By Glen Miller/Staff writer
With new offensive and defensive coordinators, El Reno High School head coach Tom Cobble was looking forward to the 7-on-7 summer passing drills to see if skills taught during the spring would carry over.
After two of the three scheduled outings, Cobble feels they have.
“I was pleased with the way the kids threw and caught the ball,” Cobble said. “We tried to keep things simple on defense and try and not get beat deep and I think we did just that.”
Cobble thinks the team has progressed in the right direction from the 10-day spring drills and through the two passing scrimmages. A third scrimmage is set for July 8 at 6:30 p.m. against Weatherford at Memorial Stadium.
“I feel like we remembered those lessons and hopefully what we did in these first two drills will carry over into July,” Cobble said. “The scrimmage with Weatherford may be our last of the summer, but we could pick up a few here or there if someone is interested.”
The summer passing scrimmages have become a vital part of most school’s progression into a new season. Other Canadian County schools like Mustang have held weekly passing leagues that are open to any school wishing to attend.
“Football has gone toward passing and you are seeing it trickle down into high school now,” Cobble said. “Defensive coordinators are getting to the point to where they are stopping the run and you have got to be able to throw the ball to open up the running game. It’s exciting for the kids and the fans and you’ve got to be able to throw the ball to be successful.”
Cobble says he plans for the Indians to be able to throw out of both the shotgun and the pro set schemes.
“We will do both and I would say right now it’s going to be a 50-50 mix. As we get into the season that could go one way or another depending on how things go,” Cobble said.
However, Cobble is quick to point out El Reno will always have its bread-and-butter running plays.
“I still feel that the team that runs the ball the best will win the game,” Cobble said. “Your running plays have got to be a valuable part of your offense and the better you become at that, the more dominant of a team you become.”
Still there is no arguing that El Reno can throw the ball after beating Yukon 24-6 and 42-12. The Indians threw for 749 yards in the two scrimmages, as Jakiel Everheart was 34-of-63 passing for 625 yards. Senior Colby Hudson was 7-of-11 passing for 124 yards.
“In a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage, you are going to miss a few passes and you will hit a few,” Cobble said. “Just the fact that we have a new system and are trying guys at different positions, I feel like these last two were good outings. It’s good for the kids to have success and to feel great about what they are doing.”
Cobble was impressed by the receiving corps in the scrimmages, led by Terry Hubbard with 11 catches for 204 yards. Matthew Pruitt had nine catches for 164 yards, while Cory Dauphin had 141 yards receiving on nine snags.
Hudson was close behind with 122 yards on three catches to go along with Jovia Franklin’s seven catches for 69 yards.
El Reno’s defense held Yukon to a 47 percent completion rate, while logging two interceptions by Hudson and one each from Franklin and Nathan Dewberry.
“I was wanting to make sure the defense was in the right places and could pick up the routes and they did. We are not going to add a lot on defense right now and allow them to get better at what they are doing,” Cobble said.