Friday, August 22, 2008 11:10 PM CDT
Lorton era to start at Sullivan-Okaw Valley
By MIKE MONAHAN, Staff Writer
mmonahan@jg-tc.com
SULLIVAN -- The color s of Sullivan-Okaw Valley of red and black is nothing new to first year coach Nate Lorton, who takes over for Don Typer, whose contract was not renewed in December of 2007. Lorton is a 1994 graduate of another school with the colors of red and black in Hardin Calhoun. Lorton helped the Warriors win back-to-back Class 1A titles under coach Ric Johns.
“Red and black brings back some memories,” said Lorton. “The way these kids are working I can see signs of some good football players. I am happy to be in red and black and excited to be the head coach of the Sullivan-Okaw Valley Redskins and I can’t wait until Aug. 29 (Friday).”
Lorton, a former assistant at Jerseyville, has dreamed of being a head football coach and the 2008 Sullivan-Okaw Valley Redskins is his first squad which is to begin its season Friday as they play host to last year’s Class 1A runner-up Tuscola at Victory Field.
“The goals are pretty simple,” said Lorton, a former running back. “We don’t talk about wins and losses we talk about doing what we do perfect and doing the little things that any athlete can do. We talk about doing things right. We have to minimize mistakes, control the football, cause turnovers and not give the ball away.”
Lorton inherits 11 lettermen, including eight seniors, from last year’s 0-9 team. The Redskins have lost 16 straight games. Among the returners is unanimous first team all-Okaw Valley Conference Black Division defensive back Chance Typer.
The varsity squad includes 38 players with 13 seniors, seven juniors and 18 sophomores. A total of 55 are on the team with 17 freshmen.
“From day one we have been trying to establish an atmosphere of continues intensity and it something we have been really working on along with trying to do the little things perfect-the stances and footwork. We are focusing on what we do and trying to perfect that. We have a positive attitude going in and we just need to pick it up a notch.”
Also returning are seniors Tyler Frerichs, Dalton Shasteen and Clay Winskill, Sam Richardson, Mead Flannel, Gatlin Miller, and Harley Miller. Juniors Cole Younger and Cody Still also return as well as sophomore Cody Bly.
Typer is the top tackler returning as he had 55 last year (fourth overall) with a team-high three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Frerichs is the second leading tackler with 44, including two interceptions.
Frerichs is expected to be the starting quarterback with his younger brother Chad Frerichs (sophomore) the back-up. Last year Tyler Frerichs completed a team-high 34 passes for 444 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Redskins in rushing with 99 carries for 381 yards.
“We have a good core of seniors,” said Lorton. “We have a good group of leaders who do a good job of keeping practices up tempo and providing a sense of urgency throughout the practices.”
Other seniors are Jacob Thrasher, Joey Welty, Ryan Eckel, Colten Henderson and Trent Prahl.
“We are trying to focus on fundamentals and trying to improve on the offense and defensive line and focus on footwork and staying low,” said Lorton. “We are mostly breaking it down and trying to perfect all the things that each individual can do and then at the end accumulate all of that into one.”
As for the offensive line Lorton said, “We have some guys who are standing out and working hard. Harley Miller is one of those guys. Dalton Shasteen is a split end and Chance Typer is the other one. Clay Winskill is going a good job for us on the line. Our numbers are up which has naturally developed some competition. We do have kids fighting for spots and that is good to see. We are starting to have a few pieces of the puzzle together and we will have that locked up this morning (after their scrimmage Friday).”
The backfield is to include Sam Richardson, Seth Bowman, Younger and Thrasher.
“Sam Richardson is a fullback and has been a pleasant surprise for us,” said Lorton. “First year junior Seth Bowman and Cole Younger are in the backfield as well as senior Jacob Thrasher, who I believe played as a freshman. He is a throwback player. He doesn’t take a play off and gets after it.”
Don Typer had coached the Redskins for the past four years, including a 4-5 record in 2005 in the first year of the Sullivan-Okaw Valley co-op. In the past two seasons Sullivan has been outscored by an average of 38-11. Last year’s team was balanced as far as passing (749 yards) and rushing (798 yards), averaging 11.1 yard per reception and 3.1 yards per rush. Typer is continuing to teach physical education for kindergarten through fifth grade and is to continue to be an assistant high school boys’ basketball coach and the Sullivan Middle School track coach.
Other teams in the Okaw Valley Black Division include Unity, where Lorton’s assistant coach at Hardin Calhoun, Scott Hamilton is head coach; Monticello, Shelbyville, St. Teresa and Clinton.
Lorton is assisted by two coaches from last year in Chris White (was a volunteer coach last year) and 2002 Central A&M grad Brent Weakly, who was captain of the 2001 Class 2A runner-up squad. Two former Redskins, who played under Jerry Lane including former quarterback Brett Lane, a 2002 graduate who was on the last playoff team (8-3 in Class 3A) and member of the 4x400 relay state championship team. Chet (or Chester) Reeder is a 2000 graduate and was a guard/linebacker his senior year. Reeder was also on the Class A state-runner-up baseball team in 1998 and a member of the Journal-Gazette/Times-Courier All-Area basketball team his senior year. John Bertetto also joins the staff.
Contact Mike Monahan at mmonahan@jg-tc.com or 238-6854.
2008 SULLIVAN-OKAW VALLEY FOOTBALL VARISTY ROSTER
(name, position)
Seniors
Ryan Eckel OL/DL
Mead Flannel OL/DL*
Tyler Frerichs QB/FS*
Colten Henderson OL/DL
Gatlin Miller OL/LB*
Harley Miller OL/LB*
Trent Prahl OL/DL
Sam Richardson FB/LB*
Dalton Shasteen SE/C*
Jacob Thrasher RB/LB
Chance Typer SE/SS*
Clay Winiskill OL/DL*
Juniors
Seth Bowman RB/FS
Nick Brewer OL/DL
Alan Cuttill SE/DL
Ryan DeVore OL/DL
Pat Goble OL/DL
Cody Still FB/LB*
Cole Younger RB/C*
Sophomores
Dylan Austin OL/DL
Kell Carr OL/DL
Cody Bly SE/DL*
Cody Board SE/C
Zach Coon OL/DL
Dillon Elder OL/DL
Zak England SE/DL
Chad Frerichs QB/FS
Matt Garrelts SE/LB
Garrett Grohler OL/DL
Trevor Lovekamp OL/DL
Austin Raboin SE/LB
Cody Robinson OL/DL
Bryce Root OL/DL
Austin Saunders OL/DL
Erik Scott OL/LB
Seth Sweeney RB/SS
Dylan Williams OL/DL
*-returning lettermen
2008 SULLIVAN-OKAW VALLEY SCHEDULE
(All games are to start at 7 p.m.; last year’s scores are in parentheses)
Aug. 29-TUSCOLA (0-46)
Sept. 5-at Meridian (7-26)
Sept. 12-MAROA-FORSYTH# (at Bethany) (0-35)
Sept. 19-at Central A&M (6-48)
Sept. 26-at Unity* (0-41)
Oct. 3-MONTICELLO*! (7-28)
Oct. 10-at Shelbyville* (26-30)
Oct. 17-ST. TERESA* (0-66)
Oct. 24-at Clinton* (14-21)
*-Okaw Valley Black division games
!-Sullivan Homecoming
#-Okaw Valley Homecoming
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