Veteran coach guides Cougars
OTIS — Former Weskan and Ness City football coach Marc Cowles (104-101) offers a wealth of experience at Otis-Bison in his 23rd high school season.
The Cougars will drop to 6-man football after four consecutive losing seasons. The Cougars qualified for the 2019 state playoffs and earned runner-up state 8-Man trophies in 1987 and 2010.
Key returners are QB/LB Jake Hoopingarner, OL/DL Logan Maier, OL/DL Ismael Cortez and juniors WR/S Gavin Alloway, OL/DL Kelson Juno and TE/DL Louis McVey.
Hoopingarner must adjust to the 6-man rules along with Ian Haselhorst, who Cowles describes as an explosive athlete with speed and jumping ability.
“We’re excited and ready to embrace the move to the 6-man classification,” Cowles said. “We have a balance of players from each grade which will allow us to play older kids. This will allow the development of the younger players without having to throw them right into the competitive ring.”
Cowles likes the competition on the 13-player roster. The District features last year’s state runner-up Cunningham and semifinalist Tescott.
“We’ve got good roster numbers that should produce quality competion for starting spots,” he said. “Navigating the schedule successfully is important. We need to win the games we should win and be competitive all season long. It’s always important to stay healthy for a small roster team.”
RETURNING STARTERS—QB/LB Jake Hoopingarner; G/DE Logan Maier; OL/DL Ismael Cortez; RB/DB Travis Ross; OL/DL Kelson Juno; RB/DB Gavin Alloway; OL/DL Louis McVey
6-MAN DISTRICT 2— Cunningham 10-2 (5-0), Tescott 7-3 (4-1), Burrton 2-7 (2-3), Chase 0-7 (0-5), Otis-Bison 0-9 (0-3)
COUGAR ROSTER
1—Jake Hoopingarner, 5-11, 170, QB/LB/P, 150, 12
5—Louis McVey, TE/DL, 185, 11
7—Gavin Alloway, 5-9, 150, RB/DB, 11
22—Ian Haselhorst, OL/DL, 6-2, 200, 12
25—Travis Ross, RB/DB, 5-9, 165, 10
45—Ricardo Martinez, OL/DL, 280, 10
55—Logan Maier, 6-2, 216, G/DE, 12
57—Ismael Cortez, 6-3, 245, OL/DL, 11
90—Konner Schenk, 235, OL/DL, 10
95—Kelson Juno, 6-2, 230, OL/DL, 11
Kolton Cory, 9
Marcus Starr, 195, 9
Aiden Ochs-Lohrey, 9
COUGAR SCHEDULE
8-30—at Chase/Tescott Jamboree
9-6—Western Plains
9-13—at South Barber
9-20—Pawnee Heights
10-4—*Cunningham
10-11—*at Tescott
10-18—*at Burrton
10-25—*Chase
10-31—6-man playoffs
