After last year’s schedule of seven road games forced the team to be road warriors, the Battle Ground Tigers will stake their claim at District Stadium for seven home games this year.
For the Tigers, the biggest key to their success as a team will be staying healthy, head coach Mike Woodward said. Last year, some injuries got in the way of finishing out the year strong, including one suffered by quarterback Ethan Adams.
Adams said he has a lot to look forward to with his senior season. He wants to lead a team that will shock the region.
“We’re working for a playoff appearance and trying to go deep in the playoffs,” Adams said. “I’m coming off of a little bit of a rough year. I’m coming off of an injury. So I’m obviously looking to shock everybody and take the league title. It’s what we’ve been working on.”
Now healthy, Adams is looking to close out his high school career on the right foot, which will see a lot of use as the Tigers’ quarterback is set to have more explosive run plays compared to the last couple of seasons.
“He stepped it up, you know,” Woodward said of Adams. “He was dinged up most of the season last year, and he’s feeling good and he had a great spring and summer camp. He really stepped up his game and he’s toughened up his game. He’s reminding me of that Tom Brady edge that he had a freshman. We’re always trying to protect him and not run him, so he’s sliding and he’s like Patrick Mahomes out there so we don’t get him hurt, but now he’s begging me to let him run the ball and he’s trying to run people over. He’s got a real attitude.”
Another name to look for this year for the Tigers is Emet Ordway, the middle linebacker. Trent Richardson at wide receiver and corner, as well as Connor Schmittendorf on the offensive line, are also players to look out for on Fridays.
After the non-league slate concludes, the Tigers are looking at a grueling three-game stretch of big, physical 4A Greater St. Helens League ball.
“I say this to everybody — it’s the toughest league in the state,” Woodward said. “So every game’s a Super Bowl on Friday nights.”
The Tigers will lean heavily on the play of Adams for offensive production both by ground and by air, but on defense, Woodward said the defensive line and linebackers will be a tough group for any offense to come across.
“We don’t have the depth that some of these other local schools have, but we do have the talent, and we just have to keep those guys fresh and healthy for nine games,” Woodward said. “We will see where that takes us but we’re excited, an excellent senior group, as well.”
