Oregon

Participation numbers up with new coach

By ANDY COLBERT

Shaw Local News Network correspondent

A telling sign of today’s economy and how it translates to the Oregon Hawk football program is a shortage of helmets.

“It’s good problem to have,” new Oregon coach Broc Kundert said. “If we run out and can’t buy any, we’ll figure out a way to get some.”

Compared with numbers in the 50s the past few years, Kundert expects to have 75 kids out this season.

“I’ve felt good about summer camp,” Kundert said. “The lowest numbers we’ve had so far is 60, and we have been getting more kids that have never played before.”

Kundert is quickly developing a reputation as a players’ coach.

“The players are talking to guys, and we’re getting more out,” lineman Evan Flaharty said. “The more players we have, the more energy and enthusiasm on the practice field. Lots of team bonding.”

Anchoring the line with the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Flaharty will be 6-0, 250-pound Jon Alaniz. Both are seniors and part of a group that mostly weighs more than 235 pounds.

“Coach definitely has a personality,” Alaniz said. “With a new coach and new system, there’s more interest. Day to day, things are starting to build.”

That’s Kundert’s No. 1 objective.

“The main thing is to get the numbers up first,” he said. “They’ve been beat up for so long, we have to give them a sense of confidence. It’s a challenge, but I don’t think it’s impossible. I want to make it fun to be in the weight room.”

Kundert, a 2007 graduate of Freeport, went on to play middle linebacker – at 5-foot-7 – for WisconsinPlatteville during the era of former Hawks standouts Ryan McWethy and Brian Snyder. After that, it was back to Freeport, where he eventually became defensive coordinator. The past four years were spent as head coach at Aquin, where his team was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 1A in the 2020-21 COVID-19 season – its last season as an 11-man program.

Aquin was noted for its high-scoring spread offense, whereas Oregon has been ground-and-pound.

“It may look a little different from years past, but we will try to balance 50/50 run-pass,” Kundert said.

Another major difference in the 2022 squad compared with years past will be an extensive use of sophomores compared with the decades-long practice of primarily juniors and seniors.

“We want to build on their 7-2 [freshman] record. It’s a good group with over 30 kids,” Kundert said. “The sophomores we bring up will be starting for us and not playing JV.” The freshman group also has a lot of size and a quarterback in Jack Washburn who will contend for the starting nod. One sophomore who already is penciled in as a starter is Josh Crandall, a 6-3, 190-pound end, the last of three footballplaying brothers and potential college prospect. Oregon will be young at the skill positions, but has senior Gabe Eckerd returning as running back. Kundert sees him and junior Trevor Burkhart getting a lot of carries. “Gabe will also be our leader on defense at inside linebacker,” Kundert said. “I like the play of Griffin Marlatt at corner and as receiver.” Kundert will concentrate on the defense. “The defense will run to the ball well, and on offense, our young skill players will grow into it,” he said.

Good Luck To All The Area Teams Dixon 905 N. Galena Avenue 815-288-3257

Photo by Earleen Hinton – ehinton@shawmedia.com Oregon’s Jack Washburn (second from right) throws a pass during a scrimmage last week.

Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.

2 Austin Egyed 6-0 160 Jr. WR/DB 3 Jayden Jenkins 5-11 140 Sr. WR/DB 4 Hunter Buchanan 6-0 150 Sr. QB/DB 5 Hunter Bartel 6-2 165 So. WR/DB 6 Griffin Marlatt 5-7 135 Jr. WR/DB 7 Keegan Diehl 5-9 155 Sr. WR/DB 8 Gregory Gabucci 5-10 165 Jr. WR/DB 9 Noah Reber 5-7 160 Jr. RB/DB 10 Jackson Glendenning 6-1 165 Jr. QB/LB 11 Emmett Peterson 5-9 165 Sr. TE/LB 15 Jack Washburn 5-9 165 So. QB/DB 16 Trevor Burkhart 5-9 165 Jr. RB/LB 18 Josh Crandall 6-4 215 So. WR/DL 21 Dalton McCammon 5-11 170 Jr. RB/LB 22 Gabe Eckerd 5-10 185 Sr. RB/LB 34 Seth Stevens 5-10 155 Sr. RB/DL 36 Anthony Bauer 5-9 170 Jr. RB/LB 50 Collin Winterland 5-10 200 Jr. OL/DL 52 Noah Hodges 6-0 205 Jr. OL/DL 53 Jackson Fox 5-9 185 Sr. OL/DL 54 Bryant Rasmussen 5-10 190 Sr. OL/LB 56 Jonathon Alaniz 6-0 255 Sr. OL/DL 57 Brantley Watts 6-0 145 Jr. OL/DL 60 Elizabeth Ruter 5-4 125 Sr. OL/DL 64 Zander Downs 5-8 180 Jr. OL/DL 65 Elijah George 6-2 210 Jr. OL/DL 70 Briggs Sellers 6-1 285 So. OL/DL 75 Evan Flaharty 6-2 285 Sr. OL/DL 76 Alejandro Ocampo 6-3 295 Sr. OL/DL 77 Evyn Carreno 6-2 280 Jr. OL/DL 84 Anthony Bell 6-2 190 Sr. TE/LB 85 Zander VandeSand 6-3 190 Jr. TE/DL

Schedule

Game time Opponent

Fri., Aug. 26, 7 Dixon Fri., Sept. 2, 7 at Rockford Christian Fri., Sept. 9, 7 at Stillman Valley Fri., Sept. 16, 7 Winnebago Fri., Sept. 23, 7 at Rockford Lutheran Fri., Sept. 30, 7 Genoa-Kingston Fri, Oct. 7, 7 Byron Fri., Oct. 14, 7 at Rock Falls Fri., Oct. 21, 7 North Boone