Like many teams across the area, the Glenbrook Apaches have played in 7-on-7 tournaments this summer as part of the preparation for the upcoming season.
Earlier this month, Glenbrook competed in the Southwest Elite Showcase at Shiloh Christian in Springdale, Ark.
“It’s all 6A, 7A schools from Arkansas and Oklahoma so it was biting off a big piece of competition there,” Glenbrook Head Coach Greg Tibbitt said. “But it was fun for our guys. We won a few. Lost more than we won but playing some of that big-time competition we were hoping to get us ready for our tough schedule we’ve got this fall.”
While Tibbitt like the way his whole team performed, he singled out rising sophomore linebackers David Powell and Tanner Cox for their efforts in a Facebook post.
Tibbitt is in his second year in his second stint as head coach. With a very young team, the Apaches went 3-6 last year.
“It’s been good this summer,” Tibbitt said. “We do have a lot of guys back. We kind of talked about it all last year how young we were. And we’re still young. We still only have five seniors on our team. But a lot of those juniors and sophomores got a lot of playing time last year. So we have a lot of kids back with a lot of experience right now.”
Glenbrook has one of the top athletes in the area back in receiver Carson Powell, who excelled in four sports last season. One of those was track and field where he finished third in the 400 in the Class 1A state meet.
“He’s had a really good summer at receiver learning what he needs,” Tibbitt said. “He’s very gifted at basketball. He’s learning the game of football now, learning how to run routes. He’s been a big-time go-ball for us this year. The deep ball he’s really gotten good with both quarterbacks. He’s had a really good summer. I expect a lot of really big plays from him this fall.”
Rising senior Ryan Reagan started at quarterback the first half of last season before suffering an injury. Also a baseball player, he suffered a torn labrum last season and had surgery earlier this summer.
Rising freshman Braxton Tibbitt and rising sophomore Louie Collins both got valuable experience playing the position down the stretch last season.
“Two young guys and they’ve been taking all the snaps all summer so far and battling it out,” Tibbitt said.
Tibbitt said Reagan will probably be released to fully participate in practice soon. The Apaches are taking a break from workouts this week.
“He toughed it out during baseball season,” Tibbitt said. “He played all baseball with a torn labrum. So he hasn’t gotten to participate but he is expected to be released on July 22 I think.
“We don’t know what Ryan is going to be able to do when he gets back. But he’s that type of athlete that can help you anywhere on the field. He may get some quarterback snaps, receiver, running back. He can just fit in anywhere.”
As Tibbitt mentioned, Glenbrook has a tough schedule. The Apaches open against Class 2A Winnfield, which went 3-7 last season, at home. They visit Class 4A Bossier in Week 2.
Glenbrook visits a new opponent, Class 5A Haughton, in Week 3 followed by another road game against Class 1A LaSalle, which went 6-4 last season.