Ephrata receivers will create matchup problems with smaller defensive backs
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald The Ephrata receiving corps averages over 6-feet and is expected to create matchup issues. They include, from left, Chris Walker, Logan Vaughan, quarterback Zac Berryman, Jake Oxos and Josh Benthem.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldAt 6-foot-3, Ephrata wide receiver Chris Walker (7) is expected to create some mismatches against smaller defenders.
EPHRATA — Ephrata coach Jay Mills must have pulled through the CWAC drive-through, leaned out the window and said, “Super size me.”
What the Tigers football coach got was a tall order in the receiving corps with wide receivers Jake Oxos (6-foot-2), Chris Walker (6-3), Josh Benthem (6-3) along with tight ends Hunter James (6-4) and Logan Vaughan (6-1).
They still have their fair share of speed with running back Leland Burleson (6-0, 190) and quarterback Zac Berryman (5-11, 180), but it’s that size at receiver that has Mills’ eyes sparkling like the sun.
“It’s a great problem to have,” said Mills, who moved Walker from quarterback to wide receiver this season. “It’s awesome. We have a couple of other guys that are in that mix that aren’t quite eligible yet. We want to be able to take advantage of their big bodies and create matchup problems. It’s a great advantage for us.”
It’s not all post up and throw it high, but there are matchups in favor of a receiver corps that averages over 6-foot. The red zone comes to mind, converting on third down, size differential on the outside; it all factors in.
“Most of the cornerbacks in this league are around 5-10, which gives us an advantage because we’re a lot taller,” said Oxos, who is a three-year starter. “It all depends on how the corner reads it, but he’ll throw it to where we can catch it.”
Mills also moved Berryman from running back to quarterback to take advantage of his football IQ and a big arm.
“This is my first year playing quarterback and I can’t say I’ve ever had a lineup of guys all over 6-feet like that,” Berryman said. “It’s Chris’ first year playing wide receiver, but he’s 6-3 and he can jump. I’ll just lob it up to him.
“Jake is a good basketball player and a good athlete that can make good plays. It’s nice having those guys out there catching balls for me, it makes my job a lot easier.”
They’re new at quarterback and a new guy at the No. 2 receiver, but Walker was mobile in the pocket at quarterback last season and also does a little triple jump on the track team. He’s an athlete and you can’t teach that.
“Receiver has been a learning experience, but I think my skills are pretty good. I actually feel better catching the ball than I did throwing it,” he said. “A lot of the DBs in our league are kind of shorter, so we have that advantage over them on jump balls. We can use our bodies to better position ourselves. I think it’s a definite advantage in the red zone.
“We don’t throw deep too much, but I think we can knock the top off it if we have to. We’re all pretty athletic.”
The Tiger receiving corps is not only big in terms of height, they are big in terms of wide bodies with athletic abilities in James, who’s 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, and Vaughan who is a good sized fullback at 6-foot-1, 175.
“We have quick kids that can run the ball. Zac is a fast kid and I don’t think you can stop him once he gets outside. Ox and Walker are big receivers,” said James, who plays post on the basketball team. “I’m not super fast, but I can jump pretty high and I can block. I don’t think anybody can guard us — me, Chris and Jake. We’re just too big.”
We’ll find out on Friday when the Tigers open the 2017 season on the road with a non-league game against Cashmere.
“It’s a great problem to have,” Mills said.
Rodney Harwood is a sports writer for the Columbia Basin Herald and can be reached at rharwood@columbiabasinherald.com