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| The future of football |
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| Fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade football players will take the field on Sunday at Ward Rhoden Stadium |
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 | | ROY D. HILLMAN/CENTRAL OREGONIAN | | The fourth- and fifth-grade team works out under the watchful eye of head coach Ray Cuellar. |
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Two local youth football teams will be playing on unfamiliar turf this Sunday. Home turf.
The two teams, one which consists of fourth- and fifth-graders, and the other of sixth-graders, are representing Crook County this weekend at Ward Rhoden Stadium in Prineville. They play through the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation Football League.
This is the fourth consecutive season that Crook County has participated in the league, which also has teams from Madras and Bend, but traditionally the games have been played in Bend. That will not be the case when Crook County takes on Madras Sunday.
"Our intent is to work with Bend Metro Parks and Rec to try to get more home games, said Mike Wendell, Mayor of Prineville and coach of the sixth-grade team. "It's a benefit to have home games, I think it's good for the community of Prineville and for football in Prineville."
They will be utilizing all the facility has to offer on Sunday.
"This game is going to be treated just like a high school game," said Brad Hill, who is organizing Sunday's events. "We'll be using the loud speaker and everything, and the concessions will be open."
The concessions will be facilitated by the Crook County High School NJROTC Program.
Ray Cuellar and Chuck Wilcox started the team four seasons ago, Cuellar still coaches the fourth- and fifth-grade team along with Keith Taylor and Jim Walker. The sixth- grade team is coached by Mike Wendell, Jeff Lowen, and Vance Tong. Wilcox is no longer involved, he is currently coaching the eighth grade football team at Crook County Middle School. Hill normally coaches on one of the teams, but he decided not to this season.
"I took off coaching this year to concentrate on building the program, recruiting players and organizing things," Hill said.
The Cowboys will be prepared for Madras this weekend. "We'll be ready to play," Wendell said. "We have been plagued by injuries and illness, but we have great athletes. We're ready to take on Madras."
This program is sure to improve the overall football program in Crook County. In the long run, I think this will be a benefit for our high school football team," Wendell said. "It's like mat club for football."
Youth are now able to play at a younger age, where before the earliest that young people could get on a contact football team was seventh-grade. Now teams will be playing together and developing chemistry earlier on, which is more on par with other communities.
"I'm a firm believer that if you start them young they'll excel," said Ray Cuellar, who is a sergeant with the Prineville Police Department, and the coach of the fourth- and fifth-grade team. "No matter what the sport or activity is, be it football, gymnastics or anything."
"(Shea) Little (Crook County High School football team's head coach) is excited to bring more football to Prineville," Hill said.
The Jamboree will begin at 12:30 p.m., where they will announce each player's name over the loudspeaker. The first game, between the Madras fourth- and fifth-grade team and Crook County fourth- and fifth-grade team, will begin at 1 p.m., sixth-grade game to follow. |
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