Spring Review-Ohatchee
OHATCHEE INDIANS (5-5)(4-3)
HEAD COACH:
STARTERS RETURNING: 10 [5 offense, 5 defense]
YEAR IN REVIEW: For the second season in a row, Ohatchee narrowly missed the postseason finishing with an overall mark of 5-5. The Indians faltered down the stretch dropping three of their last four games, including two region contests. The losses cost Ohatchee it’s first postseason berth since 2002 and possibly former head coach Ray Crump’ job.
2008 OUTLOOK: If anyone doubts there’s a new regime reigning over Ohatchee football, a brief conversation with it’s new head coach, Chad Cochran, will erase those doubts rather quickly. The former
Complex, stylish and most of all, highly effective, the spread offense has found yet another home in
“You can attack a defense from so many different angles. You can really spread the field and run the football,” explains Cochran. “There are a lot of different paces in that offense. You can speed the tempo [and/or] you can slow the tempo.”
The battle to see who leads that offense begins in earnest this spring as senior Will Haynes, the incumbent starter, battles junior Chris Brown for the keys to the offense, although Cochran believes both will ultimately step under center this fall. Junior right guard Jonathan Langston is the unquestioned leader along the interior while running backs Cody Bryant and Blake Gallahar return in an experienced backfield.
PREDICTION: A student of the game, Cochran eats, breathes and sleeps football. In due time, his approach will net huge returns for this proud football program. However, the treading will be extremely tough in 2008 as the Indians try to establish a new identity while navigating their way through one of the state’s toughest regions.
COACHSPEAK: “We’re excited about it. The kids have totally bought into what we’re doing and they’re fired up and ready to go. It’s exciting to be around kids like this.”
SPRING PRACTICE: May 5-May16 [Red-White game]
For video of the Indians practice, click on this link for a full report from TV24’s Mickey Shadrix: http://www.tv24.tv/sports/?newsID=4702#
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For a check on Lineville, Gaston and Cherokee County, pick up the newest edition of the Sports Report, available at news stands later this week.
