Speed and skill is going to be the calling card of the Estevan Comprehensive School Elecs football team this season, but they could use a few more bodies on the field to better compete.
Mark Schott, fourth-year head coach of the Elecs, said their roster numbers are down a bit this year after a wave of graduations last June and only stand at about 23 kids in camp. He said they do have a lot of returning players within their receiver, running back, quarterback, linebacker and defensive back groups, but the team could use more kids willing to play offensive or defensive line.
“We’re really hoping the number spikes here over the next few days, but if not there is going to be lots of opportunity to play for the kids that are out here,” said Schott, noting they will play both ways if need be. “As a player, that’s an exciting thing to be part of.”
Schott said since fall camp began last Friday, the focus from the coaching staff has been teaching the players the fundamentals of football such as basic tackling techniques and proper positioning. He said they want to play an aggressive game on both sides of the ball this season beginning with their first game of the Moose Jaw 3A 12-man season Sept. 3 in Weyburn against the Eagles.
“We will try and stay pretty balanced offensively,” he said. “We have a pretty good running back in Levi Pick and a couple other guys can plug in there and run the ball well. Our quarterback, Andrew Kehler, is a young quarterback, but he’s got a great arm. He played last year for us, so he’s going to be a year wiser and more experienced. I think we can do a nice mix of running and passing the ball and defensively we want to attack the ball and gang tackle and try and force some turnovers to get our offence back on the field.”
Kehler, who is entering Grade 11 this year at ECS, described himself as a passing quarterback, but is willing to take off through a hole if he sees one. He said Pick is a big part of the offence and they will be relying on him this year to move the ball just as they did last season.
The second-year quarterback added the team may be young due to graduations, but everyone seems to be in shape and ready to play some football.
“I think we’re going to do well this year,” he said, noting many other teams lost players to graduation as well. “We’re up to their caliber of play.”
