Hance handles pressurized QB job with poise

Football fans are well aware that when teams are struggling whether it’s fair or not, the quarterback is often going to land criticism.

Cache quarterback Canden Hance knows what comes with the job but he’s handled it well, even going through a period when he was on the bench with a foot issue.

“I’m not frustrated but there is some pressure. It’s just about the mental part of the game so I just try to be positive,” the senior said. “We have to keep plugging and improving. I think I’m doing well but I know last week against Elk City I could have thrown the deep balls a little better. The shorter routes I’ve been hitting those pretty well.”

Hance showed a good deal of promise in the season opener against Duncan by running some option schemes but after his foot issue started to bother him that was taken off the table for some time.

“I really love running the option but I know the coaches wanted to limit me getting hit but I’m ready to try it again,” he said. “After the Elk City game my foot didn’t hurt after the game and even on the weekend it felt good.”

The foot injury, which is basically a small break in a growth plate, along with an elbow injury earlier in his prep career has determined his life path after athletics.

“I want to be a sports physical therapist,” he said. “When I hurt my elbow a few years ago I went to therapy and I thought it would be a good way to help people.”

He’s preparing for those tough classes in college by taking three college courses this semester: American Popular Music, American Federal Government, and English Comp 1. Throw in a pre-calculus course at Cache and he probably does more homework and studying than most high school students.

When it comes to his favorite foods, he surprised this writer with one offering.

In addition to his job as the Cache superintendent, Canden’s dad Chad, is a pretty good cook.

“Dad makes this great seafood boil with crab, shrimp, corn, potatoes and it’s really good,” he said. “They only problem is he doesn’t cook it very often.”

Mom Beth is a school nurse for the Cache system and she’s a pretty good cook as well.

“Mom’s been making these amazing potato wedges with cheese and bacon bits and she also cooks a mean roast,” he said.

This week Canden has ordered up a win for the Bulldogs and he’s trying to do everything he can to make it happen.

“We need to be more consistent on offense and our defense has been working on tackling better and adjusting when teams are passing against us,” he said. “Our secondary had their eyes in the backfield at times and Elk City hurt us with a couple of double moves. But we’ve practiced hard on everything this week to be prepared.”

While Hance is enjoying playing football at present, he is also a good baseball player and will be on the diamond in the spring.

“I love both sports,” he said. “I pitched and played third base last year and may be at shortstop this season. I would actually love to play both in college but I don’t think many schools will let you do that.”

In addition to a busy week of practice, he’s also been watching a great deal of video of the Woodward defense.

“I love watching video; to me it is interesting,” he said. Just what things are he interested in seeing?

“First I am looking at the secondary to see if they have one or two safeties back,” he said. “Then I watch to see if the linebackers are going to blitz or drop back in coverage. If they are running a zone they will normally be off the receivers but if they are in a man with press coverage they are lined up close to the receiver.”

While the Bulldogs will throw the ball about 40 percent of the time, Hance says Woodward will throw about “70 percent” of the time, meaning a big night for the Cache defense.

“We feel confident we can move the football against them and if we can do that on a consistent basis, it will give our defense and break to keep them fresh,” he said. “We just need to go out and play like we’ve practiced.”

And while the quarterback does get some of the pressure, the rewards include getting to be an escort for the Homecoming ceremonies that are scheduled at 6 p.m. this evening at Ulrich Stadium. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. in the key district battle.