Montgomery has plan for Cache football, his future

From his firm handshake to his path to a good career, Cache senior Luke Montgomery is already composed, compassionate and very much a young man who has the look of a professional.

But, come Friday nights the 6-0, 180-pounder turns into a high school athlete who loves to compete in the game of football.

Tonight the Bulldogs will host Duncan in the season opener for Cache, with a kickoff slated for 7 p.m. at Ulrich Stadium.

There will be a great deal of excitement with new coaches, new young players and a feeling of taking the first step toward a playoff berth in a tough conference.

Tanner Thompson, who played high school football at Cache, has taken the reins of the program and you can sense the excitement around the fieldhouse.

“We are really excited about finally getting to play,” Montgomery said. “It’s been a long fall with practice and we are all about getting out there and competing.”

The senior will be wearing his No. 5 tonight and will be on the field most of the game at wide receiver on offense and free safety on defense.

He is a straight shooter in everything he talked about.

“I’m just a guy who hangs out with my girlfriend, my friends,” he said. “I’m also a faith guy; I believe in God, that’s something I’m passionate about.”

So passionate about his faith, Luke has been an active member of the Cache Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has often spoken in front of his local and regional FCS chapters.

His career path makes good sense; grandfather Patrick Montgomery recently retired and his mother Andrea Montgomery now runs the Montgomery Family Dentistry business in west Lawton.

“I am taking college courses at Cameron and my goal is to go to OU and eventually enter the dental school,” he said. “My family has been behind me all my life and this is how I want to continue our business.”

Even with academic honors and other successes in school he’s not anything fancy when it comes to eating.

“Just give me a big cheeseburger from Whataburger and I’m happy,” he said.

While football is a physical game, it’s also a game for thinkers and he’s willing to do the homework to become better.

“I know football is physical but there is a great deal of thinking involved in playing free safety,” he said. “I have to watch the tackles because what they do often gives away the play. You have to be ready for anything.

“That’s why it is so important to watch video and figure out the little things that make plays work and how to disrupt them.”

It helps to have a long-time defensive coach like Eric Gibson to help in that process.

“Coach Gibson is all about being aligned properly and giving 110-percent effort and rally to the football,” Montgomery said.

On offense his favorite route is a drag across the middle and the Bulldogs have added some twists that they hope will produce results down the line.

One player in the spotlight tonight will be Cache quarterback Canden Hance, who has the job all to himself and is eager to get started.

“Canden is my best friend; he’s composed, confident and compassionate,” Montgomery said. “He’s grown a great deal. We’ve been playing football together since the sixth grade and I’m excited he’s getting his chance.

“He did a great job this summer in 7-on-7 and I think he will do a good jobm for us. He has been composed in our scrimmages and we’ve developed a fluidity with him as we run our routes.”

Montgomery echoed what the Cache coaches have said about the Bulldogs when it comes to strong players.

“Christian Bennett is going to show plenty this season,” Montgomery said. “He’s fast and physical and can make plays. We are just ready to get started.”