Junior Joshua Low returns at quarterback for Osan. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Tenth in a series of preseason looks at DODEA-Pacific football programs.
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea – It usually takes much work and much time to get a high school football team up to speed. But Tyler Greve isn’t one who wishes to wait for very long.
The first-year coach of Osan’s football team feels his Cougars are as game-ready as they’d be two or three weeks into a season.
“They’re ready,” said Greve, who played football at Arkansas State and coached one of Humphreys’ split-squad teams two years ago.
Greve spoke on Thursday, the day before the Cougars were supposed to open their season at home against Daegu. The Warriors didn’t have enough players with the mandatory 10 practices; thus, DODEA officials said the game would be forfeited by Daegu to Osan.
Greve said he asked his players if they had a choice, would they want to play or hold off. “They all said they wanted to play,” he said. “They are willing to compete. They have that desire. They worked hard over the summer.”
And just 24 days into their workouts, Greve said they have most of the pieces of their offensive and defensive puzzles in place.
“We have pretty much all of the offense installed, and the defense is sharp,” Greve said. “That’s going to be our MO. We’re going to force you to make long drives on the field. We’re going to try to keep the opposing defenses on the field for a long time.”
A team that was outsized by its lone DODEA opponent last season, Humphreys, welcomes back three of its starting linemen, seniors Sam Myrup and Sam Tabler and junior Martin Heffele, the son of Osan athletics director and assistant football coach Bridget Heffele.
Junior Joshua Low lines up in the shotgun, while seniors Eddie Kim (running back), Tim Davidson (tight end) and Aaron Patterson (receiver) return at the skills positions.
“Run the ball, timing patterns and take what the defense gives you,” Greve said of the Cougars’ philosophy on offense.
Osan plans to get back to where it was were when it was chasing championships back in the late 2010s. It won the second of their two Far East Division II titles in 2018.
“I’m always optimistic,” Greve said. “I feel pretty good about (the team). We’re going to be competitive.”
The Cougars’ season opener is now scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 9 at American School In Japan.
Tyler Greve, who played college football at Arkansas State, enters his first season as Osan's coach. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Osan's football team hopes to get back in the chase for the Far East Division II football title it last won five years ago. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Osan Cougars
2022 season record — 1-2.
Head coach — Tyler Greve, first season.
Championships — 2005, 2018 DODEA-Pacific Division II titles.
Returning players — 11.
Returning starter — 6.
Key performers — Sam Myrup, Sr., L; Martin Heffele, Jr., L; Sam Tabler, Sr., L; Joshua Low, Jr., QB; Eddie Kim, Sr., RB.
Strengths — Size in the line. Experience at skills positions. Willingness to compete, desire.
Drawbacks — Lack of depth.
Overview — Reloading. Greve feels the team is well ahead of where they need to be after just three weeks of practice and hopes the Cougars can get back to where they were when competing for titles in the late 2010s.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 1
Daegu at Osan, canceled.
Saturday, Sept. 9
Osan at American School In Japan
Friday, Sept. 15
Robert D. Edgren at Osan
Friday, Sept. 22
Osan at Matthew C. Perry
Friday, Oct. 6
Osan at Daegu
Saturday, Oct. 14
Osan at Yokota
Friday, Oct. 20
Zama at Osan
Senior Aaron Patterson returns at receiver for the Cougars. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
Four-year Osan football veteran Eddie Kim returns in the backfield. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
