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Friday, September 3, 2021 |
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Mazama earns nod as Skyline favorite By Will Denner Mail Tribune
As head coach Vic Lease puts it, the Mazama High football team runs like a well-oiled machine. Even after graduating an important group of seniors from an undefeated spring season, the Vikings believe the system they have in place will allow them to retool and continue their reign in the Skyline Conference this fall. Mazama went 6-0 during the spring 2021 campaign en route to winning the 4A Football Elite 8 Showcase over Marist Catholic in April. Though the championship was technically unofficial, the Vikings did hold the distinction as the only 4A team to go undefeated in a span that included wins over some of the state’s top programs in Thurston (5A) and Banks (4A). Mazama benefits from returning its entire backfield from last season to its potent “flex bone” triple option attack, wherein the offense
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starts out in the Wish Bone and breaks out into the flex. While the Vikings had the luxury of several downfield threats in their passing game last season, their offense will be established, first and foremost, on the ground. “That’s what we’ve always done,” said Lease, whose team has earned consecutive Skyline titles dating back to 2014. The veteran backfield is headlined by Zeke Heaton, an all-state fullback who scored the game-winning, 57-yard touchdown to defeat Marist 27-21. Aidan Kindt, who Lease described as “one of the fastest kids in the state at any level” will return at one halfback, and Brandon Gailey is slotted as the two back after splitting time at the position last season. Newcomers include sophomore quarterback Tyson Van Gastel, who at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds “looks the part” as the Vikings’ signal-caller, Lease said. “He’s got a good head on
his shoulders, he’s athletic, he’s tough — the type of kid I like at quarterback,” the head coach said. The team’s offensive and defensive lines are going through somewhat of an overhaul. Three starters graduated on the offensive side, while center Nathan Tramp (6-0, 230) is back as the anchor of the line and right guard Isaac Pena (5-11, 300) also returns as a starter. “We’re probably going to average about 6-1, 250 across the front and with those three backs and that quarterback reading the veer, we’re going to run the rock,” Lease said. “We’re not hiding it.”
Henley Twenty-five seniors graduated from the Henley football program last season, leading some to opine that the team might be going through somewhat of a rebuild. The Hornets haven’t paid much attention to the outside noise, according to head coach
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Alex Stork, and have to prove only to themselves that they’ll be ready for Week 1 at Ashland. Senior inside linebacker and tailback Tulson Higgins (5-10, 180) will once again be penciled in as a two-way starter and his coach said he’s in for a big final high school season. “(He) plays hard, plays fast — a smart player. We’re counting on him to be a playmaker for us and the leader of our defense,” Stork said. Rotating with Higgins in the Hornets’ single-back formation is senior Garrett Northcutt (5-9, 160), who also earned all-league honors at defensive back. Due to nagging injuries, Northcutt was limited in the backfield during the spring. Senior Braden Roach (6-2, 240) is expected to be the leader of the offensive and defensive lines. His presence will be particularly important on the offensive side, where Henley graduated five seniors from last season. “Our line is probably the
biggest question mark going into the season,” Stork said.
Hidden Valley After dropping to the 3A classification for two seasons, which included a run to the state championship game in 2019, the Mustangs were reinstated in 4A and won all four of their games in the spring. Now, Hidden Valley has a new coach, Mike Fanger, and some familiar faces to build around for a full fall slate. Fanger, who replaced James Powers, coached in the Portland metro area for more than two decades, starting at the college level at Lewis & Clark (1994-2003), including five years as head coach, and Portland State (2004-05). Then, Fanger took the head job at La Salle Prep, where he coached from 2006-09, followed by stints at Lincoln (2010-11), West Linn (2012-13) and Glencoe (2014-17). SEE SKYLINE, 18
