Something special is brewing at Oakville-North River! New head coach Camren Bowes isn’t just teaching football; he’s building a brotherhood, one family culture practice at a time. From ‘Acorn Olympics’ to relentless encouragement, this fall camp is transforming the team. Are they poised for a breakout season?
The air at Oakville High School on August 27, 2025, buzzed with an invigorated spirit as the Oakville-North River Acorns football program, under new head coach Camren Bowes, laid a robust foundation built on an unshakeable team culture during fall camp. Bowes, true to his promise, is meticulously cultivating a family-like atmosphere, aiming to transcend traditional football strategies by first forging deep interpersonal bonds among his players, a critical shift for the Washington prep football squad.
Spearheaded by the Bowes brothers, Camren and Chase, alongside their father Hal, the coaching staff’s vision extends far beyond the tactical X’s and O’s essential for their upcoming Week 1 clash against Ocosta. Their primary focus remains the holistic development of team camaraderie and chemistry, recognizing these elements as the true bedrock of sustained success. This intensive focus on team culture building is evident in every drill and interaction on the practice field.
Despite a rigorous schedule ahead, with aspirations to improve upon last fall’s 5-4 campaign, the Acorns are already exhibiting signs of a vastly improved unit, especially in their cohesive play. Coach Camren Bowes confidently stated, “We’re not shying away from wanting to face some good competition, and we’re going to embrace that opportunity and kick some ass. That’s my goal,” signaling a newfound competitive drive within the Oakville-North River Football program.
The impact of the coaching staff’s dedicated efforts to foster closer relationships among teammates has been profoundly palpable. Throughout practices, an infectious spirit of encouragement resonated, with players consistently cheering each other on. Seamless communication, particularly from seasoned veterans like quarterback Gio Rodas and running back/linebacker Ben Kimbrel, naturally flowed on both sides of the ball, demonstrating the early success of the Camren Bowes Coach era.
This cultural transformation began in earnest during the summer months, with Bowes orchestrating a series of engaging workouts and fun activities designed to unite the players. A testament to his commitment to detail and team cohesion, Bowes even dedicated 35 minutes on the first day of fall camp solely to refining the way players clap out of a huddle, emphasizing precision and unity in every action. These unique methods are defining the new High School Football experience at Oakville-North River.
Beyond the foundational team-building, the Acorns also showcased their on-field prowess, particularly in their anticipated robust running game. Senior Lewis Koser emerged as a standout during a recent padded practice, consistently bulldozing defensive linemen with powerful runs that drew enthusiastic reactions from both teammates and coaches. After one particularly bruising carry, Coach Bowes confidently remarked to his staff, “Lewis is gonna be an animal,” highlighting the team’s potent offensive weapons.
Veterans like Rodas and Kimbrel, who have been integral to the program since eighth grade, openly expressed their enthusiasm for the significant positive changes introduced by the new coaching staff in just the initial two weeks of practice. Rodas articulated the sentiment perfectly, stating, “This is a brotherhood. There’s no ‘I’ in team. We’ve got to do it all together. We weren’t structured last year. We’ve got new coaches that are from bigger schools and they know what they’re doing.” This collective buy-in solidifies the promising trajectory for Acorns Football this season.
