Brandon Berger is Back

Brandon Berger

The Canyon Lake Hawks will have a very pivotal position to be filled in the month of August. Jeff Nabors has taken his talents to the Houston area and with his departure leaves the Hawks looking for his replacement.

Nabors finished last season as All-District quarterback and helped take the team two rounds in the playoffs.

Senior Brandon Berger was the back up last season and settled into the starting role in the defensive backfield.

Berger will be battling Branson Belcher the JV quarterback last season.

“We do everything together,” Berger blurted. “There will be no slacking and we will both be fighting for it (quarterback).”

This past season Berger mentioned how he can use his experience playing defensive back to be the quarterback.

“I will be prepared to take snaps,” Berger stated. “We (Belcher) work out together and if one of us puts more weight on, then the other one will follow.”

The 2nd string All-District Defensive Back will be on the field one way or the other. Berger will use the same experience on the defensive side in reading the quarterback to give him a better idea of where the ball will be thrown.

“We study everything,” Berger interjected. “The guys coming up will hit you and they will put some pain down.”

Berger also gave the ReSporter another idea of what could of been the problem with the slow start last season.

“We are molding personalities of classes as the Junior Varsity is coming up,” Berger taught. “In practice you can tell if the chemistry is there.”

The point Berger mentioned has not been delved into before. The ReSporter has discussed the Seniors that leave and replacing those players.

On the flip side you have a new class coming up that has to mesh with the established players. The Hawks graduated a senior class two years ago that had been together their whole career.

Last year was a first where the Hawks had to learn how to accept another crew of players. Hence the slow start in what could of been the main reason for the 1-3 record.

“It is a big deal for the seniors to go out with a bang,” Berger closed. “The last game left a sour taste and so the captains have been getting up and serious…we are progressing.”

Brandon Berger will be playing. The question that needs to be answered in the next few weeks? Will he start his last year as the quarterback or the defensive back.

Either way it sounds like he will have your ‘back’.