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Guiding Force Cascade Christian junior quarterback Haiden Schaan leads the Challengers against St. Mary's in Southern Cascade League play Friday. DENISE BARATTA / MAIL TRIBUNE Thursday Oct 13, 2016 at 8:46 PM Oct 13, 2016 at 8:46 PM Kris Henry Mail Tribune @Kris_Henry There was a time when Haiden Schaan rarely even thought about dropping back and passing the football. In fact, the Cascade Christian junior didn’t even take up the position until there was a need for someone to fill in at quarterback in seventh grade. Even so, the Challengers were busy running the double wing at that time so it’s not like Schaan worried much about relying on anything more than his two legs to get the job done. Flash forward to 2016 and most folks probably have a hard time believing he didn’t spend every waking moment slinging the football around as a child. Schaan stepped into the starting lineup at Cascade Christian as a freshman and now is no stranger to games that have featured him passing for multiple touchdowns. “He went from passing the ball just a few times to where now he’s passing the ball many times a game,” says Cascade Christian head coach Jon Gettman. “He’s kind of evolving just like our program has evolved.” In his third season with the Challengers, the 6-foot, 185-pound Schaan has completed 100 of 175 passes for 1,188 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions heading into Friday’s matchup against St. Mary’s. Both teams sport 4-2 records as they open Southern Cascade League play at 7 p.m. at U.S. Cellular Community Park. “Respectfully, they’re looking good this year and we’re excited about playing them,” Schaan, 17, says of the Crusaders. “We’re trying to stay focused on what we’re doing, though. We’ve made the mistake of thinking too much about other opponents and we don’t want to do that anymore.” Schaan passed for 257 yards and four TDs in last year’s 51-0 win over St. Mary’s, who trailed 44-0 at halftime. The Crusaders’ last win over Cascade Christian came in a 45-0 clash in 2003, and Schaan stands to play a big role if that streak is to continue, even if it is a bit deceiving. In the time since that win, St. Mary’s has twice forfeited its game against the Challengers (2007 and 2010) due to lack of numbers, and did not play its crosstown rival in five of those seasons (2008, ‘09, ‘11, ‘12 and ‘13). In terms of actual games played, Cascade Christian has won five straight in mostly dominant fashion over St. Mary’s. This year’s clash expects to be the most competitive in decades, with each team rightfully confident for a host of reasons. For Cascade Christian, it’s safe to say having Schaan at the helm is one of those reasons. “We’re definitely a quarterback driven offense and he’s been making a huge difference every game for us,” says Gettman. “His maturation as a quarterback has been fantastic. He went from a physical kid that could throw the ball to now he’s really starting to understand what the game’s about, where to throw the ball and how to throw it as far as touch and spot of the ball. He’s grown a tremendous amount.” Schaan credits Gettman and his teammates for helping him grow in the quarterback position, and has also noticed a difference this year from when he initially got behind center for the Challengers. “I think just the ability to run the offense and understand what we’re trying to do has become a lot easier for me,” says Schaan, “and just throwing the ball more skill-wise has made playing a lot easier.” Schaan was a fullback/linebacker during his Pop Warner days and carries that same blue-collar mentality into what he does at quarterback. He’s also had the luxury of a steady offensive line in his days at Cascade, along with a host of playmakers in the backfield or on the perimeter. This year, Zack Fralich has run for 356 yards and one TD on 86 carries and caught nine passes for 104 yards to complement leading receivers Ben Dunn (27 catches, 303 yards, four TDs) and Carson Cochran (20 catches, 347 yards, four TDs) However, all eyes have been trained on Schaan ever since he put up stellar numbers as a freshman and set the bar high for his expectations. “I try not to focus too much on expectations,” he admits. “I try to achieve the expectations of my coaches, for sure, and just try to do the best I can for them and the team. To me that’s more important than what other people expect of me.” As much as anything, Gettman says it’s Schaan’s grounded nature that has helped him achieve success thus far as a Challenger. “The No. 1 thing is, he’s a humble kid,” says the coach. “Most kids who’ve been starting since their freshman year, there may be a certain amount of arrogance and they’d expect certain things to be given to them a certain way and there’s none of that with him.” An avid reader whose father Mike Schaan is Cascade Christian’s offensive line coach — a position he’s also held at North Medford and Crater over the years — the 17-year-old standout says it really isn’t a thought to be anything but steadfast and humble on his team. “I think being a Christian school, a lot of us have that faith attached to our names,” says Schaan, “and that unburdens us a little bit because we put our trust in other places when we play.” “I’m just hoping we can continue to grow together and play well together,” he adds. “That’s been my goal, more so than anything individual, just that we get closer and closer each game and keep moving forward. Coach Gettman has done a great job of just rallying everybody together this year. We all have this oneness and want to win for each other.” Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry