Oak Grove will once again take it's shot at some of the best programs in the state. They will jump right into the season with a visit by Central Cass with each of their five home games set to take place at various fields around town. After the season opener at Davies they are set to play Oakes at West Fargo, Lisbon & Thompson back down South in September & then close out the regular season against Linton on Moorhead's field. So they won't have the charm of the riverside field but will have all the advantages that come along with those facilities.
Here's what coach Whitney had to say about this season's team.
Before talking about the present, are there any highlights from last Fall that stand out for you in reflection?
The final plays vs Linton HMB. It was great watching the adjustments by the players and coaches and coming up with a big red zone stop to seal the game. It was a nice highlight in an otherwise down year in terms of wins for the team.
Did your team take part in any camps or organized activities this Summer?
Did any young players show for the first time that they may be ready to contribute this Fall during the camp/activity?
We went to a 7 on 7 camp at Concordia but other than that, we held our own camps and there were a lot of positives from those camps. We've had a couple of new kids come into the program and the "veteran" players have embraced them. Which has allowed them to take accountability in learning the system and plays. From those young players, we are looking for their "youthful" enthusiasm and energy from the sidelines.
Who are some of the players that you anticipate will step into the roles vacated by Trevon Rodriguez, Cody Card & the rest of the 2022 graduates?
Those are some tough shoes to fill because those players did a lot for the team. It will be a combination of players that will be asked to step in and fill those roles. Jesse Peterson, Spencer Schumacher, Griffin Olson, Rylee Bakkegard & Oscar Francis will be called upon to step up their roles and the coaching staff has full confidence in them being able to do so.
Are there position groups that you already have identified as strengths of your roster?
Our skill players have really improved in the weight-room and their understanding of what we are trying to do on the field.
How have the player-leaders shown leadership in the past?
In the past, most of the leadership was done in non-verbal ways. This group of captains have earned the trust of the other players and have been a more vocal set of leaders than I've had in the past. We've had great leadership in the past, it's just a more vocal group this time around.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about your team going into the season?
The coaches are hoping to see the increased weight room time to reflect on the field, especially at the line of scrimmage.
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