OCS turns to young Fitzhugh to lead offense

It was a year of change of sorts for the Ouachita Christian football team. The program hit the practice fields for spring practice this month as defending state champion - something the program had not experienced since 2012. The team was also preparing to make the leap back into the ranks of Class 2A after winning the 2A title in 2000 but spending the few years at the 1A level.

The team also entered spring looking for the third starting quarterback in the past three years. Chance Clowers stepped in and led the team to the state championship last season and won Class 1A Most Outstanding Player along the way. Grant Fitzhugh, a junior and son of coach Steven Fitzhugh, got the job this spring and showed poise and a strong arm.

Grant has played quarterback much of his career but was a LHSCA all-state selection at defensive back last year.

OCS focused much of their attention on the offensive and defensive line and practiced four days following the end of the state track championships in Baton Rouge. So many of the players were tied up in either the track championships or state baseball playoffs that Steven Fitzhugh decided to hold off on drills until then and also finished with a joint practice with former district rival Delhi Charter.

"We had seven players on the baseball team still playing in the playoffs and that is a good problem to have," Steven Fitzhugh said. "We decided for the first time this year to do a joint practice with Delhi Charter. What I don't like about a spring game against someone else is the preparing to go against someone else. With a joint practice we got to hit someone else but if we needed to stop and talk about how we need to handle the situation Delhi Charter just went at us with we could do that and them too. It was very beneficial. One thing about Delhi Charter is they are going to be physical and fundamentally sound."

Baseball players who will likely see significant action for OCS in the fall on the football team included senior running back Josh Pennebacker and senior wide receiver Jake Slaughter.

Once the Eagles all assemble, Steven Fitzhugh expects to have

59 players for varsity. OCS fielded 48 a year ago. The team will also have depth and experience more than in past years with 10 seniors and 16 juniors.

In all, OCS has seven offensive starters returning and eight on defense from a team that went 11-3 and won the Division IV championship.

"Depth is a critical thing," Steven Fitzhugh said. "It is amen thing you have to have (to contend)."

Fitzhugh said junior Garrett Otwell being back after a torn ACL made him miss all of the 2014 season was a huge boost for the team.

Otwell, a junior running back and defensive back is expected to make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball.

Connect with Cody on Twitter @cfutrellTNS or via e-mail cfutrell@thenewsstar.com