This past weekend was the annual North Kansas City Schools Varsity Football Jamboree.
Every year, Northtown, Oak Park, Staley, and Winnetonka face off in a preseason match up to get ready for the upcoming season. Each team's goal is to give younger players some field exposure and give expected starters the opportunity to get into the season's mentality. Coach Clemens, head coach for Oak Park's football team, spoke about his expectations for the Northmen, "I expected to see our players go hard and they did that across the board".
The Northmen looked really good establishing the running game early. Ardrace Hughes, a Junior at Oak Park, was a real standout. Last season, he didn't see the field much but he really ran the ball hard and with purpose. The defensive line had a big night. The penetration up the middle was outstanding, especially during the Staley game. They caused the Staley QB to rush or step outside the pocket on multiple plays. Oak Park linebackers did a good job at making the first tackle. The back field had a few miscommunications but adjusted quickly. Wide receivers were able to get open down field but there is room for improvement on target passes.
Looking forward to next week, the Northmen are taking on the Platte County Pirates. Oak Park has never beat the Pirates in the school's history. When asked what a win would mean for the Northmen, Coach Clemens said, "Every win is a big deal." That speaks to the character of the coaching staff and the culture they are building for their players.
