A16 SPORTS Wallowa County Chieftain Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Season 1 touch football builds skills, and frustrations, too By ELLEN MORRIS BISHOP For the Wallowa County Chieftain ENTERPRISE — The Oregon School Athletic Association’s (OSAA) Sea- son 1 of fall 2020 has been a season like no other, espe- cially for football, and has left players and coaches alike inspired, depressed and hopeful all at the same time. The game, a 5-on-5 touch football contest where pass- ing is supreme and tackling is forbidden, has motivated some students who never would have played in a reg- ular tackle season to take up football, and others to move with their families to other states where they could par- ticipate in a more physical, traditional game. It’s inspired new and unique rules, new procedures and engendered some fresh ideas. “Season 1 football is not really what you’d call ‘foot- ball’ traditionally,” said Joseph Charter School Ath- letic Director Jason Cren- shaw. “We, as a regional group of schools, decided to go with 5-on-5 because even though it’s limited contact, there are a lot of kids who don’t like that contact. And so our participation has actu- ally gone up. As a region, we’re really fortunate. Most of the state isn’t doing any- thing, because they can’t.” Wallowa and Joseph coaches agree that Season 1 has been a great time to build offensive and defensive skills, including quarterback timing and coaching the fi ner points of the game. “Once they get into pads,” JCS assistant coach Jacob Holguin, said, “it’s just a big crash. But here, you can teach technique and really build athleticism.” “We normally play 6-man football,” Crenshaw said. “So 5-on-5 isn’t really that different except for the defense. The emphasis in our regular games is on passing. With this kind of game you WINTER HOURS DINE I K N E OR TA T OU Taking Wed. & Thur. 10 Fri. & Sat. 10 am am - 7 pm - 8 pm Sun. 10 am - 7 pm Now s Reservation TAKE OUT ORDERS • CALL 541-263-0874 As FALL changes to Winter SEE US ABOUT HEATING NEEDS Your one stop shop for Parts, Service and Installation E Ed Staub & Sons Energy Community Service. 201 East Hwy 82 Enterprise, OR 97828 541-426-0320 Brockcamp has been coach- ing what he termed “col- lege-level passing and offen- sive patterns.” His running backs, and offensive ends are more elu- sive, and now run some sophisticated routes, and quarterback Lute Ramsden has increased his passing skills, Brockamp said. The skill-building has evi- dently worked for the Cou- gars. They have won three of their four of games, includ- ing a 58-35 victory over rival Joseph and a 63-35 drubbing of Union, a 2A school which is playing football at the 1A level. Christman said he thought the opportunity to play teams that are not in their league, such as Union, was helpful. “It gives us a completely different look at schools we Ellen Morris Bishop/For the Wallowa County Chieftain haven’t seen for a couple Enterprise’s Cody Fent stretches to catch a pass during the Enterprise-Joseph 5-on-5 football of years,” he said. “It really matchup at Joseph on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020. Joseph won 28-24 on a catch in the end zone by shows us what’s out there Chase Murray on the last play of the game. and how we stack up against other schools.” Season 1 has been so good don’t have to worry about said, would be expensive. receivers, quarterbacks and size disparity as much if you But none of the players running backs,” he said. “It’s at building skills that JCS are playing a bigger school. want to shift entirely to touch not really made for the big- assistant coach Holguin said We’d play La Grande if they football forever. ger kids who struggle with he’d like to have a preseason summer league of touch foot- had a team.” “No, absolutely, not. I’m the running.” “I just want to see ready to hit some kids,” they That said, Eschler noted ball every year. “Now that it’s established improvement,” said Enter- commented together. the several linemen were prise coach, Rusty Eschler. Wallowa coach Matt playing, and working on within the county, it should be something that we have “The score at the end doesn’t Brockamp and JCS’s Duncan developing new skill sets. really matter to me.” Christman both said that one Brockamp expressed dis- every single summer,” he Eschler views the “one- downside of a season of only appointment that his defen- said. Crenshaw was cautious hand-touch” game as a way touch football is a buildup of sive players were getting lit- to improve skills at catching frustration. tle to no playing time, and about the rest of Season 1 and the football, running routes, “You’re playing football. little encouragement to the fate of Season 2 and the rest of the sports year. and learning a zone defense. But once that exertion and practice. “(The teams in the region) “When we play eight-man that energy has been stripped “Players miss the physical football, we don’t use a zone out, you can feel the tension. contact of the sport,” he said. are trying to fi gure out if we much,” he said. “It’s usually (The tackle) is right there, Brockamp said that sev- can work basketball into Sea- man-to-man. There’s a lot of but you can’t complete it. So eral Wallowa players and son 1 using our model for different concepts in fi ve-on- sometimes frustration gets a their families had moved to volleyball maybe in Novem- fi ve play that you don’t have little high,” Christman said. Idaho where they could play ber-December,” he said. “But in eight-man football.” The coaches also agreed the full-contact sport. He said that’s going to be a deci- Joseph players were that much of defensive that it’s unlikely that they sion made above us, through OSAA, the Oregon Health enthusiastic about the Season skills, especially tackling will return. 1 brand of football. and blocking, and the work Holguin noted that some Authority and the governor’s “I feel like it’s a good of special teams, including players had “absolutely” not offi ce.” A lot of that depends upon learning experience for kicking and punting, are “out come out for Season 1 5-on-5 what happens with COVID- everyone out here,” Juston the window” in this season. touch football at JCS. Rogers said. “Everyone out “In defense, there’s a lot “Everyone has their own 19 and the metrics that have here is learning a new set of of one-on-one work. In this fl avor and for some of these to be met. Even if the schools skills, and having fun.” kind of season, those play- kids, contact is important to have seasons 2, 3 and 4, Chase Murray said that he ers take a step back,” Christ- their game,” he said. “They they’re not going to have a played football as a freshman, man said. didn’t feel they’d be as val- traditional state champion- but then stopped because of Eschler observed that ued as players. So they took ship. But the coaches agreed concussions. To buy a hel- some of his linemen did not it upon themselves to explore they will do what they can to met to play football again, he come out for the Season 1 other ventures. That’s sort of keep kids involved in athlet- ics by thinking outside the fi ve-on-fi ve games. what this season is about.” “This is made for your On the brighter side, box. PARK CLOSED, ACCESS TRAIL OPEN NOV. 21st., 2020 The public campground at the Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project, known as Pacific Park, located at the south terminus of the Wallowa Lake Highway (OR St. Hwy 351) is currently closed to all public use. The construction in the campground vicinity required under the new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission operating license for the project has been substantially completed and the powerhouse tailrace rerouted to the north of the campsites. PacifiCorp plans to re-open Pacific Park for the 2021 recreation season. We are actively working out campground management details and are not taking reservations at this time. Details will be announced once the plan is finalized. The access trail to the Wallowa Falls Dam on the Upper East Fork Wallowa River has reopened. If you have any questions regarding the Wallowa Falls Hydroelectric Project or the closure of Pacific Park, please email recreation@pacificorp.com or leave a message on our recreation phone line at 503-813-6666. Rotary Club of Wallowa County 10AM - 2PM WALK/RUN 1 MILE • 5K • 10K Register at: Early • Any of the three Community Banks Registration • wallowarotaryclub.blogspot.com Encouraged • wallowarotary@gmail.com Funds benefit local scholarships! To advertise in the Chieftain contact Jennifer Cooney • jcooney@wallowa.com • 541-805-9630 209 NW First St., Enterprise, OR 97828 541-426-4567 ©2020 PacifiCorp DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK 1 HOUR THIS WEEKEND! PUBLIC NOTICE