Cole Linehan made his hay as a defensive lineman for the Oregon Ducks, which is why this year’s Braves have the veteran Banks head coach excited about a team built from the inside out.
“Our O-line and D-line will be our strength,” Linehan said. “We’ve got some big boys up front that play really good football, and when you have dudes up front that allow you to run the football, be super physical and get after the quarterback, for me that’s just a fun thing to coach.”
Last year’s Braves ran roughshod over the Coastal Range League, outscoring their six league opponents by a combined score of 212-47.
From there, they won playoff games over Burns, North Valley and South Umpqua before losing to Cascade Christian 34-24 in the 3A State Championship game in Cottage Grove. Linehan said that every year’s team is different, but for those players who saw last year’s title defeat firsthand, they have been and continue to be motivated by a game that saw a lot go wrong from the start.
“When you lose a game like that, where things just kind of went wrong early, it stings, right?” Linehan said. “A lot of our kids were out there for that, so they remember that feeling. But we’ve seen it in the offseason with morning workouts and kids just doing extra work, that they don’t want to feel that again, and are asking themselves what we need to do differently so that doesn’t happen again.”
That starts up front where Banks is led by senior Luke Bigsby who was the Coastal Range League Lineman of the Year, along with earning the state’s 3A Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year. In addition to Bigsby, the Braves’ line is anchored by junior Cole Wilson, his sophomore brother Cade Wilson and senior Corbin Clapshaw, all of whom have gotten bigger and stronger over the past nine months.
“This is the biggest we’ve been since I’ve been coach,” Linehan said. “That’s a nice thing to have because in the past we’ve thrown the ball a lot more than we ran it, but we’ll see if that changes this year.”
Offensively, that line will be protecting a new quarterback this season, with all-state quarterback Kade Long off to Whitworth University to play football for the Pirates. They’ll also be opening holes for what Linehan said will be a stable of backs, including senior Diesel Schoegje, junior Henry White, who missed last season due to injury, and sophomore Wyatt Jackson.
“It’ll be interesting to see who’s our main back,” the coach said. “Henry has got some explosive speed, Wyatt will just run you over and then Diesel is out there running it too, so it’s going to be a committee to start, for sure.”
Junior Lane Gilbert is slated as this year’s starter under center after spending last year at receiver and at free safety defensively where he earned second team all-state honors. Gilbert brings exceptional athleticism to the position, and as part of his defensive mindset, a level of physicality that his coach said they’ll try to rein in in an effort to keep him healthy.
“We’re trying to teach him to live to see another down, but he’s a lower your shoulder kind of guy,” Linehan said. “Were trying to work that mentality out of him a bit, but we also don’t want to take away his passion for the game. But overall, he’s doing great.”
Gilbert lost some weapons on the outside to graduation, with the departure of Brayden Bigsby and Parker Littlejohn who both earned all-state honors. But the Braves do return talented tight end Max Walker, along with junior receiver Jarrett Martin, who played last season at Gaston, and who Linehan said has been very impressive during summer activities.
“He’s going to help us a ton,” the coach said.
And not just on offense. Martin is expected to step in to Brayden Bigsby’s corner spot defensively, and will be joined by returning cornerback Brayden Exline, Schoegje and Walker at linebacker, and Gilbert who will resume his duties at safety despite his value at quarterback.
“In the past, we’ve been very fortunate to not let our really good athletes play defense and play quarterback because our offensive staff doesn’t want that to happen, but Lane is too good not to be out there defensively,” Linehan said. “So, it’s one of those situations where the leash will be short, but he will definitely play defense.”
In addition to Martin, Linehan said the team also has some new blood he’s excited about, including but not limited to Jackson and White who while not entirely new, are expected to really factor into the Banks’ success this season, especially at linebacker where the team will be without standout Ashton Crossen who’s playing football at Eastern Oregon University this fall.
“Wyatt (Jackson) played for us as a freshman and did a great job last year, but he’s got that maturity and you can just tell that this year might be his year,” Linehan said. “And Henry (White) was hurt all last year with a shoulder injury, so having him back healthy is awesome. Both of those guys could really pop this year.”
And they won’t be the only ones, for Linehan knows that despite what they return, along with what they lost, there are always guys ready to step up — and for him that’s what will be and is always exciting about a new year.
“I always tell my coaches whenever we lose this guy or that guy, someone always steps up,” the coach said. “So, I’m just looking forward to seeing who that’s going to be, and challenging the kids to be that guy.”
Banks opens the season with a home game against Santiam Christian at 7 p.m. Sept. 6, at Banks High School.
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