In sports, never take anything for granted.

Despite a school-record 16-game losing streak; despite a 31-6 loss to Davis last year; despite not having made the playoffs since 1937 — come Friday night Armijo High will see if wholesale football program changes mean any difference.

Meanwhile, Blue Devil head coach Steve Smyte hopes to prolong the Indians’ agony.

“We have a motto — ‘Respect everyone, fear no one,’ ” Smyte says. “We won’t win by showing up, and I think our guys understand that.

“The other thing we preach is that we need to control what we can control. We’re more concerned about improving every time out, regardless of who we play.”

Translation: Don’t take Armijo lightly. Execute on offense. Lay wood on defense.

Both schools start 2011 nursing 5-25 records over the past three seasons — and, like DHS welcoming Smyte last year, Armijo has a new coach with a new attitude.

Former Indian two-way standout Aaron Toliver replaces longtime AHS coach Mike Singer.

“Although it is a difficult task, we have not been focusing on the past,” Toliver told The Daily Republic (Fairfield). “There is nothing anyone on the team or coaching staff can do about the previous decades of losing.

“The only thing we can control is our future. That has really been the focus of our offseason camps and early season practices.”

To Devil fans, that last part sounds familiar.

In addition to coming off an 0-10 campaign, Toliver has a new quarterback (Enrique Garrido-Ramirez) and a new tailback (either Jairon Gacosta or Julius Passion).

The Armijo defense, which allowed an average of 46 points per game in 2010, should again be a grab bag, while the only position at which Davis’ first foe might be stronger is on the offensive line.

Since the 1940s, the Blue Devils hold a 14-10-7 series lead and are winners of three straight.

The DHS offense, which, according to Smyte, has a rebuilt offensive line, an interesting new running back in sophomore Winfred Roberson and one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the northland — senior Shayne Reagan — will be the key if the Devils are to beat Armijo for a fourth consecutive time.

But Reagan and company will have to solve a gap-shooting 4-4 Indian defensive alignment. Smyte says his squad will “have to be prepared for all kinds of stuff.”

Game time is 7:15 p.m. at Armijo.

Notes: Davis went 1-9 in 2010 after consecutive 2-8 seasons under Dan Gazzaniga, now a Del Oro assistant coach. … Armijo QB Brian Wilson graduated last year after setting virtually every career Indian passing record. …”There is pressure coaching my alma mater, however, there is also an added sense of pride to coach for the purple and gold,” explained Toliver, a 1980s AHS grad. “I’ve never really labored over the pressure … but have been fueled by the sense of pride.” … Armijo — which plays in the Monticello Empire League — last won a conference crown in 1955. Unfortunately, there were no football playoffs that season. … The Indians last had a winning season in 2005 (6-4).

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047. Daily Republic staff writer Paul Farmer contributed to this report

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