SEQUOYAH TAHLEQUAH INDIANS  

Coach: CHAD HENDRICKS

Last 7 Years:
2020 – Did not play

2019 – 6-5

2018 – 3-7

2017 – 10-3

2016 – 5-6

2015 – 7-4

2014 – 4-7 

Quick Hits:

Sequoyah and Keys will play for the 16th time on September 17th. Sequoyah holds a 9 to 5 advantage over the Cougars in 14 meetings. The schools are just six miles apart. 

A streak of 20 consecutive meetings came to an end in the Sequoyah-Westville series with the Indians sitting out the 2020 season. Sequoyah owns a 15-5 lead since the 2000 season. 

OFFENSE

When Covid-19 invaded in the spring of 2020, the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association shut down athletics statewide for the rest of the school year. In the fall, the Cherokee Nation, which governs Sequoyah and out of an abundance of caution, continued that ban for the school for the entire 2020-21 academic year. So when the Indians kick it off in September, it will have been nearly two years since their last game. Chad Hendricks was hired as the new coach in the spring of 2019 and has had a year-and-a-half to plan how to bring the program out of dormancy. “We will be a young and inexperienced team. Our goal is to teach the game, set them up for success, and have fun playing,” said Hendricks.

The players he will rely on for his spread offense will be mostly juniors starting at quarterback with Eli Hammer (6-1, 185). “Eli is very athletic and knowledgeable about the game, “said Hendricks. “He has the potential to be a good leader and will be able to command the team as he gains experience.” Eric Walters (5-8, 150) will settle in the backfield with Hammer at running back and Austyn Holt (5-10, 165) is the H-back. Quin Robbins (5-11, 157) and sophomore Brody Young (6-1, 165), a first-year player, will team up as wide receivers while Tilon Rattlinggourd (6-2, 317) will be a mainstay in the offensive line. “We’re putting an emphasis on ball control and first downs and if we can accomplish those things, the points will come,” said Hendricks.

DEFENSE

“We’ll have a bend-but-don’t-break philosophy on defense. We want to keep offenses in negative downs and create turnovers,” said Hendricks. Hammer and Walters will play both ways as they roam the defensive backfield. There will be some senior leadership on this side of the ball with Jeryn Wolfe (5-8, 215) and Caden Cloud (5-7, 180) at linebackers while Sammie Girty (5-10, 295) and junior Matthew Glory (5-10, 210) will find a home in the defensive line in Hendricks 3-4 defense. At least in the early going, the road may be rough for the Indians as they try to find their football footing once again. So it will be incumbent on Hendricks and his staff to be able to keep morale high for this young team as they make their way back.

Schedule:

9-3 – at Muldrow

9-10 – vs. Spiro

9-17 – at Keys

9-24 – vs. Lincoln Christian

10-1 – vs. Westville

10-8 – at Locust Grove

10-14 – at Stigler

10-22 – vs. Webster

10-29 – at Checotah

11-5 – vs. Seminole