The Dunsmuir High School football team got its first win of the season, but it didn’t come the way they wanted. Scheduled opponent Happy Camp was forced to forfeit the game due to not having enough practice hours. Even though it is a win  for the Tigers, head coach Steve Van Ert still has his worries. 
Van Ert and his players were not happy with news about the game. He said they wanted to face an opponent and get the exposure. Since they knew this might happen, the players remained focus during the week and had a chance to prepare for that contest and this week’s game.
This could be a win/loss situation for the Tigers when it comes down to the end of the season and the playoffs. The win puts them ahead of the pack, but if they are in a tie for the last playoff berth, the nod will go to the other team rather than Dunsmuir because this wasn’t a true win.
With this potential situation, this does affect the guarantee by Van Ert – if they win two of their first three games that they will make the playoffs. Since making that statement, his schedule has been revised. He feels now that they need to win the next three games in order to prove they belong in the playoffs, especially with the toughest part of their schedule coming up.
The Tigers will play Butte Valley Sept 4, a team they faced during a scrimmage on Aug. 23. in Tulelake. The Tigers had good outing against the Honkers then, but that doesn’t mean this game will be a “walk in the park.”
Van Ert feels that offense will be the key to a victory this week, and he has put together a third offensive scheme, as a back-up plan, and worked a lot with the offensive line to ensure their success. 
The Tigers will gain two to four players that have not been available to participate after this week’s game. Adding these players gives Van Ert more options and a deeper bench.  That may be the key to their success this season.
“With a win Thursday we can be confident of being competitive with the powerhouse teams of Princeton, Greenville, Westwood and Champion Christian,” Van Ert said.