Undefeated Tigers Boast a Wealth of Talent
By MIKE MOGUIN
GTR Sports Writer
TWO-SPORT ATHELETE: Senior wide receiver Matt Kaiser, in addition to helping the Tigers start 4-0 in football this season, is also a member of the varsity baseball team.
Photo by MIKE MOGUIN for Union Boundary
Broken Arrow got off to a 4-0 start near the end of September, which included a sweep of its top area rivals – Union, Owasso and Jenks – in Class 6AI.
A wealth of experience loads the Tigers’ roster. Senior wide receiver Matt Kaiser (6-3, 183) is one of many in the camp.
“It’s nice (to be unbeaten),” Kaiser said. “In the past, we’ve taken an 0-1 start. It feels way better. We know we have the team to do it.
“We got crazy ability this year, crazy athletes this year,” Kaiser added. “I think it’s probably one of the most athletic football teams anyone has ever seen.”
Kaiser, along with several teammates, like running back Noah Cortes, defensive lineman and North Texas commit Demeco Roland, linebackers Zach Marcheselli and Gavin Potter, the former a commit Aaron “Tricky” Stokes, another wide receiver and defensive back, all seniors, are key players in the Tigers’ efforts. Also making big contributions are juniors Myles Slusher, a cornerback, and Andrew Raym, who anchors the offensive line at tackle.
“I think it’s the chemistry; all of us are falling into place here,” Kaiser said. “There’s a lot of leadership on both sides of the ball. We have a bunch of returners and we want to win a state championship. That’s what we’re gunning to do this year. And, we’re just working how we usually work.”
Kaiser, who is also a member of the Tigers’ baseball team, relishes his gridiron role.
“Being a wide receiver, I like to catch the ball and get on the field and make blocks for other guys,” he said.
“A lot of people know me better for running the post route and that’s my favorite route to run,” Kaiser added.
By playing two sports, Kaiser has found that each one can be benefited by the other.
“They definitely help,” he said. “I think tracking a baseball down in the spring carries over into catching a long ball in football, and I think the weight room in football definitely helps out in the baseball area.”
His favorite baseball memory was his sophomore year, when the team won a tournament in Arizona over spring break.
In a 28-13 win against Jenks on Sept. 21, which boosted the top-ranked Tigers to 1-0 in District 6AI-1, Kaiser caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Tate Robards to tie the score at 7 in the first quarter. That followed a drive in which the Trojans took the initial lead.
Broken Arrow’s defense limited Jenks the rest of the night.
The Tigers also enjoyed dominating wins against Union (33-10), Mansfield, Texas (28-6) and Owasso (47-20). Kaiser enjoyed those wins as well.
“It was one of my best feelings (the Aug. 24 win against Union). Knowing in the fourth quarter that we had the game sealed after that touchdown by Noah Cortes, it felt pretty great,” he said.
In the win against Owasso, Kaiser considers that game a favorite performance in the early part of the season, although he didn’t score.
“Just blocking them and pancaking them on almost every play was what I liked about that game,” he said. “They don’t like us, and we don’t like them, so it was good to get them back.”
Broken Arrow had lost to Owasso last year, by a similar score. It also lost to Union and Jenks and had to rebound from a 1-4 start before losing in the state semifinals.
When it comes to favorites, Kaiser likes Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I like the way he plays, the way he gets after ever play,” he said.
But, currently, his favorite team is the New England Patriots.
As for the Tigers’ receiving unit, Kaiser’s confidence is high on how lethal they can be for opponents.
“We got a bunch of dudes who can catch the ball and block, which is our main attribute this year. I think we’re pretty dangerous. Once we start throwing the ball, people will see that we’re pretty dangerous as well.”
As of submission of this story, Broken Arrow was faced with a road trip at Norman (Sept. 28), then had a big game at home against Westmoore (Oct. 5).
Its remaining schedule consists of road games at Edmond Santa Fe (Oct. 12), Yukon (Oct. 18) and Edmond Memorial (Oct. 25), before finishing the regular season at home against Enid (Nov. 1).
Updated 10-16-2018
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