Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Sutherlin linemen, from left, Shawn New, Jim Henry, Randy Black, Eric Gordon and Adam Powell, go through drills at a practice Tuesday at Eddy Field in Oakland.
|
ENLARGE
|
SUTHERLIN — For some football players, being moved from a glamorous backfield position to the offensive line might be considered a demotion.
For Sutherlin's Jim Henry, it was a promotion to his dream job.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior was a starting fullback two seasons ago when the Bulldogs advanced to the Class 4A state quarterfinals. But when Sutherlin switched from an I-formation offense to a Wing-T, coach Josh Gary needed quick, versatile linemen, and asked Henry to switch.
“For me, it was a relief because I could just hit somebody,” said Henry, an all-Far West League guard each of the past two seasons. “I didn't have to worry about fumbling the ball.”
Two years since playing his final game as a running back — in a 55-7 loss to Ontario — Henry and the Bulldogs are back in the state quarterfinals against the exact same team. Sutherlin (5-5) hosts Ontario (9-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday, and fittingly, the game looks like it will be a battle in the trenches.
The Bulldogs have rushed for 3,248 yards this season, but ironically, didn't place a single running back on the FWL first team. Henry was Sutherlin's lone first-team selection on offense, although center Randy Black (6-0, 200), guard Eric Gordon (5-10, 240) and tackle Adam Powell (6-1, 190) received honorable mention. Tight end Dirk Kats (6-0, 160) was a first-team defensive back and is primarily a blocker on offense.
Sutherlin's running backs have taken full advantage of the holes opened by the offensive line. Senior Brian Andry (a second-team all-FWL pick) ran for 175 yards in last Friday's 37-6 throttling of Henley in the second round of the playoffs, giving him 1,325 yards for the season. Fellow senior Nick Bradley is fast approaching the 1,000-yard mark, and has exploded when defenses focus on Andry.
“Our running backs are tanks,” Gordon said. “They'll bounce a head off a goalpost they're so tough.”
Junior Kyle Jaukkuri took over the fullback position vacated by Henry and has developed into the team's best blocker on a team of good blockers.
“You watch film of other teams and you'll see one guy standing there not doing anything — not on this team,” Gary said. “We can fake it to Kyle, run it behind him, it doesn't matter. He's done an outstanding job whatever we do.”
While the Bulldogs have proved adept at the run since the beginning of the season, it wasn't always apparent in a 1-3 start. Sutherlin took its lumps against teams like No. 1-ranked Marist and 3A semifinalist Cascade Christian, both still undefeated. Sutherlin had a home date with Phoenix — which plays Sweet Home in another quarterfinal game Saturday — canceled during the state's swine flu outbreak.
That tough schedule tempered Sutherlin, players say.
“Playing a whole bunch of tough teams really helped us,” Henry said. “We wanted to know what it was like to be in the playoffs and a tough schedule helped us get there.”
Flying under the radar during the FWL season, the Bulldogs beat both North Bend and Siuslaw for the first time in school history, and gave then-No. 3 Douglas its toughest test in a 21-13 loss.
Friday nights haven't been the only test for Sutherlin, whose scout team has provided worthy challengers in practice. Sophomore Shawn New (6-3, 285) assumed the starting left tackle role on varsity after spending the first half of the season on the scout team.
“You don't hear that much about scout teams at the high school level, but they've come out and done a great job at giving us looks at the opposition,” Henry said.
New's emergence allowed freshman tackle Beau Grauf (6-0, 200) to focus on defense and take pressure off Sutherlin's 22-man roster.
“We're not big on numbers, especially for this level,” Gordon said. “But everybody has shared the load. Everyone has a good attitude and is excited to come to practice everyday. We come ready to work.”
A thin roster has survived attrition by injuries and illness thanks in part to the team's strength and conditioning program.
“The offensive line really came together last February in the weight room,” Gary said. “When they were preparing for the season, not just with weights but with plyometrics and conditioning, that's where we really saw the team building.”
The Bulldogs won't be favored Saturday against No. 6 Ontario, but that's not anything new for the team.
“We've been underrated all season and our line has been underrated,” Gordon said. “People thought we would lose every time we stepped onto the field.”
• You can reach sports reporter Rob McCallum by e-mail at rmccallum@nrtoday.com, or by phone at 957-4221.
For Sutherlin's Jim Henry, it was a promotion to his dream job.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior was a starting fullback two seasons ago when the Bulldogs advanced to the Class 4A state quarterfinals. But when Sutherlin switched from an I-formation offense to a Wing-T, coach Josh Gary needed quick, versatile linemen, and asked Henry to switch.
“For me, it was a relief because I could just hit somebody,” said Henry, an all-Far West League guard each of the past two seasons. “I didn't have to worry about fumbling the ball.”
Two years since playing his final game as a running back — in a 55-7 loss to Ontario — Henry and the Bulldogs are back in the state quarterfinals against the exact same team. Sutherlin (5-5) hosts Ontario (9-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday, and fittingly, the game looks like it will be a battle in the trenches.
The Bulldogs have rushed for 3,248 yards this season, but ironically, didn't place a single running back on the FWL first team. Henry was Sutherlin's lone first-team selection on offense, although center Randy Black (6-0, 200), guard Eric Gordon (5-10, 240) and tackle Adam Powell (6-1, 190) received honorable mention. Tight end Dirk Kats (6-0, 160) was a first-team defensive back and is primarily a blocker on offense.
Sutherlin's running backs have taken full advantage of the holes opened by the offensive line. Senior Brian Andry (a second-team all-FWL pick) ran for 175 yards in last Friday's 37-6 throttling of Henley in the second round of the playoffs, giving him 1,325 yards for the season. Fellow senior Nick Bradley is fast approaching the 1,000-yard mark, and has exploded when defenses focus on Andry.
“Our running backs are tanks,” Gordon said. “They'll bounce a head off a goalpost they're so tough.”
Junior Kyle Jaukkuri took over the fullback position vacated by Henry and has developed into the team's best blocker on a team of good blockers.
“You watch film of other teams and you'll see one guy standing there not doing anything — not on this team,” Gary said. “We can fake it to Kyle, run it behind him, it doesn't matter. He's done an outstanding job whatever we do.”
While the Bulldogs have proved adept at the run since the beginning of the season, it wasn't always apparent in a 1-3 start. Sutherlin took its lumps against teams like No. 1-ranked Marist and 3A semifinalist Cascade Christian, both still undefeated. Sutherlin had a home date with Phoenix — which plays Sweet Home in another quarterfinal game Saturday — canceled during the state's swine flu outbreak.
That tough schedule tempered Sutherlin, players say.
“Playing a whole bunch of tough teams really helped us,” Henry said. “We wanted to know what it was like to be in the playoffs and a tough schedule helped us get there.”
Flying under the radar during the FWL season, the Bulldogs beat both North Bend and Siuslaw for the first time in school history, and gave then-No. 3 Douglas its toughest test in a 21-13 loss.
Friday nights haven't been the only test for Sutherlin, whose scout team has provided worthy challengers in practice. Sophomore Shawn New (6-3, 285) assumed the starting left tackle role on varsity after spending the first half of the season on the scout team.
“You don't hear that much about scout teams at the high school level, but they've come out and done a great job at giving us looks at the opposition,” Henry said.
New's emergence allowed freshman tackle Beau Grauf (6-0, 200) to focus on defense and take pressure off Sutherlin's 22-man roster.
“We're not big on numbers, especially for this level,” Gordon said. “But everybody has shared the load. Everyone has a good attitude and is excited to come to practice everyday. We come ready to work.”
A thin roster has survived attrition by injuries and illness thanks in part to the team's strength and conditioning program.
“The offensive line really came together last February in the weight room,” Gary said. “When they were preparing for the season, not just with weights but with plyometrics and conditioning, that's where we really saw the team building.”
The Bulldogs won't be favored Saturday against No. 6 Ontario, but that's not anything new for the team.
“We've been underrated all season and our line has been underrated,” Gordon said. “People thought we would lose every time we stepped onto the field.”
• You can reach sports reporter Rob McCallum by e-mail at rmccallum@nrtoday.com, or by phone at 957-4221.
