Aug. 23—OAKES, N.D. — Beau Thorpe’s football career at Oakes High School started off a little rocky.
“Freshman year — my first ever start, I fumbled and they recovered for a touchdown,” said Thorpe, the quarterback for Oakes High School.
Thorpe and the Tornadoes wound up winning that game — something they plan to do a lot of this season.
“I think we are very capable of being a top team in the region this year,” Thorpe said. “We are ready to be back.”
Thorpe and the Tornadoes began practices on Aug. 7 and will open the season with a game against Langdon Area/Edmore-Munich on Aug. 22. Oakes is coming off a 3-6 season that ended with a 27-24 loss to Langdon/AEM in the opening round of the Class A playoffs.
“We’re optimistic and excited,” Oakes head coach Greg Dobitz said. “We’ve had a pretty good summer … we’ve stayed healthy and then we got all these guys in the room and they’ve also had the chance to play basketball and baseball, which I think is really important.
“We just want to finish strong and then get to work so we can find out where we end up this fall,” he said.
With any luck the Tornadoes could be near the top of the Region 1 standings.
“We’re excited about a new-look region again,” Dobitz said. “We lost Central Cass and Kindred — teams that have been either first or second in our region pretty much every year for the last four years. Them moving up opens things up a little bit.”
Oakes will be competing alongside new Region 1 addition May-Port-C-G on Sept. 12. The up-and-coming Northern Cass program will be looking for its second-straight win against the Tornadoes on Oct. 3. Oakes will face Valley City’s numbers and talent on Oct. 10 followed by a test against Ellendale/Edgeley/Kulm the following week.
“With a good season there is no reason why we can’t contend for a region championship,” Dobitz said.
Dobitz said the Tornadoes are welcoming back a few veteran players — Thorpe being one of them — that will help the team rack up the wins during the regular season.
Thorpe has been playing tackle football since fourth grade.
“I loved to watch the Seahawks and Russell Wilson, (but) I first got started playing in a backyard or on the playground with friends,” Thorpe said. “I started off as a center then a tight end and now I have been playing QB since seventh grade. I see my role as a person that leads by example rather than vocal and always showing up for my guys.”
Thorpe will be protected this season by the likes of varsity returners Jyles Meier and Max Cline. While the pair are the only starters back, Dobitz said he is optimistic about the other offensive and defensive lineman.
The Tornadoes will also return Braysen Sagert, a senior who will be playing full back and defensive line, and Jackson Sorum, who is coming off a knee injury but has been cleared and has back in the weight room. Reese Nitschke, a key receiver and corner, will be back for a third go-around with the Tornadoes.
“They are big, strong and physical kids,” Dobitz said. “We’re looking good so far. We’re ready to go.”