Nighthawks gets ready under pre-dawn lights

With a speedy receiving corps and a veteran offensive line, Coach Ken Lindgren’s Nighthawks of Tekoa, Oakesdale and Rosalia will look to improve off of last year’s 3-6 record. The TOR season opens on the road Friday at Springdale.

The three-school combo team will be the lone 2B entrant in the tough SE 2B league this year.

Coach Lindgren entered camp with 40 players who hit the practice turf for pre-dawn practices under the lights because of the late harvest on the north Palouse.

“I think they really like being out here in the early morning,” said Lindgren. “It’s not too hot, so it’s a little more comfortable. It feels like football weather.”

Coach Lindgren is looking for new leaders.

TOR graduated two of its core leaders from last year. Halfback and team captain Zach St. John and quarterback John Kuhn. Zach Smith, senior wide receiver and linebacker, was fatally injured in a car accident last November before the last game of the season.

Scott Eberle, who takes over for Kuhn as QB, served as backup gunslinger last year. Eberle provided punch at tailback last year, and Lindgren said his athleticism should help the team’s attack.

Senior receivers Flash Hodges, Lance Lindgren and DJ Brown return this year. Brown is back after missing the grid season with a knee injury sustained in basketball.

Moving in to take the tight end spot vacated by the graduation of Brandon Hovde will be senior Jared Hereford.

In the trenches, Lindgren brings back seniors Riley Schell, Zach Gilroy and Ben Hale and adding Cory Schultz and Chris Hanson at center.

“To me, that’s the most important position on the field,” said the coach. “It all starts with the center. If you can’t get the ball to the quarterback, you don’t go very far.”

Senior Earl Gaines takes over the bulk of the running game, after serving in the time share with St. John and Eberle last year. Gaines also takes over the middle linebacker spot. Lindgren said he’s a big hitter who should be comfortable taking on leadership of the defense.

Those same athletes from the receiving corps will patrol the defensive backfield. Lindgren emphasized the troupe will need to step up big to fight off the power squads of the SE-2B.

“I don’t care how good an athlete you are, you’ve got to love to hit people to play this sport,” said Lindgren. “Football is a collision sport, not a contact sport. Dancing is a contact sport.”

One of those heavy hitters so far in practice has been Junior Payton Boxleitner at outside linebacker.