TOLEDO — For 11 straight seasons, the Toledo High School football team has found itself in the Class 2B state playoffs. It has been a model of consistency under head coach Mike Christensen.
The last obstacle has been the quarterfinal round. Of those 11 straight trips, nine of them have ended two wins away from a state title.
“We want to always keep growing,” Christensen said. “There’s a talent gap when you get to those games and you got to play a perfect game.”
This rendition of the Riverhawks will be another year experienced due to the junior class getting a bounty of reps as sophomores last fall. Coupled with some stars back in the fold, they’re taking the approach of getting over the hump come November.
Here are three takeaways from a recent padded practice.
Trevin Gale = fast
One of the star sprinters on the track and field team, Gale’s top speed is translatable to the gridiron in pads.
Twice during team drills, returning quarterback Eli Weeks found Gale down the sideline twice for big gains. The split end was at least three-to-four yards ahead of the defensive back.
“We’ve played together our whole life,” Weeks said. “I trust them with everything.”
Left side of offensive line may be strong side
Protecting Weeks’ blindside is one of the hallmarks of an offensive line. And the left side could be heavily featured through returning starters Alex Vazques and Leland McCree.
Christensen has always been one to establish ball control, but with Weeks running the show, has been more adaptive to throwing it.
Still, the run game has been Toledo’s bread butter in his seven years.
“We’re ready,” McCree said. “We’re way more physical, everyone is trying a lot harder.”
Screen game a noticeable struggle
In two separate offensive drills, the quick screen plays resulted in a drop and a missed blocking assignment.
Throughout camp and dating back to the spring and summer, returning tailback Carter Swafford was blunt in his assessment of the screens.
“Getting the ball out, it has been a struggle,” Swafford stated. “I’m sure we will improve on that.”
