With New Trier standout tight end Brian Kaiser sidelined because of a concussion and neck strain, the Trevians needed some other receivers to step up in Week 3 versus Barrington.
Junior Carson Ochsenhirt did just that, but as a dual-threat quarterback rather than as a pass catcher.
With the Trevians trailing by 11 points at halftime and having scored six points in the previous six quarters, New Trier coach Brian Doll and his staff made a switch, moving Ochsenhirt from receiver to quarterback. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Ochsenhirt had received the snap a few times in the wildcat formation in the first half and took one snap in the Week 2 loss at Warren.
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“There were some quarterback plays for me, but I was not planning on playing quarterback and leading drives (against Barrington),” said Ochsenhirt, who lives in Winnetka. “Coaches made the announcement (at halftime) and I just had to be ready to go.”
Ochsenhirt didn’t lead the Trevians back to victory — they lost 36-9 on Friday in Northfield — but the former freshman and sophomore quarterback impressed with his passing and running.
Ochsenhirt completed all 6 of his passes for 94 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown pass to junior Carson Kosanovich. Ochsenhirt carried 14 times in the second half, gaining 103 yards. He also caught two passes in the first half for 24 yards.
“(Ochsenhirt) came in tonight and did an outstanding job, added the threat of running the ball quite a bit, threw some passes. His scrambling ability was excellent,” Doll said after Friday’s game. “We needed a dual threat, and after last week and (the first half), we wanted to jump-start things. Carson gave us big-play potential and made (Barrington) cover the field more. He’s exciting to watch.”
Doll said both Ochsenhirt and senior Reed Bianucci, who started the first three games, would get snaps in practice this week, and the staff would decide on a starter for Friday night’s game at Conant.
Whoever gets the start, he’ll hope to have Kaiser, who has verbally committed to Northwestern, back as one of his targets.
Kaiser said he suffered the concussion and neck strain in the fourth quarter against Warren, and it was initially feared he could be out a month. But Doll said Kaiser received good news from the doctors on the eve of the Barrington game, and that he hoped the 6-7, 223-pound Kaiser would be cleared to return to practice this week.
Doll said junior tight end/linebacker Duke Olges, who missed the Barrington game with a leg contusion, also could return to action this week. Doll added that it might take another week to get junior linebacker Chamberlain Coffee back from a shoulder injury.
Dan Shalin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press