DUANE DaPRON
Progress Correspondent
INOLA — Some people might think little can be gained by a football team that struggled to a 1-9 record a year ago.
Not Inola coach James Cheatham.
Cheatham, who enters his second season with the Longhorns, is of the opinion that valuable lessons can be gained from the fallout of a one-victory season.
“I believe, as a player, anytime you experience struggles and difficulty, that’s a positive motivation to success,” the Northeastern State graduate said.
“I’ve been 1-9 and 10-0. You probably learn more going 1-9 than you do at 10-0.
“You can look at 1-9 as a positive experience in finding out what you need to do as a team to improve.”
Cheatham and members of the 2006 Longhorn team have had plenty of time to examine last year’s campaign and are ready to tackle the challenges ahead this season.
“I am really excited about this year even though we are still a little young,” said Cheatham, who was head coach at Stilwell before coming to Inola in 2005.
“Our junior and sophomore classes are our big classes,” he said, noting that just five senior names dot the 2006 roster.
“I can tell you that we are a lot more enthusiastic this year. We have 32 varsity kids working hard to be successful. We have a good building block. We need to be more confident in what we do this season.”
A year ago, Cheatham inherited a program that had graduated some 15 players.
“We were real young and inexperienced last year,” the Broken Arrow native said.
“We also threw two new systems (flex bone on offense and 4-4 defensive formation) at them. It was tough on a young and inexperienced team.”
With a youthful squad in 2005, Cheatham had little choice but to play several underclassmen throughout the season.
“Despite going 1-9, we did get better as the season went along,” he said.
“There’s just no substitute for experience.”
The head coach hopes that the experience gained by his squad a year ago will be beneficial this season as the Class 3A Longhorns tackle a schedule that features one of the most competitive districts in the state.
Claremore Sequoyah, a state semifinalist a year ago and ranked as high as No. 2 in preseason, joins Inola in District 3A-3.
Also in the district is Berryhill, the 2004 Class 3A state champion and a top 10 preseason choice this year.
Mix in traditional powerhouses Vinita and Metro Christian and the Longhorns have their work cut out for them in the district.
“District 3A-3 is a tough district,” Cheatham said. “We will have to work hard, day in and day out.”
To help keep his team motivated daily, Inola has a sign posted at its practice field that reads “Outwork Your Opponent Today.”
“That’s the key. You always have an opportunity to compete and when you compete you have a chance to win,” Cheatham said.
To be more competitive, the Longhorns’ flex bone offense will need to be more productive in 2006.
A year ago, Inola managed just 87 first downs and 1,376 yards in total offense (957 rushing, 419 passing).
“We try to run the ball and get it on the edge,” Cheatham said.
“We also throw a lot of screens and short passes. Our personnel fits into that package.”
Returning to lead Inola’s offense is junior quarterback Ryan Moss (5-10, 160).
Backing up Moss will be senior Jacob McDaniel (6-0, 160).
Cheatham has two tandems of halfbacks to feature in the flex bone.
One pair is senior James Yoder (5-7, 135) and junior Spencer Smith (5-8, 160). The other duo is junior Tim Clifford (6-2, 175) and junior Blake Lane (5-10, 165).
“Our halfbacks are still fighting for spots. All are good athletes,” Cheatham said.
At fullback, Eric Feemster (5-11, 165, sophomore) and Ricky Woods (5-9, 175, junior) will see playing time.
Tyler Barnett (5-11, 200, senior), a starter a year ago, returns at tight end with James Padgett (5-9, 150, sophomore) in reserve.
On offense, the Longhorns should have their best depth among the receiving corps.
Included here are Tyler Swope (6-2, 140, junior), Zach White (5-7 155, sophomore), Gene Tyler (5-10, 145, senior) and Mitch Gastleum (5-8, 140, sophomore).
“This area should be one of our strengths, although we have some younger players. We want to get these players into the games in different packages,” Cheatham said.
Among the five offensive linemen, three — junior tackle Kris Powell (5-10, 275), senior center Brian Melone (5-10, 195) and junior guard Zach Roach (5-8, 240) — started a year ago.
Joining the trio up front will be two sophomores, guard Braden Best (5-10, 190) and tackle Michael Overstreet (6-3, 275).
Defensively, the Longhorns will line up in the 4-4 once again.
“We want our opponents to know that they played us. We didn’t do that a year ago,” Cheatham said.
“This year we are blessed with depth at both noseguard and tackle.”
Melone and Roach will man noseguard slots while Overstreet and sophomore Adam Hammill (5-9, 205) occupy the tackle positions.
Among the inside linebackers, Feemster, Clifford and junior Matt Sanders (5-10, 180) will see playing time.
As a freshman a year ago, Feemster notched 20 tackles in just two games while Clifford amassed 35 stops.
“I am excited about our defense because we understand our schemes better and are playing faster this year,” Cheatham said.
While the coach says the team has no standout players on special teams, the squad has a definite goal in this area.
“We are planning to run one (punt or kickoff return) back for a touchdown,” he said.
Cheatham points out that dedication to the task hand could result in the Longhorns having a big impact this season.
“If we play hard and work hard, we can be more successful than anybody thinks we can … even ourselves.”
