Tompkins sees growth of Elgin football program

Caden Tompkins is enjoying his senior season with Elgin’s unbeaten football team because the success is allowing just about everyone on the roster to get plenty of playing time.

Thus far the Owls have raced out to a 7-0 record heading into Thursday’s District 5A-1 battle against Duncan at Halliburton Stadium. The Owls have scored 396 points and allowed just 47 points including two shutouts and allowing just one team to score more than seven points, that being El Reno which lost a 54-21 decision to the Owls Sept. 22.

Tompkins is a 6-0, 190-pound tight end/defensive end and it’s been the play of he and Andre Crabtree and others who provide the blocks for the Owls’ two backs, Matthew Lund and Ritson Meyer, to have good seasons.

The Elgin offense has been so strong that Lund has rushed for 1,102 yards on just 78 carries. That’s an average of 14.1 yards per carry. Meyer has rushed for 413 yards on 43 carries for a 9.7 average per carry.

“I think I had about 30 snaps the other night,” Tompkins said. “We don’t normally think about the other games in our district but the other night me and a few friends got together and watched the Mac-Midwest City game. It wasn’t a good effort for Mac.”

Tompkins says that while the Owls have played the teams at the bottom of the district already, he knows the games get tougher in the weeks ahead.

“Last year I didn’t think our offense was as good as our defense but this year it’s been different,” he said. “We haven’t had a big challenge yet but we know that Mac and Midwest City will be tough games for us. I think we all want to get into those games and see how we compare with those two.

“We are confident but not overconfident. We have been taking one game at a time and just practicing hard and preparing for each game. Our coaches are good about setting a good practice schedule and pushing us hard to be ready for anything.”

This week the Owls visit Duncan to face the Demons in a 7 p.m. battle at Halliburton Stadium.

The Thursday game may give Tompkins a chance to enjoy the great outdoors next weekend.

“I like to go hiking, fishing, kayaking; I’m just a nature guy,” he said.

His love of the outdoors may work out just fine if he gets a degree in petroleum engineering.

“I really want to be an engineer and since OSU (Oklahoma State) has a good petroleum engineering program that might be where I go,” he said. “I’m more into math and not so much in the sciences.”

Tompkins is a hybrid of sorts when it comes to food.

“My favorite food covers a wide range,” he said. “My dad is the grill guy with a great marinated steak. But my grandmother Bonnie (Steele) cooks so many amazing foods but my favorite is her fried chicken with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy. She is always cooking for the family and her Thanksgiving spread it really amazing.”

Tompkins said the Owls have grown up a great deal in the four years since he’s been with the program.

“We’ve all gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” he said. “This is a really good coaching staff and I think that is pretty evident by the result of the past two seasons.”

He also gives quarterback Tres Lorah a great deal of credit for the growth of the offense.

“Tres has really progressed over the past three years,” Tompkins said. “He stays calm in the huddle. He’s not a big rah, rah guy but his growth and improvement is a big part of how this offense has progressed.

“And it’s great to have two good backs. Matt is really strong and keeps his legs churning and gets the extra yards. Ritson just loves to run over guys. And the offensive line just goes out there and gets the job done. It’s fun being part of this offense.”

He says it’s better to be wearing the red and white than not.

“I’d hate to be trying to stop this offense,” he said. “We just want to keep getting better and finish strong.”