Semoball

Young SEMO OL coach carrying expectations along with talent

First-year Southeast Missouri State offensive line coach, Lucas Orchard, watches his players execute during a recent practice at Houck Stadium.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

Lucas Orchard is facing a blessing AND a curse at this point in his young football coaching career.

He has been assigned the task to guide the Southeast Missouri State offensive line in 2022, which is his first full-time coaching position (on the field), and the Redhawks are blessed beyond belief with experience in that position group.

Of the six offensive line positions (including tight end), Orchard can fill each with athletes who have a LOT of starting experience.

Junior Zack Gieg started 10 games last fall and will anchor the offensive line at center, while senior Shyron Rodgers (five starts) and freshman A.J. Laux are competing for time at left guard.

Senior Nate Korte (10 starts in 10 games) will be at right tackle, while Sage Sobrado (nine starts in 10 games) and Will Christopher return at right guard, along with junior college transfer Kobe Sixkiller, who possesses a lot of potential.

“Kobe looks good,” Orchard said. “He’s a smart young man. He is learning the offense well and that is the biggest worry. How quickly can he process and learn what we are doing?”

Senior tight end Will Weideman returns after starting 10 of his 11 games in 2021, but with all of this experience, brings expectations for not just the players, but their position coach, as well.

“Lucas is doing a great job,” veteran Redhawk coach Tom Matukewicz said. “It’s great that he has a lot of veterans. But it’s a big job. He runs half of the offense almost.”

For Orchard, his role is new, but he isn’t necessarily new to SEMO.

Orchard spent one year (2019) as a student assistant with the program, before spending the last two seasons as a graduate assistant, where he worked with the offensive line.

“I was here when all of these guys got recruited,” Orchard explained. “I’ve kind of watched them grow up. I have always felt like it is my room, so now, it really is, and I am having a ton of fun.”

Despite the amount of experience among the position group, Orchard is still having to do an inordinate amount of instruction. Even for the older players, due to COVID in 2020 and playing a spring schedule in 2021, most of these players have only gone through one spring football camp in their careers.

“The development that we are getting is going to be really big for us,” Orchard said. “That is a good thing. I have older guys, but I really believe that they are still getting better.

“We have a lot to look forward to.”

The Redhawks continue to practice each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, either at Houck Stadium or Rosengarten Athletic Complex, with the sessions being open to the public and free to attend.

The annual spring game will be played on April 22 at The Pit at Jackson High School.

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