Big senior class ready for a big finish at Oregon this football season

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — If there’s one football program in the Big Northern Conference that’s been on the rise in recent seasons, it’s the Oregon Hawks. Last year they made a major jump going from two wins to five wins. The Hawks look like they’ll have a chance to make another jump this year.

The Hawks have a strong senior class that folks in Oregon have had their eyes on for several seasons. It’s a class that won at the lower levels, and a class that as juniors last year helped Oregon snap a seven-year playoff drought. It’s a group of young men that loves to compete.

“They take everything serious,” said head coach Broc Kundert. “They’re a group that wants to compete all the time. We’re in the second day of practice. We’re in helmets and it’s hard to keep them from going super hard.”

The Hawks were one-and-done in the playoffs last year when they lost to Du-Pec, but getting that taste of the playoffs has been a huge motivator for these young men.

What would it mean to the seniors to have a big year this year and perhaps challenge for the top of the conference?

“It would mean, the world,” said senior runningback Logan Weems. “We’ve been watching (older) guys out here all play our whole lives, and now to finally get the chance to be the top dogs out here, actually have a chance to go deep in the playoffs and maybe have a chance at the conference and all that stuff, it feels great!”

The Hawks return six starters on defense and eight on offense. Jack Washburn will be in his third year as their varsity starting quarterback.

“I think we’ve got real good chemistry,” said Washburn. “We’ve been a group for a long time now through elementary and junior high and now three years of high school ready for our fourth.”

Weems will be the Hawks’ primary running back. He was third in the conference in rushing last year with 1,208 yards. Cooper Johnson will also see action at running back.

First team All-Conference lineman Briggs Sellers (6-1 285lbs.) will anchor the front at center. Hunter Bartel and Avery Lewis will be the top receivers on the edge. Soccer players Gavin Morrow and Keaton Salsbury have also come out for the team this year providing the Hawks with more speed on the edges. Then there’s 6-5 senior Josh Crandall, a first-team all-conference tight end who can beat teams with his blocking and his receiving. This should be a very balanced offense.

“We could throw it 30 times and I’d feel comfortable, or we could run it 30 times and I’d feel comfortable,” siad Kundert. “We’re just going to be a team offensively that takes what the defense gives us.”

Most of these same guys on offense will also lead the defense, especially Crandall at defensive end. He could be moving all over the front of the defense. Sellers will plug a spot at defensive tackle. Lucas Cole, another senior will be a key player at linebacker.

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