This past week the county lost a true bulldog of a football player and suffered a couple severe injuries to players.
     The Commandos’ lost a giant on their offensive line with the passing of Rob Williams Sept. 26.
     Coach Malcolm Townsend said a funeral is planned for Williams for 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at Lake Roosevelt High School’s football field.
     The Commandos football team plans to attend in their jerseys. Williams’ No. 59 will be retired, a first for the team. A slideshow about Williams also is planned.
     Williams, 34, lived in the Coulee Dam area.
     “He meant a lot to our organization,” Townsend said, noting Williams was on the team’s board of directors.
     Williams was one of the few players to be on the team since its inception in 2005, having played all four years.
     Townsend said the 6-2, 310-pound offensive force was one of the first to call him when he was putting together a team. Since Williams had been at the University of Oregon, Townsend immediately made him the line coach.
     “I figured if he’d been at Oregon, he knew about the line,” said Townsend, who later learned Williams had coaching experience.
     Williams will be remembered as the big guy, the Commandos’ big tackle, always quick with a smile, and determination in his play.
     His little brother, Michael Williams, will continue to be an inspirational leader for the team.
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     Determination got Tonasket’s Josh McDaniel back into football fast this fall. Just before the season started he suffered some clipped toes in a motorcycle accident.
     But the speedy back and linebacker will be out the rest of the year after suffering a severely broken (spiral fracture) ankle against Cascade last Friday.
     McDaniel, a senior, saw his high school career come to an end while returning a kickoff.
     Coach Jay Hawkins said McDaniel, whose leadership will be missed on the field, was bounced around and lost his balance. As he planted a foot to get upright he was hit and rolled up by a Cascade player.
     McDaniel, who did not fumble the ball, should be healed in time to play baseball this spring.
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     Finally, A.J. Block, Okanogan, suffered a broken femur Sept. 27 during a youth football game at East Wenatchee.
     Block was attempting a quarterback sneak when he fell at an awkward angle and an Eastmont player piled onto him.
     The young player will be in a wheelchair for three weeks and out of school six weeks while recovering.
     Jill Townsend ably took over quarterback duties.
     Okanogan went on to win the game 14-6.
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     There are some bigger than normal sporting matchups coming in October.
     Mark your calendar for the annual Omak and Okanogan high school football rivalry, dubbed the Backyard Brawl, set for the Bulldogs’ field Friday, Oct. 17.
     Should you want to see what the future holds for the teams, Omak comes to Okanogan Saturday, Oct. 25, for a couple youth football games that will be played under the lights starting at 5 p.m.
     Okanogan’s Red Bantam team won 28-0 Sept. 20 in what could well become the Schoolyard Scuffle.
     If you are looking for something to do next month, consider the Harlem Ambassadors basketball show at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, at Okanogan High School.
     The event, presented by the Okanogan Kiwanis, was not held last year due to the gym being remodeled.
     During their stay the Ambassadors visit various classes bringing a message of “stay in school, stay off drugs.”