OAKS, Okla. — Despite a roster full of freshmen and a horrific road schedule, in addition to a rash of health issues and injuries, Oaks (Okla.) head coach C.D. Thompson is incredibly optimistic about the state of Warrior Football.

“No doubt,” Thompson said, “we’ve got some challenges ahead of us. But, think about it, we’ve got three seniors, four juniors and the rest are freshmen and sophomores. If we can just stick together for this season and the next, watch out.”

The Warriors, however, are not conceding anything this season.

For the first time in recent memory, Oaks participated in spring drills and several summer skill camps.

Freshman Trenton Osburn (5-foot-9, 150 pounds) is the heir apparent to the Warrior quarterback duties.

According to his coach, Osburn, “is extremely athletic and intelligent and he showed up for all of our offseason stuff.” The athletically pedigreed ninth grader could feasibly be the team’s field general for the next four seasons.

In addition to seeing duty at tailback, when the Warriors are in the I-formation, junior veteran Cody Blossom will backup Osburn at quarterback.

Senior Shadoe Miller (5-9, 190), who Thompson described as “strong and determined,” will round out the Warrior back field at fullback.

A pair of big sophomores that are looking to return to the fray this season are Shay Tucker at center and fellow 5-11, 240-pound 10th grader, Jaleel Fields, at guard. Both started as freshmen last year, but Fields has some health issues to addressbefore determining if or when he can return to action.

Coaches had high praise for their junior guard, Preston Cooper (5-7, 230), describing him as the most “fundamentally sound” lineman on the team.

That prompted Thompson to add, “(Cooper) has a great work ethic. We just need him to hook up more this year and I’m sure he will.”

Newcomer Brandon Tsosie (5-11, 230) has gotten the attention of the Warrior coaches in the early going as well.

Seniors Smokey Bird (5-10 240) and Jason Sanders (6-0 180) are going to be counted on for the bulk of their team’s experience and leadership.

Thanks to some scheduling difficulties and some strange redistricting, Oaks finds itself with six road games and only four home dates at Tucker Field.

Starting their season with a 90-mile trek to Bokoshe, theWarriors come home to tangle with their archrival Watts for homecoming in Week 2.

Then the Warriors are back on the road for the next two weeks with dates at Welch and Riverfield Country Day in West Tulsa.

Before the season’s conclusion, Oaks will traverse 180 miles to Guthrie to play Coyle, sandwiched by a pair of 140-mile trips to Woodland and Agra.

In closing, Thompson declared, “We’re committed to keeping Warrior Football viable.

Coaches Shawver and Arnold and most all of our kids have bought into it. That is gonna be the key to our success. We’ve decided that we’re less about being a team and more about being a program. There’s a huge difference.”

And then with a laugh he quipped, “We’re gonna stay at it until we kill each other or they run me off. But I guarantee you we’re going to surprise some folks and make believers out of them along the way.”

Sports, Pages 45 on 08/29/2012