Sophomores Will Jump Into Blackhawk Line Nine Starters Returning To This Year’s Squad
Cheney
Cheney’s football team will use sophomores to replace a line that was manned last season with veteran two- and three-year players.
Coach Tom Oswald seems unperturbed.
“We held our own Friday in the jamboree against Lewis and Clark and Shadle Park,” he said. “We’re going to be fine.”
Sophomores expecting to start are 6-foot-3, 235-pound Jason Stoddard, 6-2, 230-pound Blake Falor and 6-2, 303-pound Lewis Pardun.
A fourth sophomore, Max Sharp, would have started if not for a season-ending knee injury.
“If he were a senior, a doctor would get him ready,” said Oswald. “We’ll hold him out. He’ll get two good years here.”
Most years are good ones at Cheney, where the team has won six Frontier League championships since 1985 and usually has been a playoff factor.
The league has been reduced by three teams because of new enrollment classifications statewide. The Frontier is now classified 3A after 25 years in the old AA category.
Four football teams will play each other twice each and have three other non-league games on their nine-game schedule.
“It’s going to be a lot better travel-wise,” said Oswald. “Our only trip of consequence is one to Clarkston, (Wash).”
Easing the pressure on the three sophomore linemen will be nine returning starters led by tight end-linebackers Romanus Chodorowski and Nick Reynolds, running back-defensive back Shaun Hunley and second-year quarterback Pat Stiffler.
“We’re young in the line, but the rest of the kids played quite a bit,” said Oswald.
“It always helps to have the quarterback back. Pat didn’t make many mistakes last year.”
Other starters were center Seth Morris, lineman Jacob Clough, who will go both ways this year, halfback-defensive back Pat Laughlin, linebacker-offensive back Matt Fox and defensive back-receiver Matt Conrath. Newcomer Logan Royce at fullback played last year at Lewis and Clark.
“He’s pretty good,” said Oswald.
Others who figure to play are wide receivers Tim Donley, Joel Warren and Scott Randle.
Randle will also play in the defensive secondary, and Ty Tait will be at outside linebacker.
Defensive linemen include Steve Hull at nose guard and Travis Phelps at tackle. When transfer James Kiger becomes eligible, he’ll help at receiver and defensive back.
“This is a good group of kids. They’re working hard and like each other,” said Oswald. “We played well Friday night.”
Which means the team should maintain status quo when a new season gets under way.
, DataTimes