Surprising Fremont to test McClymonds
As much as he hates to admit it, Fremont-Oakland football coach Terry Hendrix Jr. is on crutches these days. The 29year-old partially tore the patellar tendon in his left knee a week ago.
“I was demonstrating how to run an obstacle course in PE class,” he explained. “I’ll be fine. Nothing keeping me down.”
The injury and his attitude are metaphors for Hendrix’s experience the past six years as the Tigers’ head coach.
Talk about an obstacle course: No football stadium. No lights. Bare-bones facilities.
“Our tackling sleds are ancient — like, from 1982,” said Hendrix, a 2007 Fremont graduate. “We turned an old shower area into a locker room. When it gets dark, we point cars toward the field and turn on the headlights.”
These challenges aren’t uncommon to teams in the Oakland Athletic League.
Hendrix isn’t complaining. He dealt with it as a student and now as a coach. But now he counts on players, something Oakland typically has plenty of.
Greats like Marshawn Lynch. Marcus Peters. John Brodie. Marvel Smith. Josh Johnson. MacArthur Lane. Will Blackwell.
“Times and demographics have changed,” he said. “Families and kids moving out of here. Moving East.”
Hendrix has a roster of about 25 and he’s still not complaining. He likes this group, and well he should.
The Tigers are 6-0, have outscored opponents 282-53 and this week moved into The Chronicle’s Top 25 for the first time at No. 25. And it’s just in time to face 10th-ranked and seven-time defending Oakland Section champion McClymonds (6-0).
They meet at 1 p.m. Saturday at Curt Flood Field in Oakland, where Fremont plays its home games.
“To be truthful, this team has caught me by surprise,” Hendrix said. “We’re not as big or athletic as some of the teams we’ve had here, but we’ve found different ways to win. They fight hard, like a family.”
It’s easy to fight when you have a high-energy coach in your face. Hendrix doesn’t allow his teams to get down, no matter the obstacle. Even if it’s McClymonds, the defending state Division 5-A champion that has dominated the league.
Since Hendrix took the job in 2012, Fremont has given Mack its toughest games, losing 21-14 (2013), 17-8 (2014) and 7-0 (2015). Hendrix is 34-26 overall, and nine of those losses have come to McClymonds.
“He does a real good job,” McClymonds coach Michael Peters said. “His teams are always well prepared, tough and play to the finish.”
Hendrix said Peters, former McClymonds coach Alonzo Carter and former Oakland Tech coach Delton Edwards have been influences.
“They all took me under their wing,” he said. “I came in blind at 23. I knew I wanted to give back and reach kids and enlighten them through sports. I’m trying to open doors for them.”
He has some good ones with whom to work, led by fourthyear starting two-way lineman Jonathan Latu (6-foot-3, 290 pounds), a 4.0 student who has an offer from Hawaii and is being recruited by Cal, Utah and Boise State.
Latu blocks for two dynamic 6-foot, 200-pound senior running backs who also thrive at linebacker: Antonio Faaeteete and Odale Hickman.
Faaeteete has 63 carries for 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also has contributed 34 tackles and seven sacks. “He’s a horse, man,” Hendrix said. “His speed is tremendous. When he gets daylight … good night.”
Hickman’s specialty is linebacker(66 tackles, two sacks). He’s not bad at running back, with 72 carries, 703 yards and nine scores. “He’s more of a grinder,” Hendrix said. “Lot of colleges looking at him.”
Other top players include four-year starting cornerback Gregory McFarland (6-1, 170), three-year starting defensive end Filao Finau (6-0, 250), and two-way athletes Omeli Fili, Deautis Reed and Iman Nails.
“We’ll definitely have to bring our ‘A’ game” against McClymonds, Hendrix said. “But with this group, I wouldn’t expect anything less.”