August 29, 2020 Issue, Page 6 of 18

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Page 6, Section B The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Saturday, August 29, 2020 Oilers looking for turnaround in 2020 definitely more wiser this The only team coming year and ready to play,” he back from Merritt’s district said. “It was a tough season last year is Sayre. Burns By Don Munsch, Editor young. We’ve only got four players play both sides of the Caleb Compton, a freshman. for them last year. Tough for Flat-Dill City joins Merritt Merritt started the sea- seniors this year. Three of ball every game. The team will run the ball as me, tough for them. I think and Sayre in a Class A Dis- son with 26 players for fall them start, We’re still going Offense much as it can, Richardson they’ll show us they’re not trict 1 league that features practice. The roster includes to be sophomores and ju- Merritt will line up in the said, and will not throw the wanting to get back to that Hooker, Texhoma, Moore- freshmen through seniors. niors mainly. spread and will use some ball on every down. situation again.” land, Thomas and Fairview. “We don’t have any inju- “Pm looking forward to two-back sets with the tight “We're going to try to ride ries,” Merritt head football the season with these guys,” end. it out as as best as we can,” coach Barret Richardson he said. “We’ve come a long “We try to spread people he said. said, “We're just plugging ways.” out and run the football and Running the ball will be along.” The team didn’t have throw it when we need to,” junior Zack Carr, sophomore The Oilers want to change spring football, although the Richardson said. “We're River Britton and sopho- their fortunes around, fin- Oilers did have a summer not going to be a throw ev- more Riley Herndon. ishing 0-9 last year. Merritt pride program. Not having “We've got some pretty ery down kind of team, but good made the playoffs in 2018, any strictly football related we’re going to spread the skill kids right there,” Richardson said. Herndon Just before the season be- activities hurt the team, field and kind of run it. We'll will serve as a backup quar- gan, Richardson said his Richardson said, noting he keep people honest, though. terback. team has to find a way to get ‘was counting on that time to We're going to be able to Along the offensive line better. get the kinks worked out. throw it. We’ve got two are center Gabe Beecham, “We have gotten bet- “Because I knew we good receivers and our quar- left guard Rex Campbell, left er,” Richardson said. “Just would have a new staff this terback is a pretty decent tackle Jayce Hamilton, right in the last year, I could see year,” he said. The program thrower. He can get it there.” guard Anthony Arizpe and some differences in the kids. We've got to find ways to ing staff. turned over the entire coach- Hagen Justus, a junior, re- right tackle Trever Fowler. turns as quarterback of the The kicker will be Carnes Oiler Roster win and believe in each oth- The players are in good Oilers this year. The target and the punting duties will Players: #50 Kellen Lamar er, and I think those kids are shape, and that’s especially of his throws will be receiv- be done by Klayton McGee. #1 Hagen Justus #53 Rex Campbell doing that. We are still pretty important because most ers Coy Carnes, a junior, and Defense #2 Daniel Portillo The Oilers will have a 3-4 #3 Klayton McGee #54 Anthony Arizpe alignment, with Campbell #5 River Britton #55 Manny Castro starting at nose and Bee- #6 Raiden Jones #57 Tyler Fuentes = Good luck Elk City and Mexxitt on —— cham and Hamilton manning #7 Zack Carr tackle positions. The mike #60 Trever Fowler #8 Riley Herndon linebacker is Trever Fowler, #10 Coy Carnes #70 Tyler Adams with Daniel Portillo play- #12 Mos Flowers #71 Gabe Beecham ing the sam position in the #18 Bryce Lagunas #72 Raydon Cordell linebacking corps. Weakside #25 Tanner Newton backer will be Britton, and #28 Matt Cook #73 CJ Elder the outside backer will be Carr. Strong safety will be #29 Tre Shepard #78 Jayce Hamilton #34 Sean Thomas #83 Caleb Compton Herndon, with Justus play- ing free safety. Carnes and Compton will play corners. Schedule Merritt’s defense has been coming around, Richardson Sept. 4 at Mangum 7 p.m. Oct 15 at Mooreland 7 said. Sept. 11 vs OCA 7 p.m. p.m. “They’re being aggres- Sept. 18 vs Hinton 7 p.m. sive, and things we needed Sept. 25 at Hooker 7 p.m. Oct. 23 vs Thomas 7 p.m. [to improve] from last year Oct. 2 vs Texoma 7 p.m. Oct. 30 ys Fairview 7 p.m. is just get them in better po- Oct. 9 at Sayre 7 p.m. Nov. 6 at BFDC 7 p.m. ay iF FA sitions to make plays and the “a | coach has got them doing \\ 07S. Main, Ek City that,” he said, referring to coach Heath Stehr. PIZZA! Overall, Richardson sees a #18 Bryce Lagunas #70 Tyler Adams hause idh zy team wanting to get a W un- der their belts. “We had three get away #25 Tanner Newton #29 Tre Shepard #72 Raydon Cordell #73 CJ Elder from us last year, so they’re #55 Manny Castro Wwe would: like to wish yOu: k ona great season! 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