Author photo

By Garth Meyer
Gazette Reporter 

Nighthawks begin J.V. football

 

September 11, 2013



It’s springtime in the fall in Tekoa/Oakesdale.

On a roster of 14 names, only three played high school football last year for the young Nighthawks team, which began a junior-varsity schedule Monday night after losing Rosalia as the third-part of the longtime T.O.R. arrangement.

Playing at Pomeroy, Tekoa-Oakesdale went down 50-0.

“It’s going to be a learning experience all year long,” said coach Ken Lindgren. “But the kids worked hard and never quit.”

Lindgren leads the Nighthawks team back into eight-man football, a format he hasn’t coached in 21 years.

“We’re playing a J.V. schedule for a reason,” he said before the first game. “We are very young and very inexperienced. But football’s football, whether it’s eight-man or 11, if you can get the kids blocking and tackling, that’s the biggest battle.”

The three team members who have played in the past include senior offensive and defensive lineman Tyler Hanson and sophomores Matt Chittenden (offensive line/defensive line) and Frankie Allen (running back, linebacker).

The rest are new.

“We’re trying to teach them the game of football,” said Lindgren, who is joined by assistant Kevin Young, whom he went to first grade with in Tekoa before Young moved to Oakesdale. “What we’ve said to the kids is if you ever wanted to play high school football, this is the year to try it. There’s no pressure, we’re playing a J.V. schedule, it’s an opportunity to have some fun and learn the game.”

The coach won’t keep statistics.

“It’s J.V., never have, never will,” he said.

On the schedule for the fall series of Monday night contests will be another game against Pomeroy, two against Colton, St. John-Endicott twice and Liberty Christian.

The Nighthawks will play next at home Sept. 16 against St. John-Endicott.

Lindgren sees the schedule as a challenge.

Nonetheless, one part of pre-season nerves has already passed.

When handing out helmets in August, Lindgren wondered if he had enough on the small side. It turned out he did.

Author Bio

Garth Meyer, Former reporter

Author photo

Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024