CANADIAN COUGARS

Coach: NATHAN LEITHEAD

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With seven starters returning on offense there is an air of optimism in the Canadian Cougars camp as they get ready for the 2023 football season. One of the main reasons for the upbeat thoughts is the return of third-year quarterback William Beshear (6-1, 210, Jr.). The running back duties will be split among Thunder (6-2, 205, Jr.) and Kaden Elza (5-9, 160, Jr.) and Tyler Bird (5-7, 170, Jr.) while Kenan Miller (6-3, 170, Sr.) will be a sizeable target downfield for Beshear. The Cougars will also feature TJ Cook (6-3, 250, Jr.) returning who can play in a variety of positions. The one area the Cougars will be looking for help in will be the line. “We will strive to control the tempo of the game through ball control which enables us to limit the number of possessions for the opposition. We’ll be a run-heavy team out of the flexbone,” said second-year coach Nathan Leithead.

DEFENSE

Canadian will also have a solid nucleus of five players back on defense for the 2023 campaign. Bird and Thunder Elzawill control the middle from the linebacker spots in Leithead’s 3-4 set while Cook will be one of the three down linemen. The secondary will be comprised of Kaden Elza, Miller and possibly Jaxson Airheart-Jones (6-0, 180, Jr.). “We’ll use different combinations of blitz packages to pressure opposing quarterbacks,” said Leithead.  With a veteran quarterback and a good nucleus of returning players and a year of adjusting to a new coach under their belts, the Canadian Cougars should be in a good position to turn the page to a winning track this year.

SCHEDULE

8-25 – vs. Ketchum

9-8 – at Savanna

9-15 – vs. Wewoka

9-22 – at Pocola

9-29 – vs. Gore

10-6 – at Panama

10-12 – vs. Haskell

10-20 – at Porter

10-26 – vs. Talihina

11-3 – vs. Central Sallisaw