RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Lucas Caldwell likes three things; laughing, football collisions and cookies.
Not necessarily in that order for the Woodmore sophomore. He plans to have many more opportunities to run into people as one of three running backs in a committee.
Graduate Landon Rich took most of the carries as he finished his career as the program's all-time rushing leader. Caldwell, junior Auden Hemminger and junior Ish Nagy are likely to rotate carries this season.
Part of the Wildcats' wing-T offense is also disguising who has the ball, and Caldwell gleefully absorbed a tackle down the field, without the ball. Caldwell also added a jarring open-field hit to stop a kick return that got his teammates excited.
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With bruising senior Cole Potridge as another option, they all look forward to fresh legs. Hemminger finished fifth at state on a 4x100 relay and Nagy can be elusive or engaging.
"We want to run it down their throat," Caldwell said. "If they fill the box, it opens up the field. I'd like to say I'm pretty fast. Put some moves on; of course I'd like to run through some people and set the tone and get the job done.
"If everybody on the team can score, that's great. I want to run, block, pass routes — everything."
Caldwell had 102 yards and two short touchdowns on 12 tries in Woodmore's 61-7 victory over New London to start the season. Caldwell was far from satisfied as he mostly watched last year as the Wildcats qualified for the postseason.
He played a little at linebacker, but primarily on special teams. He didn't expect to be starting on both sides of the ball this year.
"I'm shocked how large my role is," he said. "I had work to do. I love special teams. I'm on the field the whole game, which is crazy. I was excited to have an impact."
Assistant coach Seth Dufendock prepares the running backs for physicality. Caldwell grew up a bit after recognizing the jump to varsity. He wants to be told if he does something the wrong way, so he can do it differently. He often used to take such coaching personal.
"Our coaches want us to be the best person in myself," he said. "They're in it for us. I'm more mature physically and mentally. I like to have fun, but there are times to be serious."
Basically, that leaves only cookies. Dufendock's grandmother makes cookies for the kids every Friday and monkey bread Saturday.
She's always made desserts for Dufendock's teams. She makes gingersnaps especially for head coach Scott Stecher, who once ate three dozen on the way home from one of Dufendock's games as a player when Stecher was an assistant at Genoa.
He'll share the totes. Any time there are sweets available, however, Caldwell tries to be first in line.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Plenty of carries, never enough cookies
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