Indians set to begin 2022 football season

The Comanche Indians will get their season kicked off this week when they travel to Mangum for a non-district game.

The Indians lost a good senior class from 2021’s 8-3 team, but return several key players as they look to keep their playoff streak alive and make it deeper into the field.

“I think we have the potential to be the best team that I’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Casy Rowell, head coach. “And I know I’ve been saying that every year, but I just think every year we’re getting a a little bit sharper and our young guys are playing real well and we’ve got a good veteran group.”

With only 30 players on the squad, Rowell said he is looking to develop some depth on the team and it may also mean having to know how to play different positions and play them well.

“That’s probably one weakness, we just don’t have a whole lot of depth,”Rowell said. “These guys are going to have to get in really good shape. Overall, though, I think the talent is there, the team is just going to know what we have to do in order to be successful with a smaller team.”

Senior Kooper Doucet returns at quarterback with a lot of experience under his belt. He has started full-time or part-time all four years.

“I just expect him to try to keep it simple out there and not get too complicated and not overthink things,” Rowell said. “I don’t want him to feel like he has to do it all, but just be a solid part of the team. Having all the experience he has will help with that, but I just don’t want him to feel like he has to take control of the game.”

Comanche looks to have a good one-two punch in the backfield with junior Gabe Diaz and senior Braylen Butler. Landon Steele and Erik Roy have also been getting carries.

“I feel good about those guys,” Rowell said. “Gabe and Braylen will get most of the load. They are just great. They complement each other very well and they play similar positions on defense where one of them can catch their breath and come back stronger, so I feel good about them and our line. Diaz and Butler are just hard-working, hard-nosed guys. Both those guys are super competitive and when you want to win, you do things extra, and that’s what both of those guys do.”

Diaz (5-10, 190) finished second in his weight class last year at the state weightlifting meet.

The offensive line is all seniors. It is anchored by Cade White (6-3, 280), whose stock has continued to rise over the offseason as he was invited to participate several camps. He is considered a target by several Division II and lower-tier Division I schools.

“I think the offensive line has a strong bond with Cade there to help lead them,” Rowell said. “He’s wanting to do something special his senior year and obviously he wants to play at the next level. He’s trying to be a student of the game and it’s nice having a guy like that around that can help push those other guys in the right direction.”

At around 165 pounds, Noah Presgrove is not a typical offensive lineman, but he has a lineman’s mentality, according to his coach.

“He’s just so tough, so athletic and so aggressive,” Rowell said.

Brady Dobbins and Kasen VanBuskirk are also experienced linemen returning.

“They don’t have the most size, but they fought off some big cats (in the scrimmage against Cache),” Rowell said. “They fought them tough the whole time and they can hold their own with just about anyone.”

Gage Cobbs is a senior, but does not have that much football experience, but Rowell is expecting a good year out of him up front.

“He doesn’t have that much experience, but he tries hard and those are the type of guys that I like, the ones that try hard,” Rowell said.

Wide receiver will feature some size with senior Logan Bain (6-2, 180), who was the state champion in the 110-meter high hurdles last year in his first attempt at the sport since junior high. Rowell said Corbin Bowen reminds him of Bain as both are tall, lanky and fast.

Rowell is also expecting a big year out of versatile sophomore Colby Shannon, who can split out or come out of the backfield. And after starting as the freshman team’s quarterback last season, he can add another dimension to his game.

Rowell fully expects Landen Steele, Koble Lewis, Evan Dodd and Hollister Pollock to contribute at the receiver position as well.

“We’ve got five skill players out there that we’re trying to get the ball to, so we’re going to spread it around as much as possible, sideline to sideline with this guy, up the middle with this other guy.,” Rowell said. “We are really just trying to find our talent and get the ball in their hands.”

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Rowell took over the offense this season and said he shrunk the playbook to give the players the confidence they need to execute what they have.

On the defensive side, White and Presgrove will be looking to cause problems for opposing offenses up front.

“Cade’s hard to block solo, so he kind of demands a double team,” Rowell said. “Noah is very slippery and very fast off the ball. Kooper is an experienced pass rusher who is extremely fast off the ball.

Diaz will be looking to raise havoc at middle linebacker, but freshman Brandon Lombard has had an impressive pre-season and will be seeing some playing time.

Senior Jack Newton will be occupying one outside linebacker spot while Steele takes the other.

“Jack is a wrestler who hasn’t played football in a couple of years, but he’s physical and a tough tackler. He’s coachable, too, so he’ll fit in great. “Steele’s just another great athlete. He’s still got some guys trying to fight for that position behind, so it will be interesting to see what happens on that.”

Shannon and Bowen will be at cornerback with Butler and Bain at the safety positions.

“Those guys can fly down the field and aren’t scared to tackle, so I feel pretty confident about that.”

Shannon will be taking care of the kicking duties with Dobbins handling the long snaps.

Rowell knows it will be a tough district that now includes Washington, who was state runner-up last season. Other teams include Community Christian, Lindsay, Frederick, Purcell, Little Axe and Crooked Oak.

“This is the toughest district we’ve ever had,” Rowell siad. “We’re not going to shy away from the competition. Playing these good teams helps a lot and playing these coaches I’m learning from them constantly.”