Outlaws get good turnout for football squads

The Outlaws football program currently has 40 players on the roster, up 10 from last season. With the added numbers the Outlaws will have a full nine-game JV schedule. Coach Clayton Hall says that having a JV team will be huge for the development of the athletes and the program.

The Outlaws varsity squad return 11 experienced players, including seniors Easton Moore, Adam Maddox-Castle, Mason Sellers, Ben Cooper, Gabe Bailey, Hudson Symonds, Jessey Murillo, and Henry Rard, and juniors Scott Henderson, Dolon Pool, and Tony Gonzalez.

Moore will direct the offense as the Outlaws’ starting quarterback. Easton had a strong off-season, and has improved in arm strength, accuracy, and overall command of the offense.

Coach Hall said, “I’ve been really pleased with Easton’s dedication this summer and I look forward to him having a great season of football. I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people.”

Maddox-Castle was in the weight room over the summer, and increased his physical strength. Adam will play running back and line up in the slot on offense, and on defense will play defensive back. Hall said that “the sky’s the limit for this young man.”

Sellers has great hands, is a shifty athlete, and will play a big role as a wide receiver/running back and on defense will play strong safety and defend the flats. Coaches are excepting a great season from Sellers on both sides of the ball.

Cooper worked hard over the summer and has developed his skills at both wide receiver and defensive back. He’s speedy and has great hands, and coaches will look to Cooper to make big plays on offense and play aggressive on defense.

Bailey is slotted to play tight end on offense and linebacker on defense. Gabe put in work this summer to increase his strength and improve his game, and will make an impact on both sides of the ball.

The offensive line returns three starters, including Hudson Symonds, Henry Rard, and Jessey Murillo.

Symonds, who’s very athletic and strong, will play at guard and defensive end, and coaches are expecting him to have a breakout year at both those positions. Rard returns on both offense and defense and will play center and nose guard. Henry will be a leader on the offensive line as center and will create chaos on the defensive side of the ball at nose guard. The Outlaws should get big hits from Rard on both sides of the ball. Murillo is a returning second team all-league offensive and defensive lineman. He’s quick, athletic, has good technique, and will make big contributions at tackle and defensive end.

Juniors Scott Henderson and Dolon Pool also return, and will help anchor the offensive line. Henderson will play at guard on offense and nose guard on defense. Henderson has lots of stamina and is expected to make big contributions on both offense and defense. According to Hall, Pool is a high-energy, wiry football player with a motor, and should make big plays for the Outlaws this year.

Junior Tony Gonzales rounds out the returning players. He put in a lot of work over the summer and coaches will look to Gonzalez to be aggressive and make big plays at fullback and middle linebacker this season.

Seniors Brody Duey, Patrick Silva, and Hayden Kunz, and junior Justin DeSmet are new additions to the team this year.

Duey has a strong leg and will kick for field goals, punts, and kickoffs. He’s an athletic player, and will play wide receiver and defensive back. He’s demonstrated his ability to run good routes and catch the ball on offense, and also covers the ball well on defense.

Silva will play tight end and corner. At tight end he’s expected to run crisp routes as he has great hands and blocks well. He also covers well on defense, and coaches expect big plays from him this season.

Kunz will play at receiver and at corner. Hall noted that Kunz is aggressive, flies to the ball, and is continuing to develop as a solid defender.

DeSmet is a transfer from Dayton High School and will play at running back and corner. Hall told The Nugget that he will have an immediate impact on the success of the Outlaws football program. Hall noted that DeSmet is very aggressive, has a strong work ethic, is a hard runner, and loves contact. On defense DeSmet is great in coverage and has a nose for the ball.

Hall shared his thoughts about the upcoming season.

“We’re going to have four really good running backs this year which will allow us to do some things differently on offense and help our offensive production,” said Hall. “Adam Maddox-Castle, Justin DeSmet, Tony Gonzalez, and Mason Sellers have the potential to be very explosive as running backs this year.

“I think we have the potential to be a good football team if the boys buy in, work hard, dedicate themselves to improving each week, and if we can stay healthy,” said Hall. “Many of our athletes have worked hard this summer at Linfield team camp, at 7-on-7s with the Bend and Redmond schools, and in the weight room. I think our boys are pretty hungry for success and it will be fun to see how we stack up against the teams in our new conference (Mountain Valley Conference: Creswell, Elmira, Harrisburg, La Pine, Siuslaw, Pleasant Hill, and Sisters).”

The Outlaws’ first game of the season will be a non-league game at Burns on Friday, September 2.