Defensive coordinator Ivan Goff, right, is part of Hohenfels Tiger head coach Phil Rigdon's staff this year. Goff spent much of the practice held on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, getting his linemen in shape. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Defensive coordinator Ivan Goff, right, is part of Hohenfels Tiger head coach Phil Rigdon's staff this year. Goff spent much of the practice held on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, getting his linemen in shape. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Hohenfels' Anthony Rivera practices getting up from his stance quickly during an after-school practice on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Jordan Kelly, Hohenfels' star halfback, eyes a gap during a Tigers practice in Hohenfels on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Hohenfels freshman quarterback Landon Ott will try to take the Tigers deep into the playoffs during his rookie season. Here, Ott chucks a pass during a practice held at Hohenfels on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
This is the first full year Hohenfels head coach Phil Rigdon will have with his team after the departure of long time Tiger coach Larry Daffin. Rigdon and his coaching staff ran the team through basic tackling drills on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016. (Michael S. Darnell/Stars and Stripes)
Eighth in a series of glimpses at high school football camps around Europe.
HOHENFELS, Germany – The Hohenfels Tigers’ 2015 season ended in bitter disappointment, as the talented squad was crushed by the Rota Admirals 42-6.
Every team that suffers a playoff loss is eager to put that behind them the following year. The Tigers are no exception, but it’s a bit different easier for the players to get over it than one might expect.
After all, almost half of this year’s team weren’t even in high school when that game was played. This year, the Hohenfels Tigers are fielding roughly a dozen freshmen, depending on how the final roster shakes out.
Head coach Phil Rigdon has little choice but to hand the keys of his shiny new car – this being his first full year as coach of the team – to a squad of new players. Rather than being worried they’ll wreck it, Rigdon said he’s excited – especially about his new quarterback, Landon Ott.
“He’s the real deal,” Rigdon said “He’s got a rocket on him, he positions himself correctly, he’s a scrambler, he’s not afraid to get hit, he’s not afraid to leave the pocket.”
That mobility will come in handy for Ott this year. The Tigers’ offensive line is full of first-time players, with only one returner from last year’s squad. During a practice held on Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2016, the O-line was still learning snap counts and basic blocking techniques, just days before their first scrimmage against Ansbach.
With the O-line still coming together and the departure of Tony Saintmelus and Trey Briscoe in the offseason, much of the offense’s success will depend on Hohenfels’ lone returning offensive weapon, Jordan Kelly.
Luckily for the Tigers, the senior halfback looked as sharp as ever in limited action during the pre-scrimmage practice. He and Ott connected on several well-defended passes that showcased both the breadth of Kelly’s offensive skills and Ott’s comfort in passing.
Kelly, now a team leader, said he’s not particularly concerned about the Tigers’ chances of success. After all, they’re unified by a singular goal, freshmen and seniors alike.
“We are all together, bound as a team to try to get this championship,” he said.
