The Whiteside County Reapers are a local semi-pro football team that was previously known as the Whiteside County Chargers before being rebranded this year.
Coach Chance Wright recently talked about the squad and semi-pro football with Keagan Hicks, a sports journalist for The Radar Free Press and, on occasion, Around Ptown.
After nearly 20 years of playing semi-pro football in the Rockford area, Wright will be in his second year of coaching. When asked why they changed their name from the Chargers, Wright explained, “The owner and I didn’t think the Chargers name really matched our location, plus there are a lot of teams in the semi-pro world called the Chargers. We wanted to be a little different from everyone else.”
The squad was once based in Clinton, Iowa, but has since relocated to Morrison, with a home field at the Morrison Sports Complex. “Morrison has been great to us. “We have a good fan base there,” he added.
When asked what distinguishes the semi-pro and pro levels of football, Wright replied, “I would say probably 85% of the high school guys have only high school experience, with maybe a little bit of Juco (Junior College).
Some teams have D1 athletes, while others have made it to the league but were unable to succeed. But our team only has two guys with college experience, and everyone else has played up to high school.”
Many of the team’s players played in high school but never advanced, therefore the semi-pro league allows them to continue their football careers after graduation. And, as Wright said, some semi-pro coaches are affiliated with institutions.
“You never know who’s going to be at a game to watch you play,” he told me. “There were games last year where a scout gave a couple of my guys a phone call about coming out and potentially enrolling and getting an opportunity of that sort.”
The players on the team range in age from 18 to 46 years. Every Saturday and Sunday, the squad practices in Clinton. A typical practice involves “between 15 and 28 guys.” It varies because some individuals work and some have families, but I would estimate we have about 22 guys for practice.”
The initial trials this year were essentially indoor sessions since it was too chilly to play outside. Wright stated that there can be up to 55 players on the team, but that number is difficult to reach unless you live in the inner cities. He rarely cuts players until there are problems with the team.
The squad will play its inaugural game on May 10th in Morrison versus the Illinois Grizzlies, a Chicago-area team. “We’re in the Illinois League, so most of our games are in that area, but we do have two games in Indianapolis,” Wright said of their opponents.
The schedule is currently being finalized and will be released in the following weeks. The schedule is available on many social media platforms, including Midwest Developmental Football League. The team normally plays between 10 and 12 games per season. Many of the larger teams in warmer, more crowded locales also play preseason games.
Throughout the conversation, Wright expressed a desire to relocate to the Rock Falls/Sterling area, having graduated from Rock Falls High School. Moving closer to this location could attract more attention to the team and possibly lure some additional players in.
Wright mentioned the importance of keeping the players motivated and upbeat, since excellent team chemistry improves game performance.
It is more difficult to recruit and retain players in the semi-pro world due to people’s hectic lifestyles, as most players prioritize family and job before sport. Wright is also looking for linemen to join the team and encourages anyone who is interested to contact him.
Coach Wright and the Whiteside County Reapers hope to see you in Morrison on Saturday, May 10th for their first game of the season.
