Football: Douglas inducts five to HOF

Douglas High School inducted five former players to its Football Hall of Fame Friday night during halftime of the school's game against Reno.

Rex Cleary (1945-48), Don Smit (1960s), Scott Ovard (1993-95), Brady Ovard (1995-97) and Kyle Baker (1996-2000) were inducted.

Cleary played for Hall of Fame coach Walt Powers and was a team captain in 1948. He was an All-State honorable mention at halfback. After graduating from Douglas, he earned his degree in Animal Science from Nevada, Reno. He spent the next 32 years working for the Bureau of Land Management.

Smit begged his mother to allow him to enroll as a student at Douglas County High School because he thought it would be easier to play football there than in Reno.

He was a two-time first-team All-State running back and also excelled as a track athlete and played on the basketball team.

He later accepted a scholarship to play football at Nevada.

Scott Ovard played running back, wide receiver, cornerback and return specialist during his three years on the varsity squad.

He led the team in receptions as a sophomore, had over 1,000 yards total offense as a junior and led the team in receptions, rush yards and touchdowns to go along with two interceptions on defense.

He was a second-team all-division running back and an all-state honorable mention.

His senior year was cut short due to a knee injury in the third game. He was named all-division honorable mention and was selected to play in the 1996 Sertoma All-Star Classic.

After high school, Ovard walked on at Nevada where he saw time as a special teams player and got a couple carries out of the backfield. He then transferred to Lassen College and later Sonoma State, where he played baseball.

Brady Ovard was a three-year varsity player, playing running back, wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner during his career.

He was first-team all-conference and second-team all-state as a senior.

He also had eight catches for 136 yards and a touchdown in Douglas' first-ever 4A playoff win at Elko and was named to the second-team Nothern Nevada All-Decade Team as a wide receiver.

After high school, he played football and baseball as a freshman at Menlo College and later went to Lassen College. He now teaches chemistry and general science at Dayton High School were he coaches baseball and football.

Baker started at running back, linebacker, punter and placekicker. As a senior, he was named the Northern Nevada Player of the Year by the Nevada Appeal. He also played basketball, basketball and ran track at Douglas.