Youth Movement for CZR Football


Darren Kinnard
Section618.com

CHRISTOPHER — There’s a youth movement for the CZR Bearcats football team this year, and it starts with the head coach.

After Anthony Hargrove resigned to take a college coaching position, the school hired 20-year old Grant Gordon as his replacement. While the IHSA doesn’t keep track of such things, Gordon is believed to be the youngest varsity football head coach in the state.

Gordon played quarterback for the Bearcats before graduating in 2020. CZR has a handful of seniors on the roster this year–a few were on the team as freshmen, when Gordon was a senior.

After graduation, Gordon served as an assistant on Hargrove’s staff. Gordon says he’s learned quickly the number of things he’s responsible for is far greater as the head coach as opposed to a position coach.

The players have learned some things quickly about their new head coach and his staff, such as the practices are up-tempo, and mental mistakes have consequences.

Gordon says the goal is to get the CZR back to the playoffs, a place the Bearcats haven’t been since 2008

The season opener will be August 26th at Flora.