Welcome to our 2023 high school football previews! We’ll be giving you a look at several local teams leading up to the start of the season. First up is the Henley Hornets.
At a glance
Head coach: Alex Stork (seventh season, 37-19 overall)
Classification: 4A
League: Special District 4
2022 record: 9-2 (5-1 SD4)
Playoffs: State quarterfinals (lost to Estacada 17-16)
Returning starters: 7 offensive, 7 defensive
State championships: 2 (1946, 1982)
Season outlook
You’ve probably heard the saying: For want of a nail, the kingdom was lost.
It’s a centuries-old proverb that’s likely crossed the minds of everyone in the Henley football program at some point following the 2022 playoffs.
After surging to a first-round win over No. 13 seed Crook County, No. 4 seed Henley faced No. 5 seed Estacada in the state quarterfinals. In a tightly contested matchup, the Rangers blocked a Hornets PAT that would have tied the game with 4:04 remaining and held on for a 17-16 win.
That wasn’t all, though. Henley then had to watch from home as Estacada beat No. 8 seed Scappoose and No. 6 seed Tillamook to win the program’s first state championship.
For want of a point…
Even as they prepare for a new season, it would be tough to blame the Hornets for feeling haunted by what could have been. But head coach Alex Stork and his players have been trying to turn that feeling into fuel for another playoff run.
“It’s really driven us this offseason in the weight room and our other training activities just to make sure we’re going the extra mile, extra foot, extra inch, to do anything we can to gain that extra point back,” Stork said.
Senior Braeden Morris, who’s entering his third season as the Hornets’ starting center, echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“It really pushes you,” Morris said. “It’s just more gas in the tank for us to get there again and succeed.”
Getting there again won’t be easy. Henley lost three all-state players to graduation, including quarterback Shaw Stork (Alex’s brother), a three-year starter.
“Losing his leadership quality as well as his athletic ability on the field is going to be difficult to replace,” Alex Stork said. “All of the leaders we lost last year, Shaw being one of them, it’s never easy to replace guys like that and it takes a while to do so.”
There’s still plenty of talent and experience to be found on this year’s Hornets. Henley returns seven starters on each side of the ball, including Logan Whitlock, who ran for 1,626 yards and 26 touchdowns while recording 64 tackles at linebacker last season.
Besides the loss to Estacada, Whitlock has another source of motivation this season: Despite leading 4A in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, he was named second team all-state at running back.
“It’s more or less just been a constant reminder every single time I’m in the gym or at the field,” Whitlock said. “Like, ‘hey, they don’t know what I can really do.’”
With Whitlock in the backfield and Chris Janney and Luke Bennett–who both have offers from Linfield–catching passes, Stork said he didn’t feel the need to make any big changes to his offensive scheme despite having to replace his quarterback and top receiver.
“It’s just…evaluating our guys and seeing where our strengths are,” Stork said. “And [making] sure that we’re highlighting those strengths as much as we can.”
Looking at the team as a whole, Stork said speed and unity are the Hornets’ biggest strengths. With 21 seniors, there should be no shortage of the veteran leadership that will be necessary to guide Henley through a schedule that sends them on the road for three of their last four games–including a trip to Mazama on Oct. 20 that could decide the Special District 4 champion.
While winning that title and contending for a state championship are goals for Henley, Stork isn’t going to define how successful this season was by on-field results.
“Just building lifelong relationships and lifelong memories with these guys where they’re having a rewarding experience and the coaches are as well,” Stork said.
To hear more from Alex Stork, Logan Whitlock and Braeden Morris, check out the extended interview highlights on our YouTube page!
Players to watch
Logan Whitlock, RB/LB, senior
- Interest from several colleges
- Earned all-state honors at running back (second team) and linebacker (honorable mention) in 2022
- Ran for 1,626 yards and 26 touchdowns, leading 4A in both categories…averaged 8 yards per carry
- Recorded 64 tackles (4 TFL)
- Named captain for 2023 (second season)
Chris Janney, WR/DB, senior
- Division III offer from Linfield
- Named captain for 2023
Braeden Morris, C/DL, senior
- Third season starting at center
- Named captain for 2023 (second season)
Emiliano Ortiz, OL/DL, senior
- Earned all-state honors at offensive line (honorable mention) in 2022
- Recorded 23 tackles (2.5 TFL)
Luke Bennett, WR/DB, senior
- Division III offer from Linfield
- Recorded 535 yards and 6 touchdowns on 29 receptions in 2022
Schedule
All games at 7 p.m.
* denotes non-league games
*Sept. 1 @ Seaside
*Sept. 8 vs Crater
Sept. 15 vs Ashland
*Sept. 22 @ Cascade
Sept. 29 vs Hidden Valley
Oct. 6 @ Klamath Union
Oct. 13 vs Marshfield
Oct. 20 @ Mazama
Oct. 27 @ North Bend
