Published: August 13, 2009 09:30 am      

Tigers open camp with holes to fill

Tuttle football coach Phil Koons opened practice Tuesday with questions on his mind.

The answers, he hopes will come sooner than later.

The Tigers trek back to the Class 3A playoffs starts in earnest Aug. 20, when they travel to Watonga for the first preseason scrimmage of the season

Here are some questions to consider:

• How quickly will the young Tigers mature?

Tuttle graduated 16 seniors from its state semifinal team of a year ago. Gone are the starting quarterback, a starting running back, and four starting offensive linemen.

Some youngsters will have to fill those shoes.

"A little bit of everything is a question right now," Koons said. "We don't have many returning starters. I'd say our lack of experience is a question.

• How will Tuttle handle a brutal early schedule?

Four of the Tigers first six games are on the road. They play host to Marlow in the season opener and then travel for the rest of September. There are trips to Kingfisher, Hilldale, and Elgin before they return home to face Blanchard Oct. 2

"We got a little unlucky there," Koons said. "Of course last year we were lucky to have six home games. A couple of year ago, Bethany dropped us. We had to scramble around to find someone. We found Hilldale, which was in the same shape we were, needing someone to play. Unfortunately, we're miles apart."

• Who will spell Ethan Biddy on offense?

Biddy led the Tigers in rushing last year with 1,154 yards on 165 carries. Byrce Moore also gained 863 yards on 118 attempts, but Moore graduated and Biddy will need someone to help carry the load.

"Ethan will have to play middle linebacker," Koons said. "It's hard to ask a player to make all those tackles and then go on offense. We have another kid who we hope will step up, Dylan Copenbarger, a junior."

• How will Tanner Koons handle the leadership responsibilities at quarterback?

Tanner grabs the reigns from his brother Sterling, who graduated in May.

"Tanner is not quite as fleet of foot as Sterling, but his arm is better," coach Koons said. "And he's taller.”





Throwing the ball, he has the potential to be better -- but he's one of the ones who's never started."