HORNET BUZZ: Copan gridders lift weights, focus on fall wars
Copan High School’s football program is focused forward following a decade of low numbers, few wins — but plenty of grit.
The Hornet grid course appears headed for a brighter horizon in eight-man football wars.
Third-year head coach Marshall Foreman expects to have 13 to 17 players in uniform this season — up by several athletes, especially if they remain healthy and eligible.
Copan also is geared toward steady — even rapid — progress because of its high number of freshmen and sophomores in August practice.
As of now, Foreman knows of only one senior (Noah Cobb) and one junior (Franco Sharp) in the mix, but hopes more upper classmen will answer the call in what could be the opening of an exciting era in Hornet football.
“We always get a few surprises when school opens, some good, some bad,” Foreman said. “Hopefully we’ll start winning and get some excitement going.”
Meanwhile, a pair of outgoing Hornets — valiant and rugged athletes who helped keep Hornet football on the map during the past few years — received well-deserved salutes by being named to the Oklahoma Eight-Man All-State Game.
Lineman Cannon Foreman and all-around skill player Tyrek Millien both were named to the honor.
Foreman sat out of the game, due to a health reason, but participated in the week-long preparation and welcome ceremony, coach Foreman said.
Millien caught a pass in the game.
“They had a good time up there,” coach Foreman said. “They made a lot of new friends and got to work alongside with a lot of kids who are going to play in college.”
The current crop of Hornets are pumping iron in Copan’s offseason conditioning program.
Due to the challenges of setting a time for a lot of players doing farm and ranch work during the summer, Foreman has set two sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.
“We average per day six to nine kids,” he said.
In addition to work, “A lot of kids are gone, they’re playing baseball or vacationing,” Foreman said. “We’re hoping to get a lot more during the next month or so.”
Copan seized two wins last season, hammering South Coffeyville, 64-44, and Deer Creek-Lamont, 48-24.
In another game that will live in Hornet lore, Copan and Medford combined for 142 points — unfortunately, Medford scored 94 of them.
The Hornets will be out this campaign to season a power group of young players that dominated on the junior high level.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: HORNET BUZZ: Copan looks to rev up new era of Friday smiles
