Thoreau to employ spread offense

WINDOW ROCK

With a new offensive strategy, first-year Thoreau football coach DeJong DeGroat said their offense will move even more quickly this season than they did in 2015.

In previous years, the Hawks identified itself as a single wing offensive team and this year they have implemented a more balanced attack with the spread offense.

“This year we’re running a more uptempo offense,” said DeGroat, who took over the program two months ago.

Even with a good core of returning players, DeGroat said it’s going to take some time before they master the spread offense. But when they do he expects his team to be right up there.

“Once we learn the system we’re going to be competitive because I believe we have some real talented kids,” he said, while adding that his kids have embraced the new formation.

“Our kids are buying into the program and into the system,” DeGroat said. “They are excited and we’re looking forward to getting the season started.”
DeGroat said they are coming along as a team and he credited senior captain Lewis Frank for helping him bringing them together.

“He is the foundation of our team,” DeGroat said of Frank. “He motivates our players and he challenges them physically and mentally. He’s a good leader and he’s a stand-up guy. A lot of players look up to him. I count on him a lot to communicate with the rest of team.”

The first-year coach also praised his coaching staff for helping him employ their new approach.

“They are real knowledgeable,” he said. “They are good people and this is going to keep us going in the right direction.”

“They are real helpful and this is what I am looking for to keep this team going in the right direction,” …

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