PROMISE STAYS STRONG: Caney Valley spring grid will have veteran flayor

Mike Tupa, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
·2 min read

Perhaps no area prep football program is graduating more talent, pound-for-pound, than the Caney Valley Trojans.

But, keep the hankies in your pockets as the Trojans begin their journey in spring football workouts starting May 18.

Veteran Trojan head coach Stephen Mitchell returns plenty of firepower for next season, led by prospective fourth-year starting quarterback Zak Wallis.

“It seems like he’s been here forever,” Mitchell said. “He’ll finally be a senior.”

Last season, Wallis and his teammates finished 6-4 — the second-most wins by a Caney Valley football squad since the 1990’s.

Wallis has run nearly the full gamut of progress since his freshman season.

In 2019, the Trojans stumbled to an 0-10 record and Wallis absorbed plenty of punishment and growing pains.

The next season, the Trojans qualified for the playoffs. Last year’s six wins weren’t enough to get back to the postseason but still comprised a historic showing.

And, now Wallis is on the threshold of his senior year.

“He’s going to be leading us,” Mitchell said.

As mentioned, Wallis is just one of the battle-hardened components for Caney Valley.

Cooper Fogle — who likely will play an expanded offensive role this coming season — racked up 90 tackles on defense, amassed 300 yards and multiple touchdowns as a receiver.

Also back is junior ballcarrier Jeff Childress.

“I think he could be a good contributor, not only in the pass game but in the run game as well,” Mitchell said. “He’ll probably give us another 900-to-1,000-yard rusher.”

Jaydin Allen is another high profile returnee, who has experience at defensive end and might join the running back rotation, Mitchell said.

Tying it all together will be a veteran offensive line, which includes Blake McLagan or Nathan Ocheler at center, Levi Allen and Jaydin Allen at guards, and Dillon Hubert and Chase McElhany at tackles.

“WE return seven on both sides of the ball,” Mitchell said. “We have most of our secondary guys back and our D-line was pretty young last year. We have a lot of hope in the future.”

The objectives in spring football will be to max out on reps and plays “and to kind of giving a crash course in what we plan to do in the fall,” Mitchell said.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Focus on Caney Valley High spring football practice