Team: Oakland-Craig
Mascot: Knights
Colors: Orange and White
Class: C-2
Head Coach: Joe Anderson (11th season) (88-22 record)
2019 record: 13-0 (won C-2 State Championship)
Returning Starters: 6 offense 7 defense
Overview:
What will the Oakland-Craig Football Team do for an encore this year? You couldn't get any more dominate than the Knights were last year.
Oakland-Craig steamrolled the majority of the teams they played last year on their way to the C-2 State Title.
The Knights return 6 starters on offense and 7 on defense just like last year.
Returning on both sides of the ball for Head Coach Joe Anderson is Jaron Meyer (5'11, 175 SR RB/DE), who had 1,143 rushing yards last year, Mike Brands (6'2, 210 SR L/LB), Caden Nelson (6'1, 200 SR FB/LB), Coulter Thiele (6'0, 170 SR WB/DB), Mike Maline (6'1, 240 SR L/L), and Jack Pille (5'11, 170 SR WR/DB). Trey Deemer (6'0, 165 SR WR/DB) also returns on defense for the defending state champs.
Others likely to play include Grady Gatewood (5'10, 160 JR QB), Gunnar Ray (5'10, 160 JR WR/DB), Carson Thomsen (5'11, 165 JR WR/DB), Jaden Harney (5'11, 200 SR L/L), Alec Mockenhaupt (5'10, 190 SR L/L), Tavis Uhing (5'10, 170 JR RB/DB), Connor Guill (5'10, 165 JR WB/LB), Elliot Johnson (6'0, 190 JR L/L), Gavin Enstrom (5'10, 160 SR WR), Ryan Smith (6'0, 240 JR L/L), and Dawson Rhoades (6'0, 185 JR LB).
It certainly appears as if the Knights return a lot of talent and have really good depth at quite a few positions.
Coach Anderson says Brands is an all around great football player. "A prototypical Middle linebacker. Big and physical and hard hitting, he plays with a great motor which allows him to play sideline to sideline. Was our leading tackler last year. Also a very good OL, who is very quick off the football."
Anderson says Nelson is just about as valuable. "Another big, physical LB. Caden was our 2nd leading tackler. Caden plays downhill and brings a big pop. He is a very smart player who get us into all of our checks. On offense, he plays some WR but also lines up and plays a very punishing FB. Great lead blocker and good runner as well. (315 yards rushing, 347 yards receiving, 15 TD)"
Anderson says Meyer is a tough customer and very productive player. "Very explosive athlete that made a lot of big plays last year. (played last 7 games with a broken thumb as well). Has a combination of great speed, balance and power. Averaged 11.5 yards per carry. (for 1,143 yards and 14 TD). On defense he is a ballhawk as well, getting 4 INT."
Anderson adds Thiele is solid on both sides of the ball. "Very versatile athlete in our offense. Has great speed which allowed him to rush for 594 yards and have 478 yards receiving for a combined 16 TD. On defense he turned into a lock down corner. Picking off 5 passes. Also plays very physical on both sides of the ball."
Anderson says Maline leads the way up front. "Big, Strong kid that get gets off the football well. Physical player that was requiring a double team toward the end of last season on defense. Offensively Michael creates a great line surge for us. Was a 2 way starter last year on both lines."
Anderson adds Pille could be an under the radar surprise guy this year. "Jack Pille could also fit into this group. He missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. He may be our best overall athlete. He placed in both hurdle events as a sophomore. Should give us another weapon on offense, and a very good cover guy on defense. He also was our kicker as a sophomore, so that is something we really missed last year."
Of course this is all dependent on the pandemic not factoring into or altering things.
Season Outlook:
Oakland-Craig looks to reload after going 13-0 and winning the C-2 State Championship last year.
Anderson says his team brings a lot of experience back. "We return a very talented group of seniors that all played important role last year. Jaron Meyer (all-state) will give us a big play threat at our running back spot. He averaged 11.5 ypc. Coulter Thiele and the return of Jack Pille (missed last season with an ACL) will give us a lot of speed at our two wing positions. Caden Nelson is a multi-talented guy who plays FB and WR. He excelled at both last year. Gunnar Ray, Trey Deemer, and Carson Thomsen will give us quality depth at WR. Tavis Uhing also will give us depth at the RB position as he had a very solid year last year in a backup role."
Anderson commented on the QB situation. "Grady Gatewood will most likely take over at QB. He led a comeback in the 1st round of the playoffs and quarterbacked us to a big win in the quarterfinals. (was 18-22 for 211 yds 4 TD for the season). Also led us to an undefeated JV schedule. "
He adds there are some question marks up front. "In the line is where we will have to develop some depth. Mike Brands and Mike Maline both return. Both are all-state Caliber lineman. After that Elliot Johnson, Jaden Harney, Alec Mockenhaupt, Keenan Brown, Ryan Smith and freshman JT Brands (6’0 215 pounds) should give us quality options."
Anderson says the defense should be top notch once again. "Defense should be a strength of our team again. Our LB core will be very good again. Mike Brands and Caden Nelson were both all-state last year (could be one of the best LB duo in O-C history). Tavis Uhing, and Connor Guill and Dawson Rhoades will add quality depth there. Defensive back should we very solid. Pille, Meyer, Deemer and Thiele give us 4 seniors with a lot of athleticism and experience back there. Thomsen and Ray give us quality depth. Defensive line is where we will have to find some capable bodies. Mike Maline will anchor from his DT position. After that it will be a battle for playing time between the guys I mentioned for the OL spots."
I think Oakland-Craig can go undefeated in the regular season again if their offense can find the same explosion they had last year.
Anderson says a lot hinges on the offensive and defensive lines. "Our schedule will be challenging this year. How successful we are will depend a lot on how well our lines develop on both sides of the football. If our line develops we will have a lot of speed guys capable of making plays behind them."
Games with BRLD, Norfolk Catholic, David City Aquinas, Fremont Bergan, and Hartington Cedar Catholic figure to be the toughest battles on the schedule for O-C.
I think Oakland-Craig can be dominate again this year, but only time will tell.
The Knights open up the season at Ponca on August 28th.
2020 Oakland-Craig Knights Football Schedule:
08/28/20 @ Ponca
09/04/20 BRLD
09/11/20 @ Crofton
09/18/20 Norfolk Catholic
09/25/20 Aquinas Catholic
10/02/20 @ Tekamah-Herman
10/09/20 Hartington Cedar Catholic
10/16/20 Archbishop Bergan
10/22/20 @ David City
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