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Head Coach
Ken Clemens, and Oak Park Alum, will the Northmen into their first Home game in the newly constructed Oak Park High School Stadium, the first "Home" game for the Northmen in 60 years.
"This is a big night for our team, our school, and our community. There are probably thousands of former (Oak Park) players who never get this chance. This team will be the first to get that opportunity on Friday night thanks to our school district and our community."- Ken Clemens, Head Football coach.
Oak Park Pass Game
This is an intriguing factor because there's something that the Northmen have yet to utilize in past years, and it's shaping up to create a more versatile offense than ever before.
It will be interesting to see how the Northmen options evolve in the passing game with '22 Bubba Bogart, '23 Marlon Gant,'23 Xavier Williams and '24 Aiden Henkel. '23 Xavier Williams established himself as a serious threat to defenses after last week's performance, including a opening drive touchdown to start the game.
If you like throwing the ball, then you will appreciate this edition of the Northmen offense whose passing success provides versatility, when you add Running Back '22 KeAndre Braxton. Oak Park has a lineup of guys with completely different styles of play putting the Northmen in a better situation for offensive production than ever before. Braxton is a 195lb bruiser with some patience to allow things to develop and top end if he get loose, Williams is a 6'0 WR with exceptional catching abilities and is a great person to throw the deep ball, Gant is being used as a gadget player and with great vision and a very deceptive speed; getting the ball to him in space is important for the Northmen.
The versatility of the Oak Park running and passing corps will certainly give the Eagles fits. Last week, Grain Valleys defense put up a strong fight against Smithville, but were not able to keep the opposing offense in control. Regardless of last week, Grain Valley will challege the Northmen which should keep everyone in attendace entertained on Friday Night.
Oak Park Defense
The Northmen went into a battle with a very talented group of skill guys this past week and look to work on tackling and keying the big-time players that the Grain Valley Eagles will have.
"We just need to control the line scrimmage, they (Grain Valley) have some key players that if we aren't where we are supposed to be, they'll take-off"-Defensive linemen '22 Jermaine Harris
Supporting Harris in the secondary will be '24
Aiden Hinkle, '22
Paul Hernandez and '22
Jett Sutton who combined for 18 tkls.
The Eagles passing game includes a couple speedy guys that can get up the field fast, the defense will have to stay sharp with Grain Valley taking shots deep at any opportunity. Oak Park have a combination of youth at defense which could be the deciding factor between their success or failure in Friday nights match-up. This week the Northmen will have to stop a Grain Valley Team that likes their ground game.
This is going to be a fun battle between two good teams with the same record after week 1. Throw in some questionable weather, and we might have the makings of an instant classic on Friday Night at Oak Parks first home game in the new Oak Park High School stadium.
Oak Park Northmen vs Grain Valley Eagles Varsity Football
Kickoff: 7:05pm
Catch it Live at: GoNorthmen.org/watch
