Indians look to improve in 2024

Comanche football coach Gary Robinson knew in 2023 that his young team would take its lumps but he knew it would start paying off the next year.

Next year has arrived and the excitement for the program is building as the Indians kick off the season this Friday at home against S&S Consolidated out of Texas at 7 p.m.

The Indians will be looking to improve on their 2-8 record from 2023 in a new classification, Class 2A-II, which has put them in a new district.

“This is what I hoped for last year,” Robinson said. “We talked a lot about this year last year because we were so young and we started the season with just one senior. We ended up with five, but now I’m looking forward to having 12 seniors. You can tell how much more grown up they are and more mature. Just being around them in practice and the weight room. Seniors are almost men so they are more focused and they know they are only guaranteed 10 more games. I think seniors play harder and they play more focused. That’s what I’m looking forward to this year, coaching those guys.”

Quarterback Colby Shannon is one of those seniors. He looked solid in last week’s scrimmage at Healdton. A versatile athlete, Shannon will be a two-way threat whether passing or running. 

“I’m expecting great leadership out of him this year,” Robinson said. “I’d like to see more vocal leadership out of him, but he does a great job leading by example. He’s one of those guys when he steps out on the field, the rest of his teammates know he’s there and they start to focus as soon as they see him coming around. His athleticism is obvious to everyone. He’s a great athlete. He runs the ball well, he throws the ball well. Physically, he’s a great athlete. Mentally, I want to see him step up and be a great leader for us.”

The coach was pleased with his performance in the scrimmage.

“Last year was his first year to play a lot of high school quarterback,” Robinson said. “Now with 10 games under his belt, he looked sharp in the scrimmage. I hope that he can keep playing like that Friday night because we expect to win.”

Running back Hollister Pollock suffered a knee injury in the scrimmage but was expected to be back at practice midweek and be able to play this week. 

“He’s very intelligent and it doesn’t take him very long at all to pick up on plays,” Robinson said. “He’s quick to pick up an adjustment and he hits the hole with a burst of speed. He’s a one-cut back. He’s not going to zigzag and juke around. He’s going to make one cut and go straight upfield. That’s what I like in my backs.”

The offensive line will be undersized by most standards, but Robinson still likes the unit.

“I don’t think it is any secret you can look out there and see we’re smaller than most teams that we play up front,” Robinson said. “But what we do have is six, seven, eight kids that play with a lot of heart and a lot of dedication and commitment. If I can get them to do that every game, then that’ll make up for that size in a lot of ways.They play with a lot of pride and a lot of heart. I’m proud of them. I think we will be fine as long as they keep playing that way.”

The line is composed of senior Garrett Garner at center, junior Jonathan Alvarez and senior Justin Mann at guards, and seniors Clayton Brantner and Brylan Sweat.

Alvarez is the most experienced of the group having started all 10 games last year and the biggest lineman. The coach said he is an excellent pulling guard.  

The base offense will be a spread offense, which features multiple receivers on the field. Senior Ayden Reed at 6-foot-5 is a big target on one side and senior speedster Kruz Lile is on the other. Lile qualified for the Class 3A state meet last year in the 100 meters. Sophomore Rylan White is expected to be right in the starting mix. 

Sophomore Cooper Dobbins and senior Evan Dodd will be getting a lot of snaps in the slot receiver positions. 

“Cooper played in all 10 games for us last year as a freshman,” Robinson said. “He ran a lot of jet sweeps for us and is a good receiver. Lile is going to be a stud for us this year. He got some touchdowns for us last year and had some good receptions. Evan is a good possession receiver who runs good routes. He’s going to catch the short routes and turn up field and try to run you over and fall for another four our five yards when he gets tackled. He’s our number one captain. He was there for us all 10 games last year and was at summer workouts 86-87 percent of the time this year. Ayden has a big body and makes a good target. He has great hands and runs great routes. He’s a tough, tough kid. Rylan is another big receiver and he is going to be outstanding. He’s just a couple inches shorter than Ayden and has some great hands.”

Many of the same players will turn around and play on the defensive side of the ball. 

Garner and Alvarez will be the defensive tackles. The tall and lanky Reed will be at one defensive end with Brantner at the other. 

Erik Roy will be at one inside linebacker spot with Sweat at the other. 

“Roy does a good job of reading his keys,” Robinson said. “He will just get to the football and he will tackle you hard. He’s disciplined.”

Pollock and Koble Lewis will be playing outside linebacker spots. Lewis was still recovering from having his foot stepped on by a steer recently but Robinson said Lewis may be ready by this Friday.

White and Dobbins will be playing the cornerback positions with Lile also in the mix. 

Shannon will play safety when he is needed and Carson Vansickle will also play safety. Vansickle  will also see time at receiver on offense and he is the backup quarterback.

“I don’t like playing my quarterback at safety, but he’s the best,” Robinson said.

Robinson thinks his team will be in the mix come playoff time. Beggs, Davis and Holdenville are preseason favorites in the district, but Robinson thinks his team will be right there at the end of the regular season. 

“I think we can compete with Tishomingo and Coalgate,” Robinson said. “CCS (Community Christian) is a private school and they have good athletes. They beat us pretty good last year, but I think we will compete against them a little better this year.”make one cut and go straight upfield. That’s what I like in my backs.”

The offensive line will be undersized by most standards, but Robinson still likes the unit.

“I don’t think it is any secret you can look out there and see we’re smaller than most teams that we play up front,” Robinson said. “But what we do have is six, seven, eight kids that play with a lot of heart and a lot of dedication and commitment. If I can get them to do that every game, then that’ll make up for that size in a lot of ways.They play with a lot of pride and a lot of heart. I’m proud of them. I think we will be fine as long as they keep playing that way.”

The line is composed of senior Garrett Garner at center, junior Jonathan Alvarez and senior Justin Mann at guards, and seniors Clayton Brantner and Brylan Sweat.

Alvarez is the most experienced of the group having started all 10 games last year and the biggest lineman. The coach said he is an excellent pulling guard.  

The base offense will be a spread offense, which features multiple receivers on the field. Senior Ayden Reed at 6-foot-5 is a big target on one side and senior speedster Kruz Lile is on the other. Lile qualified for the Class 3A state meet last year in the 100 meters. Sophomore Rylan White is expected to be right in the starting mix. 

Sophomore Cooper Dobbins and senior Evan Dodd will be getting a lot of snaps in the slot receiver positions. 

“Cooper played in all 10 games for us last year as a freshman,” Robinson said. “He ran a lot of jet sweeps for us and is a good receiver. Lile is going to be a stud for us this year. He got some touchdowns for us last year and had some good receptions. Evan is a good possession receiver who runs good routes. He’s going to catch the short routes and turn up field and try to run you over and fall for another four our five yards when he gets tackled. He’s our number one captain. He was there for us all 10 games last year and was at summer workouts 86-87 percent of the time this year. Ayden has a big body and makes a good target. He has great hands and runs great routes. He’s a tough, tough kid. Rylan is another big receiver and he is going to be outstanding. He’s just a couple inches shorter than Ayden and has some great hands.”

Many of the same players will turn around and play on the defensive side of the ball. 

Garner and Alvarez will be the defensive tackles. The tall and lanky Reed will be at one defensive end with Brantner at the other. 

Erik Roy will be at one inside linebacker spot with Sweat at the other. 

“Roy does a good job of reading his keys,” Robinson said. “He will just get to the football and he will tackle you hard. He’s disciplined.”

Pollock and Koble Lewis will be playing outside linebacker spots. Lewis was still recovering from having his foot stepped on by a steer recently but Robinson said Lewis may be ready by this Friday.

White and Dobbins will be playing the cornerback positions with Lile also in the mix. 

Shannon will play safety when he is needed and Carson Vansickle will also play safety. Vansickle  will also see time at receiver on offense and he is the backup quarterback.

“I don’t like playing my quarterback at safety, but he’s the best,” Robinson said.

Robinson thinks his team will be in the mix come playoff time. Beggs, Davis and Holdenville are preseason favorites in the district, but Robinson thinks his team will be right there at the end of the regular season. 

“I think we can compete with Tishomingo and Coalgate,” Robinson said. “CCS (Community Christian) is a private school and they have good athletes. They beat us pretty good last year, but I think we will compete against them a little better this year.”