New Program Preview: West Fargo Horace Hawks
WEST FARGO, ND– Starting from scratch is never an easy task for building a high school football program, but we got the opportunity to chat with West Fargo Horace head football coach Harvey McMahon about what is in store for the…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWEST FARGO, ND– Starting from scratch is never an easy task for building a high school football program, but we got the opportunity to chat with West Fargo Horace head football coach Harvey McMahon about what is in store for the Hawks in 2021 after year one has concluded in the first year of the program. We chatted about the Hawks’ roster breakdown, looking back at the 2020 Hawks, and much more!
THE ROSTER
The Hawks have started their roster at the freshmen level, which will advance to JV next year and then, in 2022, will play their first varsity roster as a new program. Take a look at some key from the Hawks!
Asher Kranz, OL/DL (2024)
Kranz is a prospect that plays on both sides of the line for the Hawks. Kranz has had a great offseason for the Hawks in the weight room, working on his power in his legs. Kranz has some height to develop as he’s currently around 5’9 and 215 pounds. No film available as of yet.
Nick Wangen, TE/DL (2024)
Wangen is a tight end for the Hawks that should convert smoothly into a solid defensive end in the coming years for West Fargo Horace. Wangen has solid hands, can run some good routes, and from a physical standpoint, loves to lay the wood, which will groom him to become a prospect with a solid punch on the defensive line.
Gavin Olson, QB/DB (2024)
Olson is another player that may cause some problems for the Hawks. Olson is a do-it-all-type prospect that will play on both sides of the ball wherever you want him to be. Olson will need to fill into his body but will be an asset for the Hawks in the coming years. Olson looks to have some potential with a good arm and decent precision with his receiving core on film.
Carven Fish, OL/DL (2024)
Fish looks to be one of the next-up two-way linemen for the Hawks. Fish already has decent measurables for his age but will need to fill up for both sides of the line (6’3, 205). Fish, from a football IQ standpoint, is one of the leaders on the Hawks offensive line. Fish has good hands to hopefully throw some bodies around in the coming years as he gets bigger and stronger.
Dylan Johnson, FB/LB (2024)
The one thing I know mixing hockey with football is on defense, put them at linebacker. Johnson loves to hit people, and as a fullback/linebacker, he gets to do a ton of that for the Hawks.
Isaac Christensen, RB (2024)
Christensen is another backfield prospect for the Hawks. Christensen is a tailback that is not afraid to punch you in the mouth with his physicality. He also is a solid basketball player for the Hawks.
Charlie Leshovsky, WR/RB (2024)
Leshovsky will join Christensen in the Hawks backfield. Leshovsky has good feet and a solid skillset at the running back position. Leshovsky should bring a physical ability from his experience on the rink.
Lucas Hosling, WR/DB (2024)
Hosling will be one of the leaders in the receiving core for the up-and-coming Hawks. Hosling will need to fill up size-wise but could turn into a sound player in a couple of years.
Carter Schenck, OL (2024)
Schenck is another sizeable offensive linemen with some potential. His motor and his sound footwork are the core strengths of his game. He is already 6’1, and if he can fill in even more size-wise, he could be a solid player. Schenck is the type of player you build a program around.
LOOKING BACK AT YEAR ONE
When Coach McMahon looked back at his Hawks in year one, he thought they looked fantastic. “The player development from the start of the season to the end was a lot better,” McMahon told Prep Redzone Dakotas. Even though they finished the season with a 1-6 record, with a strong win over Moorhead, the Hawks are building something strong, as they are already actively getting stronger in the weight room.
YEAR TWO GOALS
Spoken like any football program trying to develop, the Hawks in year two would like to see more Ws in the win column and hopefully do that at a faster rate. “We want to show up as good and as big as possible,” Coach McMahon said about what he expects of his team in 2021. The Hawks’ long-term goal is to eventually have their own field and have defined home and away games down the road.
FINDING THEIR BRAND
“The kids showed up to practice in blue and orange,” Coach McMahon joked when some of the new players arrived last season wearing rival West Fargo Sheyenne gear. That has changed in year one, as the Hawks are now rocking their own gear and have found their brand. As the Hawks are the new kids on the block, they’ll have to do something similar to their arch-rival the Mustangs did 10 years ago, starting a program from scratch right there in West Fargo. Coach McMahon has a goal to get the Hawks on track to be different and in their own way from what their rival did recently.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday, August 23rd: vs. Fargo South
Monday, August 30th: vs. Fargo Shanley
Monday, September 13th: @ West Fargo Sheyenne
Monday, September 20th: @ Kindred (Game to Watch)
Monday, October 4th: @ West Fargo (Game to Watch)
Monday, October 11th @ Fargo South (Game to Watch)
Give the West Fargo Horace Hawks a follow on Twitter at @WFHoraceFB & click here to see their roster, some film, etc., on Hudl! Go Hawks!