, he said absolutely and that he takes the role of mentor/coach very seriously with his younger brother.
Dave, who was raised by a single mom, was drawn to the game and credits it with helping get to where he is, in life, today. He played and coached in New York but took time away from the game when he moved to the West Coast, in order to establish himself in his career. When Cody started playing football as an eighth grader, he was asked to help coach the team and that reignited the passion for the game. He isn’t just helping coach the high school kids, he is also helping coach Damonte Pop Warner as well. With a dad who is so involved in the game, you might wonder if there was pressure on the boys to play and coach, but when asked that question they both said no, they never felt any pressure to get into the game, and that they were drawn to independently of each other.
So, what next for the Scotts? Dave said he would like to see Cody continue coaching and fit that into his schedule when he becomes a fire fighter. Dave and Cody agree that the next step for Zach would be playing in college, something Zach hopes to do. Cody thinks his brother has the correct mindset and physical attributes to play at the next level. When asked what kind of football future there is for dad, they both laughed and hinted at retirement, but Dave was quick to point out that he wants to keep coaching alongside Coach Milan and the rest of the staff at Damonte.
You can see the Scotts in action this weekend up at Truckee. Last season Truckee made the trip to Damonte, and by virtue of a furious fourth quarter rally, went home with the win after being down 17-7. The Mustangs make the trip to Truckee this Saturday, kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 PM, and if you have never been to a game at Truckee, I recommend you make the trip, it is one of the areas better home venues.
About Your Author-Lynn Ault covers high school athletics for Battle Born Preps, with an emphasis on Damonte Ranch High School. Lynn's wife teaches at Damonte and both their kids graduated from The Ranch. When not covering high school athletics, Lynn volunteers with Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is the youth pastor for Hope Community Church.
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