Cache senior loves playing nose guard, running back

CACHE — Most prep football fans have seen two-way players in action and at most times it can be a lineman who goes both ways or maybe a running back who doubles as a linebacker.

Cache has its share of two-way performers but one really stands out and that’s Jarreius Daniels, a 5-5, 155-pound senior.

As strange as it might sound, Daniels doubles as a nose guard on defense and running back on offense.

So, just how can a small player compete in the middle of trench warfare?

“I just have to use my strength and quickness,” Daniels said. “The coaches told me that I was tough enough to handle both jobs for us. I just love playing wherever the coaches need me.”

Daniels has been with the Bulldogs since the eighth grade, moving from Lawton to the Cache area where he’s been welcomed with open arms.

“Jarreius has been a great addition to our program,” Cache head coach Farron Griffin said. “He’s worked hard to get better and he has been a joy to coach. He’s one of those program kids who just loves the game of football.”

Daniels and the entire Cache team have enjoyed the past couple of games, both wins, and they have really gained confidence after losing to powerhouse programs, Class 5A’s No. 4 Elgin and Class 4A’s No. 3 Tuttle.

“I think the difference was that we found ourselves on both sides of the ball and now we’re excited about making a good push toward the playoffs. The offense has been getting its act together and the defense has really been playing well.”

He says leadership has been important.

“The defense is held together by guys like Connor (Muldowney), Avery Lawson and even Gunnar Tate is a good leader even though he’s a sophomore. There are others as well who help keep us together.”

When it comes to food, Daniels can live with the basics that many high school students love, Taco Bell.

“If you gave me $100 to go eat anywhere I’d go straight to Taco Bell,” he said. “I’d take a bunch of my teammates and just chow down.”

Daniels is also a good student who wants to attend college.

“Right now my favorite classes are English and art,” he added. “I am thinking about a career in fashion design or something like footware or anything else that people use. I love art and I just think that would be a way to get into something different. I think there is always going to be a demand for people in that field.”

This week the Bulldogs have a short week as they head to Elk City tonight. The game date was changed to allow an officiating crew to work the game.

“We are going up there with a chip on our shoulder because we’ve lost to them in the past few years,” he said. “We have to get out there and slows their offense down by playing tough defense.

“I think we match up with them pretty well. They are very strong on the run with not much passing. That means our line and linebackers are going to have to be ready for anything since they’ve showed several schemes in the past few weeks.”

That means Daniels will have to do what nose guards do on a regular basis.

“I just have to stay low and try and disrupt the flow of their plays,” he said. “Most of their runs have been up the middle and that’s a strength of our defense.”