After an extremely quiet season at District Stadium for the team that doesn’t need to bus to their home games, the Battle Ground Tigers have flipped the script and will play seven gridiron affairs on home turf.
Last season, the Tigers became road warriors, completing seven road trips and traveling the second most miles of any Clark County high school football team. Now, following a successful spring season, summer workouts are underway, and Battle Ground is gearing up for a season that could see their 2023 record of 7-2 matched or even improved upon.
Leading the charge for the 2025 season at quarterback is slated to be three-year starter Ethan Adams.
“We’re adding some run plays for him, and in the spring, it was hard to tell because we didn’t want to tackle him or get him hurt or anything,” Tigers’ head coach Mike Woodward said. “So it was kind of hard to tell how he was running. He’s coming off an injury, and when we went to team camp, he really blossomed in the run game in particular, and I think he was excited to see a side of him that he wasn’t sure that he had in the past.”
During the team camp at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, the coaching staff opted to make Adams a live player, meaning he could be tackled. Woodward said they were nervous as all get out, but the idea worked and really made advancements for the offensive approach this coming season.
“Western Oregon offered him while we were at the camp, which was super cool,” Woodward said. “He had an excellent spring but an even better team camp.”
Woodward also said that the defensive line will be a strength this season, just like in years past. Also in the defensive box, linebacker Emet Ordway — the team’s reigning most valuable player — had an outstanding spring and team camp, Woodward added.
The Tigers also added an offensive weapon in Trenton Righter after transferring from Salem. Righter, originally from Battle Ground, will add some poise and possession to the wide-out position for the next couple of seasons, Woodward said.
“Athletic plays three sports, and is a really good little baseball player, too,” Woodward said. “So yeah, he’s just been a great addition. He’s just been a blessing, you know, picking him up out of nowhere; he’s been a huge addition for us.”
At the team camp, the Tigers picked up a couple of individual awards, as well. Adams earned the offensive most valuable player, Trent Richardson earned the most outstanding defensive back, and Connor Schmitendorf earned the most outstanding offensive lineman.
“So Connor Schmittendorf, our left tackle, he’s had an outstanding offseason in the weight room, and then with spring ball, he’s been a great little player for us,” Woodward said; however, little and Schmittendorf in the same sentence might be misleading as Woodward added he stands at 6-foot-4-inches at 290-pounds.
“And then Trent Richardson, he’s a corner slash wide receiver for us, and he’ll most likely be offered from [Western Oregon] as well,” Woodward said. “He’s a stud. He’s probably our best athlete, a great track kid who runs the 400 and whatnot. … He’s 6-foot-2-inches, 175-ish, but he’s been getting after it in the weight room every day and working his tail off.”
With a lot to look forward to this upcoming season, the Tigers will start their home stand of multiple weeks in week two as they will host the Mountain View Storm on Friday, Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. in a District Stadium doubleheader as the Prairie Falcons will play Washougal High School right after at 7:30 p.m.
