Fort Gibson

MIKE KAYS/Phoenix

New Fort Gibson head football coach Ryan Nolan talks to his players during a spring practice. Nolan, who played football at nearby Keys High School, takes over the Tigers off a Class 6A-1 championship as part of the Jenks staff.

Nolan’s fast tempo out to chase playoff wins at Fort Gibson

WishingO g ur Ft. Gibson Team the best!

By Mike Kays mkays@muskogeephoenix.com

From the moment Ryan Nolan walked into an auditorium to meet his first team to serve as head coach for, it’s been different.

There was the player he told to sit up in his seat.

Cell phones, turn them off.

And from that point in time grew a sense of excitement, stretching to a bump in booster meeting attendance, and, where it matters most, summer workout attendance.

“(Players) wanted to be there, they wanted to work every day, day in and day out,” said Hunter Branch, one of the seniors.

“A lot more numbers, I can tell you that,” added his quarterback, Cole Mahaney.

Mahaney had some inside information on his new mentor. Mahaney’s uncle, Chance Ross, was Ryan Nolan’s favorite receiver at nearby Keys High School. The passing combo set multiple school records together there.

Since then, Nolan, inspired by his high school coach, Gary Willis, went a

12 Muskogee Phoenix Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022 Pigskin Preview

Tigers

way that most in his family did not, trading a career in medicine for football.

A sojourn through multiple Class 6A schools around Tulsa, the last stop being part of Jenks’ 6AI state champion last year, has culminated with the call he got from athletic director Chuck London this spring.

“We knew we had coach (defensive coordinator Scott) Bethel in place, so we knew going in we needed an offensive guy who ran his own system. His being a part of 5A-6A type staffs allowed him to put in his system. His character, his knowledge of the game, relationships with coaches and players ... we felt like he’s the right guy for this time in our history.”

The up-tempo offense from the spread with run-pass options and multiple route options puts a lot of freedom in the feet of receivers and lots of mental load on the quarterbacks.

Mahaney, entering his fourth season as a starter behind center, had an idea early on he was the type of “fit” for what Nolan wants there when his uncle let him know he applied for the job.

“(Ross) just said (Nolan) reminded him a lot of the way I play,” he said.

Added Nolan: “(The offense) is simple for a lot of people but not the quarterback. There’s no pre-snap reads, it’s all postsnap. You may not be able to read the coverage but you’ve got to be able to find the space of what the coverage is giving you. Our receivers will have four options on every play. Cole will have to be able to see the space the receiver is attacking and not just deliver a catchable ball but throw him open.” With Branch and Waggle, Mahaney has about 1,200 of his 1,819 yards through the air in 2021, a year in which

Ryan the Tigers tilted more away from the I to a spread. The up-tempo of Nolan’s system will generate more chances. Waggle and Branch will also man secondary spots on defense — as will Mahaney. The offensive line will see a shuffle. Andrew Sparks played Branch left guard. He’ll move to tackle as part of a movement to put the more athletic linemen at tackle for pulling purposes. The defense will remain the same under Scott Bethel, a 3-4 alignment, but four return as starters with most are in the back end. Mahaney Fort Gibson will look to improve on seven consecutive first-round playoff knockouts. The last time they got to the second round was 2014 under James Singleton. Singleton, ironically, was also the last to conduct a Football 101 for Moms in the summer months, which Nolan led a couple weeks ago. Speaking of moms, his wife, Maci, is pregnant and due to deliver during the season.

Waggle Sparks

MIKE KAYS/Phoenix

Cole Mahaney looks to throw while Tigers assistant coach Grayland Dunnams looks on.

FORT GIBSON TIGERS

Last season: 6-5, lost 4A first round.

Head coach: Nolan Ryan, 1st year.

Staff: Scott Bethel, defensive coordinator; Wes Whiteley, linebackers; Sammy Johnson, defensive line, co-special teams; Jordan London, corners/safeties, co-special teams; Jake Tolbert, offensive line, run game coordinator; Chuck London, tight ends, H-backs, assistant offensive line; Grayland Dunams, receivers.

Returning starters (6 offensive, 4 defensive): Cole Mahaney, Sr., QB/S, 5-10, 170; Cade Waggle, Sr., SLOT,/CB, 5-11, 165; Hunter Branch, Sr., WR/CB, 6-2, 165; Rylie Ladd, Jr., 5-11, 180; Andrew Sparks, Sr., OL, 6-1, 220; John Lewis, Sr., OL/ LB, 6-0, 200; Kayden Hunt, Sr., 6-2, LB, 220.

Emerging: Donnie Cox, So., MULT/DB, 5-10, 140.

Best of Luck this Season!

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