- August 26, 2009
Union Titans #3 In TNT Preseason 3A Football Poll
The Union Titans are ranked #3 in the TNT Preseason 3A Football Poll
The Tacoma News Tribune has released its Preseason 3A football poll and the Union Titans are ranked #3.
Union is behind only Bellevue and Lakes. The Titans were ranked #2 by the Seattle Times, and by CoachesAid.com earlier this week. In both of those polls, Bellevue was #1 and Lakes was #3.
The News Tribune said it placed Lakes ahead of Union due to the fact that the Lancers have nine players with scholarship offers from Division-I schools.
The Camas Papermakes, who landed at #7 in the CoachesAid.com poll are listed as one of 6 teams “next”.
CLASS 3A
1. Bellevue 14-0
2. Lakes 12-1
3. Union 13-1
4. O’Dea 8-3
5. Liberty 9-3
6. Mount Spokane 6-5
7. Glacier Peak 5-5
8. Kennedy 9-2
9. Ferndale 11-1
10. Peninsula 7-3
Next: Camas, Capital, Enumclaw, Juanita, Meadowdale, TimberlineRead More – The Tacoma News Tribune
Heritage Timberwolves #10 In TNT Preseason Football Poll
Heritage QB Garrett Grayson and his Timberwolves are ranked #10 in TNT preseason 4A football poll.
The Heritage Timberwolves just missed a top 10 ranking in the coachesaid.com presesaon football poll earler this week and found them selves lieted as a team to watch.
The Tacoma News Tribune thinks just a bit more of the Vancouver Washington school and has them at #10 in their recently released rankings.
TNT PRESEASON TOP 10
CLASS 4A
1. Skyline 14-0
2. Ferris 11-2
3. Bothell 8-4
4. Auburn 11-1
5. Issaquah 11-3
6. Central Kitsap 9-4
7. Gonzaga Prep 8-2
8. Eastlake 6-4
9. Southridge 10-1
10. Heritage 5-5
Next: Curtis, Foss, Graham-Kapowsin, Jackson, Kentridge, Kentwood, Marysville-Pilchuck, Olympia, Rogers, South Kitsap, Tahoma, Walla Walla, WenatcheeRead More – Tacoma News Tribune
Union WR Mitch Saylor and LB Taylor Nelson Both Make The TNT Preaseason All-State Football Team
Union's #59 LB Taylor Nelson Both Make The TNT Preaseason All-State Football Team. Photo by Tom Castle, M.D. Provided courtesy of www.bellevuefootball.com
Union’s Mitch Saylor and Taylor Nelson are used to being voted All-State players together.
Last season after helping their Titans to the WIAA 3A football state title game, the then Juniors were both voted as First Team 3A All-State by the AP. Now as we are just about to start the 2009 high school football season, Saylor and Nelson are again on an All-State team. The Tacoma News Tribune has released their Preaseason All-State Football Team with some familiar faces.
Three players from Lakes High School made the team: DL Sione Potoa’e, LB Darius Waters, and DB Jamaal Kearse. Bellevue has one player on the team: DL Julious Moore.
No other GSHL Football players made the Preaseason All-State Football Team.
Complete list:
OFFENSE
QB Jake Heaps Skyline Sr. 6-2 195
RB Bishop Sankey Gonzaga Prep Jr. 5-11 190
RB Larry Dixon Olympic Sr. 5-11 210
FB Zach Fogerson O’Dea Sr. 6-1 225
WR Mitch Saylor Union Sr. 6-6 205
WR Kasen Williams Skyline Jr. 6-2 195
TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins Gig Harbor Jr. 6-7 253
OL Mike Marboe Wenatchee Sr. 6-3 285
OL Colin Porter Bothell Sr. 6-4 300
OL Maxx Forde Woodinville Sr. 6-4 240
OL Ben Riva O’Dea Sr. 6-6 285
OL Jase Butorac Skyline Sr. 6-3 275
ATH Colten Williams Mt. Spokane Sr. 5-11 177
K Kelyn Rowe Federal Way Sr. 5-9 165DEFENSE
DL Sione Potoa’e Lakes Sr. 6-3 285
DL Julious Moore Bellevue Sr. 6-0 270
DL Danny Shelton Auburn Jr. 6-2 320
DL Happy Iona Bethel Sr. 6-3 285
DE Jake Rodgers Shadle Park Sr. 6-7 245
LB Anthony DeMatteo Skyline Sr. 6-0 195
LB Darius Waters Lakes Sr. 5-9 165
LB Taylor Nelson Union Sr. 6-2 225
LB Seth Kline Eisenhower Sr. 6-1 235
DB Chris Young Auburn Sr. 6-1 220
DB Jamaal Kearse Lakes Sr. 6-2 200
DB Miquiyah Zamora Chiawana Soph. 6-0 185
DB Blair Bomber Lynden Sr. 5-9 160
P Marcus Pleasant Graham-Kapowsin Sr. 6-3 260Read More – The Tacoma News Tribune
- August 21, 2009
Union WR Mitch Saylor Among Washington Top 20 Senior Football Players
Union Wide Reciever #18 Mitch Saylor. Photo by Tom Castle, M.D. Provided courtesy of www.bellevuefootball.com
The pre-season accolades keep coming in for Union SR WR Mitch Saylor.
Saylor was already listed as a first team all-state WR (all levels) by The Examiner and now Washington Sports Network has included the Titans standout among their top 20 senior football players.
Listed at 12th overall Saylor came in just behind Washington State bound Ferris QB Connor Halliday and ahead of Meadowdale TE Connor Hamlett.
No other GSHL players were included on the list.
Complete list:
1. Jake Heaps (Skyline) QB 6-2, 195
2. Chris Young (Auburn) OLB 6-1, 215
3. Sione Potoae (Lakes) DL 6-3, 285
4. Colin Porter (Bothell) OG 6-4, 300
5. Julious Moore (Bellevue) DT 6-0, 255
6. Jamaal Kearse (Lakes) WR 6-2, 200
7. Zach Fogerson (O’Dea ) FB 6-1, 220
8. Darius Waters (Lakes) OLB 6-2, 215
9. Aaron Dunn (Mead) TE 6-5, 235
10. Mike Marboe (Wenatchee) C 6-3, 275
11. Connor Halliday (Ferris) QB 6-5, 215
12. Mitch Saylor (Union) WR 6-5, 205
13. Connor Hamlett (Meadowdale) TE 6-7 ,240
14. Andy Gay (Jackson) QB 6-4, 200
15. Ben Riva (O’Dea) OT 6-6, 280
16. Jase Butorac (Skyline) OG 6-3, 280
17. Larry Dixon (Olympic) RB 5-10, 205
18. Will Hoppes (Tri-Cities Prep) ATH 5-11, 190
19. Ethan Sterkle (Ellensburg) QB 6-3, 190
20. Maxx Forde (Woodinville) 6-4, 230Read More – Washington Sports Network
- August 20, 2009
The Columbian – Washougal’s Fresh Start
The 2008 football season was not so kind to the Washougal Panthers.
An 0-9 record. 381 points allowed. 44 points scored. Shout out in 4 games. I think you get the picture. But the coaches and players are looking ahead and like the Washington Huskies, things can only get better.
Read More – The Columbain (Football players get fresh start in Washougal)
- August 19, 2009
2009 4A GSHL Kick Off Preview
Here is your high level look at the 4A Greater St. Helens League as we get ready for the 2009 high school football season.
Battle Ground Tigers
Battle Ground RB's John Simon and Jordan Maivo at the Air Assault Football Camp
What we know:
The Battle Ground Tigers are talented. Senior RB John Simon (5’11″ 175lb) leads a very talented backfield, which also includes the likes of Senior RB Jordan Maivo (6’0″ 180lb) and Senior RB Komivi Akengue (5’10″ 188lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL DB 2008). Simon was voted on both first team All-GSHL offense and defense in 2008 as a RB and DB and should be even better in 2009. Simon was voted the camp MVP earlier this month at the Air Assault Football Camp in Longview which had over 50 kids from all over the NW (Vancouver BC to Salem OR). Maivo was also at the Air Assault Football Camp and came up just short of the MVP behind Simon. The Tigers will need to shore up both their offensive and defense lines to be successful in 2009. Senior OL Zane Shaut (6’2″ 252lb, First Team All-GSHL OL 2008) will be called upon to lead an unproven group and make holes for the dynamic Tigers backfield.
The Tigers’ non-league schedule starts out tough as they take on two 3A GSHL play-off teams with a home game vs. Columbia River followed by Camas on the road before it eases up just a little with two home games vs. Prairie and the defending 2A GSHL champs Hockinson. The league schedule features three road games: at Skyview, Mountain View and Kelso, with only Heritage and Evergreen visiting District Stadium.
If all goes well:
The Tigers will make a strong push for one of the two 4A GSHL play-off spots this season. With solid line play, Battle Ground could win all three home non-league games and head into league play at 3-1. With either an upset at home vs. Heritage or on the road at Skyview, combined with three winnable games over Mountain View, Evergreen and Kelso, the Tigers could be playing football the first weekend in November for the first time since 2005.
Evergreen Plainsmen
Evergreen QB Marvin Thomas
What we know:
The Plainsmen will not look like the Plainsmen of the past two seasons. Gone is the wave on the helmet. Gone is their former head coach. Gone is the wide-open spread offense. Gone are three Seniors who have moved on to Division 1 college football. Gone is a Senior class that had been 22-8 heading into last season’s debacle. Back is “The E”. The traditional “E”, which was introduced into the Plainsmen family by Jon Eagle in the late 90′s is back. The Double Wing replaces the Spread. Charles Anthony heads north from Las Vegas and brings his 42-15 record and hard working attitude to the Plainsmen. Senior QB Marvin Thomas (5’11″ 153lb) returns and hopes to flourish in the new offense utilizing his running skills. Junior RB Chase Lawrence (5’9″ 160lb) will bring some explosiveness to the Plainsmen new running attack. After that the Plainsmen are young and unproven. Evergreen will be one team that we will have to watch as the season unfolds to see who they really are.
Evergreen’s non-league schedule is up and down. Opening at Kiggins Bowl vs. Hudson’s Bay followed by games vs. the top two teams in the 3A GSHL (vs. Union and at Camas) before Forest Grove (OR) comes to Washington. Evergreen only has one league game away from McKenzie – at Battle Ground. Evergreen will play Kelso, Heritage, Skyview and Mountain View at McKenzie (Heritage and Mountain view in their white jerseys)
If all goes well:
Evergreen comes out of non-league at 2-2 and has 4 games at McKenzie. Depending on how well the young players at Evergreen pick up Coach Anthony’s new offense, a well-run double wing could be a little too much for other GHSL schools to handle. Evergreen could take three of the four games played at McKenzie and a late season win at Battle Ground would give Evergreen one of the two 4A GSHL play-off spots. If not, then Evergreen will be on the outside looking in come November for the second year in a row, something that has not happened at Evergreen since 1996-1997.
Heritage Timberwolves
Heritage RB Mike Matsubura
What we know:
The Heritage Timberwolves head into the 2009 season as the team to beat in the 4A GSHL. Returning First team All-GSHL Quarterback Garrett Grayson (6’4″ 188lb, First Team All-GSHL QB 2008) has spent the entire summer impressing college coaches and fans. Grayson was named the MVP of the Nike Football Training Camp at the University of Oregon, as well as named the top QB at the University of Louisville’s Rising Senior Elite Camp. Grayson and the Timberwolves will have to replace two players who played in the All-State game this summer in WR Ashton Clark and OL Steven Forgette. Heritage should have plenty of talent to step up as they return five others who were first or second team All-GSHL in 2008. Senior WR Cody Yahn (5’11″ 173lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL WR 2008) and Senior TE Doug Van Aalst (6’1″ 174lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL TE 2008), along with Evergreen transfers Seniro WR C.J. Hatchett (6’1″ 180lb) and Junior QB Andrew Bemis (6’3″ 185), will give Grayson plenty of options to pass to. In the backfield talented Senior RB Mike Matsubura (5’9″ 180lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL RB 2008) will be called upon to carry the ground game for the wide open Timberwolves. If all those weapons weren’t enough, Grayson is also a pretty good runner. He clocked a 4.63 40 at the Nike SPARQ Combine in Portland and is fully capable of moving the chains with his legs. On defense Senior LB Mike McDonald (6’0″ 208lb, First Team All-GSHL LB 2008) will make it hard to run on the Timberwolves.
Heritage also has a tough non-league schedule as they open at home with Camas followed by a trip to Centralia to face W.F. West. Both Camas and W.F. West also have very talented QB’s and they should make for a fun game to watch. Following the two air shows, Heritage will host Columbia River, then play defending 3A GSHL champion, Union. The league schedule has only two road games for Heritage, at Battle Ground and Kelso, as they are the designated home team in games vs. Evergreen and Mountain View before fellow co-champs Skyview visit McKenzie to wrap-up the regular season.
If all goes well:
The Timberwolves have a legitimate shot of running the table in 2009. A week one shoot out win over Camas could propel them to two more wins heading into their week four showdown with Union. Heritage will be looking to make amends for last season’s blowout loss at the hands of the Titans. They do have the talent to go blow-for-blow with Union, and if they come out on top and are sitting at 4-0 heading into league play, that could be all the momentum needed to be 8-0 when the Storm come to visit. With a possible outright league title in hand and a opening round home game, Heritage can win its first playoff game in school history. After the first round you never know what can happen.
Kelso Hilanders
Kelso QB Cameron Margaris at the Air Assault Football Camp
What we know:
The Kelso Hilanders have a lot of players back from a team that went winless last season in league play. Senior QB Cameron Margaris (6’3″ 157lb) will be looking to lead the Hilanders to higher ground this season. Margaris was also a top performer at the Air Assault Football Camp this summer in Longview. Senior RB Tyler Crossland (5’10″ 162lb) and Junior RB Jared O’Neil (5’11″ 175) will follow Senior OL Tim Davison (6’2″ 245, 2nd Team All-GSHL OL 2008) and Senior OL Justin O’Neil (6’1″ 220lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL OL 2008) , both 2nd Team All-League picks for Kelso last season. Senior WR Evan Plamondon (6’6″ 191lb) and Junior WR Cedrique Chaney (5’11″ 166lb) will be looking to make big plays with Margaris. Kelso loses most of its defense that gave up an average of 34 points per game in 2008 and an average of 42 points per game in league games. Junior FS Ben Warthem (6’0″ 165lb) and O’Neil, who also plays LB, will need to secure a vastly improved effort from the Hilanders if they hope to avoid another winless league season.
Kelso will play the same nine schools in 2009 as they did in 2008 with only a swap of the stadium the difference. Non-league road games at Mark Morris and Columbia River along with home games vs. Prairie and Fort Vancouver. Kelso will travel to Evergreen and Skyview as well as host Mountain View, Heritage and Battle Ground.
If all goes well:
Kelso travels west to face Mark Morris on opening night. The Monarchs snuck into Kelso last season and stole one from their big brother leaving the Hilanders with a bad taste in their mouth. Mark Morris just might have too much again this season to let the road team win for a second year in a row. With a lot better outcome on the defensive end and a more experienced offense, Kelso could beat both Prairie and Fort Vancouver at home and head into league play at 2-2. Kelso will have three home games this season in league play and that could lead to a couple of wins and maybe even a 5-4 record for the Hilanders.
Mountain View Thunder
Mountain View DL Kyler Spears
What we know:
The Mountain View Thunder will have to replace QB Cameron Pape who was voted the East Offensive MVP in this summer’s East/West Liberty Bowl Classic. Junior QB Ryan Hansen (6’2″ 170lb) and Senior QB Marcus Hansen (5’8″ 175lb) will battle it out to replace Pape as the Thunder’s signal caller. Senior RB Tyler Burton (5’6″ 155lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL RB 2008) and Senior WR Andrew White (6’0″ 185lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL DB 2008), both 2nd Team All-GSHL picks in 2008, along with Senior Tight End Zach Chapman (6’3″ 240lb), and Senior WR’s Austin Tremel (6’0″ 160lb) and Lucas Swanson (6’3″ 200lb). will look to carry the load and take the pressure off of their new Quarterback. Junior DB PJ Jones (5’9″ 140lb) along with White should help a solid defensive backfield. Chapman and Senior DL Kyler Spears (6’2″ 240lb, 2nd Team All-GSHL DL 2008) will apply the pressure up from on defense, as they will have to find a new set of LB’s.
Mountain View has a very workable non-league schedule. With only one game away from McKenzie (at Prairie), followed by three home games (Glencoe of Oregon, Hockinson and Hudson’s Bay), in non-league play the Thunder will be very used to playing at McKenzie. You throw in four of their five league games are also at McKenzie, Skyview, Battle Ground and Evergreen as well as Heritage (as the road team) and only a trip to Kelso in week 6 will take the Thunder away from their home stadium.
If all goes well:
Mountain View does play 7 of 9 games at McKenzie Stadium, which is always a good thing. All 4 non-league games, while none are locks, are winnable for the Thunder. Taking 3 or 4 games at home is not out of the question as well. Throw in a win at Kelso and Mountain View could be back in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Skyview Storm
Skyview QB Austin Dodge - Photo by Kim Grinolds Provided courtesy of www.dawgman.com
What we know:
The Skyview Storm are not ready to give up their claim as the top team in the 4A GSHL. With plenty of offensive weapons returning, Skyview will look to improve on their 31 points per game last season. Senior QB Austin Dodge (6’2″ 190lb) will lead the way as he looks to Senior WR Ian Zarosinski (5’11″ 170lb, 1st Team All-GSHL DB 2008) as well as Junior WR Kody Watts (6’2″ 172lb) and Karl Graves (6’2″ 170lb). Senior RB Matt Spears will be back as the Storms full-time back with the loss of Duke Kelly. Senior FB Jonny Barrett (5’11″ 195, 2nd Team All-GSHL LB 2008) will add a pop to the running game. Senior OL Ben Barton (6’0″ 250lb) and Junior OL Cody Fields (6’1″ 215lb) will look to shore up a revamped OL. On defense Zarosinski will hope to shore up the DB’s, who were quite young last season. Senior DB’s Adam Brown (5’11″ 180lb) and Christian Rector (5’11″ 185lb) should give the Storm DB’s much needed experience this season. Senior LBs Alec Osborn (6’0″ 195lb, 1st Team All-GSHL LB 2008) and Barrett will give Skyview a good LB core. Some young talent will need to step-up on the DL to allow Skyview to keep scores down. And if any games come down to a late field gaol, Junior K Nick Phillips (5’10″ 170lb, 1 Team All-GSHL P) should be up for the task.
Skyview probably has the hardest schedule of all GSHL schools this season. A brutal non-league schedule has the Storm on the road three straight weeks to start the season (at Union, Columbia River and Marysville-Pilchuck), then a home match-up with Camas prior to the start of league play. A rough league schedule also has Skyview on the road more than at home. Three more trips to McKenzie (at Mountain View, Evergreen and Heritage) will bring the McKenzie game total to 4, compared to the Kiggins Bowl game total of 3. Two of those three games are Battle Ground and Kelso.
If all goes well:
Skyview may have to be happy with a split of their non league games and a 2-2 record as they enter league play. If they can go 3-1 in their first 4, then they will have another season finale with Heritage with the league title on the line, this time at Heritage. With a more friendly schedule, the Storm would be all but a lock for one of the two 4A GSHL playoff spots, but they don’t have that. This group will have to prove themselves to be true road warriors if they want to make it back to the round of 16 or beyond this season.
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