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SOU, area players spark Heat roster By Tim Trower The concern Eric Vanderwegen has as quarterback of the Southern Oregon Heat really isn�t much of a concern at all. "The biggest problem I�m going to have is figuring out which weapons to utilize," says the former Southern Oregon University signal caller. "I don�t know if we have enough snaps to get the ball to everyone we need to. We have great athletes at every position." The Heat opens the National Indoor Football League season at 7 p.m. Wednesday against the Washington Shockwave at Compton Arena at Jackson County Expo Park. Vanderwegen, who also is the team�s offensive coordinator, will have an array of teammates to work with who should be familiar to Southern Oregon football fans. The team�s roster is dotted with players from Southern Oregon University and area high schools. Except for head coach Brett Wells, who also coordinates the defense and starts at safety, none of them have experience at the indoor game, save for preseason workouts. The Heat practiced on the turf in Compton Arena Sunday, experiencing for the first time the small, indoor field surrounded by dasher boards. "It�s definitely a big adjustment for us," says Vanderwegen. "Everything�s a lot faster than what we�ve been used to. That first game will be a learning experience for all of us, but we�re preparing for that. We have a lot of intelligent players, and that makes my job easier." Drawing up plays has been something new for the quarterback as well. "I�ve had a chance to look over some playbooks and watch some film of some other indoor teams," he says. "I�ll doodle on a notebook and come up with some of my own plays. Hopefully, with a combination of that, we�ll come up with some things that will fool some people." The game puts a premium on offense, and that is the Heat�s strength, says Wells. The eight-man lineup features three linemen, three receivers, a quarterback and a running back. Vanderwegen (6-foot, 205 pounds), whom Wells describes as a consummate leader, will be joined in the backfield by running back Gary Clemens (5-8, 190 pounds), who played collegiately at Portland State. "Gary is something special," says Wells. "He�s going to break (defenders�) ankles because he stops on a dime. He�s not going to bulldoze anybody, but he doesn�t have to." The receiving corps is led by Ryan Morgan (5-10, 195), David Douglas (6-0, 185) and Duane Patterson (5-10, 180). Morgan, of Hidden Valley, and Douglas each played at Southern Oregon University. Patterson played at North Medford High and College of the Redwoods. Two other receivers of note are Josh Rombach (6-1, 185), who played at North Medford and Biola University, and Jake Gallop (6-4, 260), a Roseburg and Southern Oregon University product who will start on the defensive line but will get snaps at receiver as well. "With our passing attack, we�re going to surprise some people," says Wells. "And we�re far more physical than I thought we�d be. We have finesse and possession receivers, but they can all take it the distance." The offensive line is comprised of three former SOU players: center Jered Gail (6-3, 315), who went to Henley, Omar Placencia (6-4, 300) and Ian Reid (6-3, 270). Defensively, Gallop will be joined on the line by Kenny Smith (6-1, 260) and John Avalos (6-3, 255), who played at SOU. Linebackers are J.D. Callicoat (6-0, 230) of Grants Pass and Southern Oregon University, and, in the middle, Freddie Taulani (6-0, 240), another former SOU player. In the secondary with Wells are former North Medford and SOU player William Salade (5-10, 195), Aaron Crawford (5-10, 178) and Omar Daniel (6-3, 210). The kicker is Caleb Theolo out of SOU. "I feel very good about where we are," says Wells. "I feel we�re as ready as we can be at this point. I think we�ll put a real exciting team together. We have enough talent, enough athletes, and they�ve been together for a couple of months. They�re catching on." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.