Tigers searching for continuity

HITTING HARD: The La Grande High School football team runs through drills as it prepares to open its season agaist Vale. The Observer/CASEY KELLAS

That is what has plagued La Grande High School football over the years. But Matt Wolcott hopes to change that trend.

Wolcott, entering his third season as head coach, thinks that some tradition needs to be in place in order to see success on the football field.

“We think that we are starting to build some tradition around here, and we hope that translates to winning football games.”

After the Tigers won one game a year ago, they bring back a roster that is now filled with experience.

La Grande had five players start for them as sophomores last season. All five players are returning.

Wolcott returns 10 seniors who he hopes will lead the team.

“I expect the seniors on this team to be leaders,” Wolcott said. “Last year we were so young with no depth that there weren’t really any leaders for us.”

Sixty players have come out for training camp this fall, according to Wolcott, with numbers from all of their summer camps increasing from years past.

“We’ve had really good participation this summer,” Wolcott said. “All of our camps have seen a great improvement in terms of the number of kids we’ve had come out.”

Wolcott isn’t planning on changing anything from last season except for winning more ball games.

“The freshmen that were here when I started are now juniors, so they have a pretty good grasp of the schemes,” he said.

“That has been the problem in years past — right when the players start to grasp the hang of things, it gets changed.”

Wolcott did mention that there would be a few tweaks to the offense, but nothing major. He hopes that with a healthy offensive line and with junior quarterback Carson Miller, the offense will put up more points this season.

“Our line was banged up last year. This season we have those guys back and healthy and we are expecting good things,” Wolcott said.

The main thing this season for La Grande football is to show improvement from last year and compete each week.

“I’m looking forward to this season,” Wolcott said. “I think we have a solid football team, and I just really want our guys to come out and play hard on Friday nights.”

And as for the players: “They’re fired up. These kids are football players. That’s what they do. They just want to play football.”

The Tigers kick off their season on the road against Vale Sept. 4. Then the following week, Sept. 11, La Grande plays its home opener against Umatilla.

Both games are set to kick off at 7 p.m.