Cache seniors see progress in grid program

There haven’t been many bright spots for Cache’s football team but last week in a 50-0 win over Oklahoma City Douglass, senior Dean Ray got a big thrill with a pick-6 that helped the Bulldogs grab a win on Senior Night.

“That was really something,” the wide receiver/safety said before Thursday’s practice. “Our linebacker, Case Hardzog, hit the ball carrier and the ball bounced right into my hands. It was about 15 yards to the end zone and I had several guys around me but I was able to score.”

That was one of two wins for the Bulldogs, however, Ray pointed out they played several others teams close, including Clinton but he knows tonight’s challenge against No. 1 Elgin will be their toughest test.

“They are really big on both sides of the ball but we are going to go out there and give it our best,” he said. “We had some tough injuries which hurt us in some games, but we’ve persevered and everyone is still practicing hard.

“When you watch video of Elgin you can see they have a good coaching staff and they have that amazing size. When they run the counter and you have that 285-pound guy out in front, it’s a challenge for sure.”

Ray, who is another military dependent playing in the Lawton area, has enjoyed his three years at Cache and feels that the program is heading in a good direction.

“This was a transitional season for us, but I feel Coach (Tanner) Thompson has a good plan for the program,” he said. “Our coaching staff has done a good job adjusting to things, like helping out with the defense these last couple of weeks.”

The life of a military dependent can include a few moves for some families, but not in Ray’s case.

“I’ve been at many different places,” he said. “I was born in Texas, and we’ve been stationed at Fort Hood twice, Fort Irwin, Fort Leavenworth, Hawaii and Georgie. It isn’t always to make new friends, but you get used to it the more you move around.”

This semester the honor student loves his Advanced Placement European history class and is eager to attend college to seek a degree in one of several programs.

“I am hoping to be a nuclear engineer, lawyer or something in the medical field,” he said. “I have applied to several Texas schools, but I may just stay here in Oklahoma where my tuition will be cheaper.”

While Ray is not that big, he still enjoys good food.

“My mom makes great tacos, so that’s always a favorite and she also can cook great fried chicken, which is another of my favorites,” he said.

Injury woes hurt Cache

Any fan of the Bulldogs is well aware that the injury bug has hurt the team, including sending big tackle Remington Epperson to the bench for the season.

“I took an elbow in my back in practice and it just never got to the point where I could play,” the senior said. “Looking back, I wish I would have come out earlier to help the program.”

Like Ray, Epperson sees the program in good hands going forward.

“This was a transition year but Coach Thompson has done a lot of good things for this program,” he said. “It would have been easy to quit but guys are showing up for practice and fighting to get better.

“They are getting ready to start building a new field-house in a few weeks and that will help the program grow and improve in the years to come.”

Since he’s been sidelined, there’s been plenty of time for Epperson to study and look toward the future.

“I spend a good deal of time doing research on history, especially the Cold War period and World War II,” he said. “However, I’m thinking about going to OU and major in criminal justice. I want to eventually become a police officer like my uncle Ronnie Smith (former Lawton Police Chief).

“I just think being a police office is rewarding and it fits in my goal to put others before myself.”

While he hasn’t been able to play for the Bulldogs, he does follow the lineman pattern of being the best eaters on the team.

“There is nothing better than a 16-ounce ribeye cooked medium-rare with a loaded baked potato,” he said. “There is no better meal than that.”

Epperson is a native to this area and his grandfather Wayne “Butch” Epperson spent 35 years teaching biology at Cameron University.

“I was only one when he passed so I never got to know him but I’ve heard all the stories,” he said. “I have been told how popular he was and he was always trying to help mold the lives of his students.”

Grandpa Butch was also a long-time Lawton Ranger and his grandson gets his size from him for sure.

“Yes, they said he was a big guy,” Remington said. “I hear the story about him lifting a horse on the table at one of the vet offices once. That’s pretty impressive.”