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Prospect primed for return to 8-man By Warren Blenkush Updated: Sep 02, 2022 09:40 AM A A 3 View all photos Co-op squad with Butte Falls will be work in progress with only one senior PROSPECT — Prospect head coach Scott Thompson is a football historian, particularly of the eight-man style of the game. He literally helped write the book on it — a paperback that goes deep into the history of the small-school style of play. But because of last year’s collection of circumstances, including Prospect’s late-summer adjustment in playing styles from eight- to six-man football, Thompson, in his first year at the helm, and the Cougars may not have lived up to their full potential despite a considerable improvement in their win total. “I’ll tell you, I might throw the ball three times a year,” Thompson joked. “With six-man we threw the ball quite a bit while with eight-man, we’ll rely more heavily on the run.” Not only did the change in playing style and scheme present unique challenges last season, but due to fewer students coming out to play football for both Prospect and Butte Falls after neither team had played in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions, the once rural Oregon rivals joined forces to form a co-op in order to field a full team. Although the player turnout was fewer than in previous seasons, Thompson and the Cougars finished with a 3-5 record in 2021, which was an improvement upon Prospect’s 1-22 record that spanned 2017 to 2019. Butte Falls also co-opped with Crater Lake Charter Academy in 2018 and 2019 when they combined to go 9-8. Now that the Cougars will be back to their traditional eight-man style this season, Thompson, who is also a longtime Butte Falls resident, hopes that he, his players’ and coaches’ familiarity with eight-man football will get the most out of this season and will bring the co-op squad added success on the gridiron moving forward. “We’re back to eight-man and the kids are a little more comfortable now,” said Thompson, who co-wrote Oregon 8-Man Football History (1960-2020) with Jay Phillips. “I know eight-man and my coaches know it better, too, and we’ll be able to scheme better. This might surprise you but coaching six-man last year was the first time I’d ever seen a six-man game (in person). I look back on it and if I knew what the heck I was doing and made an adjustment here and there, we would have probably been in the semifinals.” This season will present its own set of challenges as the young team currently rosters nine freshmen, four sophomores, three juniors and just one senior. Thompson consistently makes it a point to impart his wisdom of the history of eight-man football to his players, as well as give his experience of the storied successful seasons of the past for both schools, Prospect and Butte Falls, where he was an assistant coach from 2003-2011 and again in 2013. His aim is to instill the winning mindset and belief into his players that helped make both schools two-time 1A state championships. One player Thompson has made an impression on is junior Dylan Christian, who will not only be a focal point of the offense but looked to as a leader on the team. “(Christian) asked me earlier how we’re going to go from six- to eight-man,” said Thompson. “One of the things I do here is talk about history a lot because they’ve never seen the very good Prospect teams. But they’re there.” Prospect has been to eight state championships. It won its title game debut in 1967 and was co-champions with Cove in 1982, the last time the Cougars earned a spot in the big game. Butte Falls has been to three championships and winners of its last two in 1973 and 1986. Christian, the versatile, all-purpose back who will be featured at running back, receiver and even quarterback in some of Thompson’s offensive packages, particularly the power-I and split-T formations. “Christian is pretty fast,” said Thompson. “When we get him out in space, he’s gonna do some damage. He’s also a great defensive player, tackles well and covers well.” With all of the “can’t teach” qualities Christian brings, one of his most valuable intangibles is the leadership he provides as well as his maturity and mindfulness to keep the young players on the team focused on the right things off the field as well as leading by example with his play. “I’ve always looked at sports as closing the gate to the wrong groups of people, and the smokers and everything else,” said Christian. “Me being a leader on the team and knowing all these freshmen, I hope to help them make the right choices and help them throughout their time here playing ball.” “I’m hoping to help put Prospect back on the map but it’s been quite a few years since we’ve gone to state,” he added. “Hopefully me and all these younger players can help bring that back into reach.” One of the players that will try to help bring the Cougars back to a high level will be senior fullback and middle linebacker Kaydence Moore. The squad’s lone senior will provide the kind of size and physicality at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds that would give most teams an edge. “He will be the most physical kid on the team,” said Thompson of Moore. “He plays downhill both ways. Whoever runs the ball inside against Kaydence is going to know who he is in a hurry.” Opening running lanes for Christian and Moore will be junior center Chayce Kusel as well as sophomore guard Amos Jackson. “Kusel up front, he’s huge and he blocks well for us,” said Thompson. “Amos (Jackson) also anchors the line and they both do really well.” Also helping solidify the offensive line and protect freshman quarterback Justin Maletic will be freshman guards Coda Williams and Ethan Goettle. At 6-feet and 290 pounds, Goettle could come out of the gates and make an immediate impact. “Once he realizes his strength, he’s gonna be an animal,” said Thompson of Goettle. Prospect’s other offensive targets will include offensive ends Jake White (junior) and Aadon Asbill (sophomore). Defensively, Moore, Christian, Kusel (linebacker) and White (defensive end) will lead the charge for the Cougars. Arriola, Maletic and Williams will also play linebacker and Jackson will play defensive end. With his yet-to-be tapped strength, Goettle could make an immediate impact playing nose tackle. Asbill will join Christian in the secondary at safety. “I think we’ll improve on our wins,” said Thompson. “If we can get everybody going in the right direction, we’ll be all right.” PROSPECT / BUTTE FALLS HEAD COACH Scott Thompson (second year, 3-5) GENERAL INFORMATION ASSISTANTS: Shawn Myers (defensive coordinator), Joby Sandoval (Butte Falls head coach/Prospect assistant coach). 2021 LEAGUE RECORD: 3-5 (ninth, 1A District 3 6-man). 2021 OVERALL RECORD: 3-5. 2021 RESULTS Prospect Opponents 6Powers 39 32North Douglas 68 72Gilchrist 25 41North Lake 20 6Riddle 12 0Elkton 25 35Yoncalla 34 0Eddyville Charter 54 RETURNING STARTERS OFFENSE (3): Center Chayce Kusel (6-0, 200, jr.), running back/receiver/quarterback Dylan Christian (5-7, 145, jr.), fullback Kaydence Moore (6-3, 195, sr.). DEFENSE (3): Linebacker Chayce Kusel, safety Dylan Christian, linebacker Kaydence Moore. OTHER NOTABLES Offensive end Jake White (5-11, 160, jr.), quarterback/linebacker Justin Maletic (5-7, 150, fr.), fullback/linebacker Eli Arriola (5-8, 175, so.), guard/nose tackle Ethan Goettel (6-1, 290, fr.), guard/defensive end Amos Jackson (5-8, 210, so.), guard/linebacker Coda Williams (5-9, 185, fr.), safety/offensive end Aadon Asbill (5-7, 140, so.), defensive end Wylee Reno (6-0, 165, so.), running back/safety Jordon Trotter (5-2, 125, so.), tight end/safety Nathan Cox (5-1, 110, fr.), tight end/defensive end Byaden Dahling (5-9, 130, fr.), running back/linebacker Michael Larson (5-6, 135, fr.), running back/linebacker Gage Hamann (5-9, 140, fr.), lineman Zach Crawford (5-5, 125, fr.), tight end/defensive end Vinny Cordaway (5-8, 120, fr.), center/nose guard Tyler Qualls (5-5, 170, fr.), lineman Mark Cruse (5-8, 165, fr.). 2022 SCHEDULE Sept. 2 at Cove, 4 p.m. Sept. 15 at Perrydale, 12 p.m. Sept. 23 at Mohawk, 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Crosspoint Christian, 7 p.m. Oct. 7 BONANZA, 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Camas Valley, 1 p.m. Oct. 21 CHILOQUIN, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 LOST RIVER, 7 p.m. Reach reporter Warren Blenkush at 541-776-4492 or [email protected] Dylan Christian, Prospect / Butte Falls Kaydence Moore, Prospect / Butte Falls Scott Thompson, Prospect / Butte Falls football