Comanche football ready for upcoming season

Entering his third year at the helm of the Comanche football program, head coach Gary Robinson is starting to see his vision come into focus a little more as he seeks to rebuild a program looking to get back to the postseason after missing it his first two years. The Indians went 2-8 in 2024.

“I can already see a difference in (the players) at this point,” Robinson said. “I like talking about my philosophy defensively - and we’ve talked about it in coaches’ meetings - is read your keys and get to where you’re supposed to be as quickly as you can and then get to the ball as fast as you can. And to me, it seems like they have finally bought into that philosophy. In the third year is typically when things start happening.”

This is the second year for the offense to be under coordinator Bode Grice.

“In the first year, we ran my stuff and then when Coach Grice came in, we started going to his system, so we didn’t really have to teach them anything when this season started. They just picked up where we left off last year. It makes it easier because they understand who we are and we understand who they are. So we were able to hit the ground running and we got some new coaches (Cade White and Kyle Foster) this year, too.”

White is a 2023 Comanche High School graduate and Foster is a Rush Springs graduate.

“(Foster) played quarterback for them,” Robinson said. “He was a stud and his dad was a football coach in Oklahoma for many years who is in the Coaches Hall of Fame. Everybody knows Coach White. He played here on the offensive and defensive line. In fact, some of our seniors played with him when they were freshmen.”

Robinson said both have been great additions to the program.

“I think the kids really enjoy being around the younger coaches; they kind of identify with them a little more,” Robinson said. “They are both very knowledgeable when it comes to X’s and O’s and they have good enthusiasm.”

White will be the defensive coordinator, while Foster will coach wide receivers and defensive backs.

After having Colby Shannon as his quarterback the past two seasons, Robinson will look to junior Carson Vansickle to lead this year’s offense.

“Carson is very similar to Colby as far as his running goes, but this is Carson’s first year to play quarterback, so he’s going to be more of catch the snap and get the ball out of his hands quickly with things like quick screens rather than sitting back in the pocket and throwing it down the field like Colby did.”

Robinson doesn’t see that necessarily as a bad thing, as he sees it playing to the team’s strengths.

“We’ve got some good athletes at receiver like Cooper Dobbins and Rylan White, so we need to get the ball into those guys’ hands a little more and we can do that with these quick screens, so we will be able to get the ball in their hands in open space and that’s what you want.”

Senior Hollister Pollock returns at running back after missing most of the 2024 season after getting injured in the scrimmage against Healdton. 

“(In last Thursday’s scrimmage) he played 15 or 16 snaps and he played well,” Robinson said. “He ran hard and had to fight through some stuff because we didn’t get our blocks exactly the way we needed. But, he played well, and he played well (at linebacker) on defense.”

Also seeing time at running back will be Erik Roy.

“He ran the ball some and played fullback and I thought he ran really well,” Robinson said. “We’ve got three or four players we can put back there at running back. We’ve got Rylan Handcock who didn’t play last year for us, but he’s here and plays linebacker and fullback for us. He made a touchdown for us the other night, so he’s going to be a good one, too. He’s just going to need a little more experience since it’s been a while since he played. But he’s only a sophomore, and I’m looking forward to seeing him as a junior and senior because I think he’s going to be a real stud.”

Robinson thinks one of the team’s strengths will be the offensive line that returns a veteran group.

“We’ve got more experience now,” Robinson said. “We’ve got (Brandon) Lombard at left tackle who has started all three years at left tackle since I’ve been here and of course, Johnny Alvarez has been a three-year starter for us. He’s playing left guard and he’s probably the most experienced, biggest, strongest lineman we have right now.”

Senior Kolby Kagg will be the starting center.

“He’s another really good lineman that’s big and strong and he’s reliable at snapping,” Robinson said. “Then we have Kain Pritchett at left guard. He’s a big, strong kid who’s just a junior, but played a lot for us last year. We’re still flirting around at right tackle right now. Kanon Clift played there in the scrimmage and he’s done well in practice, but overall, the offensive line is the most experienced that we’ve had since I’ve been here.’

On defense, many of the same offensive players will be doing double duty.

Clift and Alvarez will anchor the line at their defensive end positions.

“They’re going to be really good,” Robinson said. “They’re just now getting back into the groove of reading keys. You have to read the tackle and guards and they will typically take you to where the ball is going, so we’re working on reading keys and getting where you need to be. They’re going to be great bookends for us.”

Roy and Hancock will handle most of the inside linebacker duties. Also, Shawn Bohenan, a transfer from Waurika, will see playing time at linebacker.

The secondary will have Cooper Dobbins and Rylan White as cornerbacks.

“Cooper Epperson didn’t play last year, but he’s playing this year,” Robisnosn said. “He’s a good basketball player for us and we’ve got him out there at safety. He communicates so well. He’s cerebral and understands the X’s and O’s, and the coverages. During seven-on-seven during the summer, he was kind of the quarterback of the secondary.”

Vansickle will occupy the other safety position. 

Pollock will play outside linebacker and the offensive line will switch out to play defensive tackle.

On special teams, senior Connor Johnson will be the new kicker for the Indians this year and Vansickle will handle punting duties. 

District 2A-II-2  includes three teams that made it to at least the second round of the state playoffs last year, including state champion Davis. Holdenville and Beggs were the others. The district also features Community Christian, Dibble, Coalgate and Tishomingo. In the preseason coaches’ poll Davis is picked to win, followed by Holdenville, Beggs, Community Christian, Dibble, Coalgate, Comanche and Tishomingo. 

The Indians open the season this Friday on the road at S&S Consolidated in Sadler, Texas at 7 p.m. Last year, Comanche came out the winner.

“(S&S) is better this year,” Robinson said. “Last year, I think they had four seniors and this year they have like 13. This will also be the second year for their coach. One of my former coaches in Texas coaches a team that played them in a scrimmage and we got to talk to him about that.”