Making some noise: Inderkum’s new coach debuts with shutdown of fourth-ranked Elk Grove
The 2021 high school football season kicked off Friday night with hundreds of students, parents and family all ready to scream and shout in support of the players. Their cheers were loud and passionate, their chants vibrated the stands. But nobody’s voice was louder than new Inderkum coach Reggie Harris.
He hyped the team up in the pregame then led the team prayer postgame as Harris and the Tigers pulled off a 15-6 upset win over fourth-ranked Elk Grove.
Not bad for his first day on the job.
Harris was a late hire. He arrived three weeks prior to the start of the season. Something clicked immediately. Players began showing up at 4 a.m. for morning practices. They respond to Harris differently.
“He came in, believing in us, before he even knew us,” said junior receiver, Keivin Boone-Nelson, who scored a touchdown in the game.
There’s no secret formula, it’s simple. The football program is family-oriented, Harris said. He coaches for the players and the players play for him.
It’s a philosophy that he’s learned best benefits your players. Harris is all about the kids by showing them love, faith, and believing in them.
“It takes a village,” said Harris. “The Natomas community has these kids’ back and I have these kids’ back. I am just a mere extension of their home.”
Their team motto is “Full 48,” which means playing hard for the full 48 minutes of a game. But it’s not just about the crucial moments of practice and a game, it’s also about life.
“The day he came in, we knew it was something different,” said senior receiver, Amani Pressley, who caught a touchdown in the win.
Some players on Inderkum’s roster lost a year of eligibility because of the coronavirus pandemic. Others were doubted. They all played with a chip on their shoulder.
The Tiger defense held Elk Grove’s offense, to just six points, after the Thundering Herd missed an extra point after a touchdown. The Thundering Herd are usually a high-scoring offense, tallying 26 points or more in 14 out of 15 games in 2019, their last full season.
“It’s not the size of the dog, it’s the fight of the dog,” said Inderkum assistant coach Kenny Sanders. “We come to play.”
Inderkum forced the Elk Grove offense to a safety in the second quarter.
Senior defensive back Miles Mitchell played the entire game with a cast on one arm due to a broken hand and caught an interception to end the game.
“We came in with the mindset we have to attack,” said the defensive back for Inderkum, Miles Mitchell. “We just had to trust and believe in our brothers to get our assignments done, and that’s what we did.”
There are 30 players on the roster at Inderkum. They didn’t have a head coach until a month before the season began. It’s been two years since there’s been a full season of football.
The Tigers are now looking to capitalize on their 1-0 start.
The next game scheduled is August 27, when they host Grant High School in another nonconference matchup.
Coach Harris was a defensive coordinator at Grant High School, prior to joining Inderkum and after a season at Antelope and several in Florida.
He says, there’s no added pressure or bittersweet rivalry between Harris and his old coaching spot. Harris just sees it as another game, an opportunity for the kids to compete. If they keep playing like they did against Inderkum, Harris’ voice will be heard bellowing on the Tigers’ sideline for a long time to come.
This story was originally published August 21, 2021 at 6:37 AM.