Melissa McClendon
Daily Times Correspondent
LOCUST GROVE —
Locust Grove is going back to the basic concept of competition. Every time a player steps onto the field, he is being asked to compete for his position.
“From being here and being around the kids, I knew we needed to go back to the basics. We needed to go back to move forward,” head coach Travis Sims said. “Every day is a competition for them. They need to be competing every play.”
Sims, in his first year as head coach, is starting his fourth season at Locust Grove. The Weatherford native, has been coaching for 11 years in Texas and Oklahoma.
This season, Sims and his coaching staff have made some changes and are hoping the new competitive edge will bring success to the Pirate team.
Offensively, Sims said the Pirates will run a “very multiple offense.” The team will not have a lot of plays but will have several formations.
“We’ve simplified it for the kids and they have picked it up very well,” Sims said. “Offensive coordinator Ronnie Maples has done a good job adapting things we’ve done in the past and things he’s seen in the past.”
Sims said the new offense fits the skill set of his players.
Defensively, the Pirates will go to a 4-3 look.
“That’s our main base package. It fits our style real well. I’m not someone who’s married to one style or another. I like to marry our style to the kids we have,” Sims said.
The Pirates have several returning starters but with the competition level in practice set so high, many returning starters are working to keep their position. Only a few positions appear to be secure.
On the offensive line, juniors Forrest Woolman and Shawn Carter are battling for the tight end position. Trenton Hooker, a junior returning starter, will start at tackle.
“He’s a big kid and he’s been starting where he’s at since he was a freshman,” Sims said.
Seniors Brett Russell and Stormy Redfearn will start in the guard positions and sophomore Michael Baker will be at center.
Senior Taylor Clark was out last year with some health problems but returns this year to play tackle.
Sims said the most competition is expected in the backfield.
“Where we have the most competition is at fullback, tailback and quarterback,” Sims said.
Seniors John Stanglin and Chase Knott are competing for the quarterback spot. Both saw starting time last year, and Sims said he is confident that whoever doesn’t start at quarterback will work well as a receiver.
Senior Trey Conner is working for a tailback position along with juniors Sergio Natividad and Michael Hendricks.
At fullback, sophomores Layne Thigpen and Tyler Fox are battling for a spot. Senior Anthony Taylor and junior Derrick Applegate are working at the wide receiver position.
On defense, Woolman and Russell will be at defensive end with Colton Evans challenging for playing time.
Baker will play tackle with Hooker getting playing time in that position and junior Harley Tillerson will play nose guard.
Stanglin, Thigpen and Tyler Fox are three of the five Pirates working for a spot at linebacker.
In the secondary, Taylor, Knott, Gavin Fox and Applegate are battling for the two corner spots. Conner, Natividad and Hendricks are competing for safety spots.
“We’re going to have them compete until its go time,” Sims said. “Nothing’s going to be given to you.”
Working for their spots, the Pirates look forward to facing Salina in the first game of the season.
“It’s a very important game to people around here. I love big rivalry games,” Sims said. “It’s our most important non-district game. The mind-set of that game … if you lose that game it affects the mind-set for the rest of the season.”
There will be some significant changes to the Pirates’ schedule this year after they dropped from Class 4A to 3A.
The lone holdovers from the 2009 opponents are Salina and Vinita.
As for new faces, the Pirates are resuming a non-district rivalry with Kansas and have a home date with three-time defending state champion Cascia Hall.
The seven-team District 3A-6 lineup has Claremore Sequoyah, Tahlequah Sequoyah, Metro Christian of Tulsa, Inola, Verdigris and Westville.
“You can’t become the best unless you play the best,” Sims said of the Pirates’ schedule.
