The starting quarterback for the Holy Trinity Academy Knights has come a long way since he enrolled at the Okotoks high school two years ago.
As a Grade 10 student, Hayden Oberg was just a spectator watching the Knights strong-armed Mark Oness throw deadly accurate passes. Two years later, Oberg is the guy trying to hit Knights receivers as they make their breaks or cut up field.
“Grade 11 was my first year I ever played football,” Oberg said. “This year all I can do is play the best to my ability and hopefully we can finish what we tried to do last year, and that is to win provincials.”
The athletic Oberg was the back-up quarterback to Ryan Hassler last season. The Knights finished 10-1 last season with their lone loss to the Austin O’Brien Crusaders in the Tier II (750 to 1,249 students) provincial final in Lethbridge.
Oberg stuck close to Hassler last season to glean as much as possible. Although it was Hassler’s first year as a high school quarterback, unlike Oberg, he practically had a football in his crib.
Oberg said Hassler was more than happy to help.
“I had to learn a lot from Ryan,” Oberg said. “I would watch how he would do things and then ask him or the coaches what to do in certain situations.”
Oberg has one of the same weapons Hassler had last season. That is, if you are missing when you are throwing passes, throw a Stone at the opposition. Oberg has the luxury of handing the ball off to all-purpose running back Ryder Stone when in a jam. Stone was the feature back for Team Alberta, which finished second at the Canada Cup last summer.
An insurance company couldn’t offer a quarterback the security of being able to hand off to Stone.
“He gives me that extra cushion just knowing that I have some back there like Ryder to support me,” Oberg said. “I also think we are starting to develop a good chemistry (between us).”
A quarterback should try and be the best chemist since Pasteur when it comes to Stone. The running back is a good blocker and has a great set of hands coming out of the backfield.
Oberg got in some action last year, mopping up in some Knights’ blowout victories. He also played in the junior varsity game in McMahon Stadium He said he thought he played well in the few times he saw live action.
“I was anticipating I would be the starting quarterback this season,” Oberg said. “I worked hard on my mechanics during the offseason.”
He said it appears the mechanical work and also lifting weights has paid off in the first few days of practice.
“I find that I am more consistent this year and I can throw a stronger ball this year,” Oberg said. “I think a lot of that is because of the work Mr. Kiranas (assistant coach Peter Kiranas) did with me at spring camp.”
He added he also feels his timing is getting better with each practice.
Knights head coach Matt Hassett admits Oberg does have to work on his timing.
“He’s got a very good arm, and he is a work in progress,” Hassett said of Oberg. “He just has to work on his reads a little bit, but that is every high school coach’s complaint about quarterbacks, to get rid of the ball a little faster.”
Hassett added Oberg follows in a long tradition of Knights quarterbacks who have a good head on their shoulders as well as a good arm.
The Knights are taking their quarterback situation for the future one grade a time. Grade 11 student Troy McGee is backing up Oberg. Grade 10 student Spencer Kiranas is in the hole.
The Knights play their first home game when they host Kamalka High School from near Vernonin Okotoks at 11 a.m. Sept. 8.
