2015 NCW Prep Football

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL Sports special section • Thursday, September 3, 2015

The power of

EIGHT Inside the high-scoring world of eight-man football • page 2 World photo/Don Seabrook

Wenatchee: Panthers’ offensive and defensive lines filled with upperclassmen • page 22

Eastmont: New coach Mike Don hopes Wildcats will compete in 2015 • page 19

CTL: Seniors Lucas Gleasman and Tony Padilla hope to lead Chelan to a playoff berth • page 14

2

Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

1B Northeast League

Entiat football players listen to coach Brian Bailey at an August practice session. At a small school such as Entiat, most if not all players must play both offense and defense.

Eight is enough T

he birth of American football can be traced to early versions of rugby, until, in 1880, a man named Walter Camp instituted line-of-scrimmage and down-and-distance rules.

Nearly 135 years later, 32 professional teams are getting ready to battle for the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 50.

Nearly everyone living in the United States of America knows about the National Football League and American football. Lesser known is the eight-man version at the high school level.

The 11-man game and the eight-man game are similar in their rules and

makeup, yet very different when getting down to the Xs and Os. According to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the eight-man game was formally recognized in 1973, when the first state championship game was held.

“Right now, there are 941 players on 45 teams across the state playing eight-man football,” said Conor Laffey, WIAA sports and activities information director.

“Obviously that number has increased since the game’s inception.”

As of 2014, there are 73 schools classified as 1B athletic programs in Washington. Some of those teams elect to play 11-man football, merging with 2B leagues. Other schools simply don’t have football programs.

Spectators rarely see an attempted extra point in the eight-man game

Eight-man football varies from its 11-man counterpart, but the differences make for an exciting, high-scoring style of play Story by David Heiling World sports writer • Photos by Don Seabrook World photo editor

because two-point conversions are too valuable in high-scoring affairs. Teams often start games with onside kicks, and fourth-down conversion attempts are more commonplace than punts. The game is so wide open that it tends to spring players for huge gains, and offense is king. The communities surrounded by eight-man football are tighter and more connected, and Friday night lights never shined brighter.

This part of the country has a wrinkle that makes the eight-man game even more unique. Washington, along with its Pacific Northwest counterparts Oregon and Idaho, are the only three states in which the eight-man game is played on a regulation-style, 11-man field. The eight-man game that is played in the Midwest, Plains and South

regions of the country are played on fields 80 yards long and 40 yards wide.

Contrast that with the full-sized field (120 yards by 53 yards) that Washingtonians play on, and you get a highscoring, free-for-all type of football you can only see in the Pacific Northwest.

“The executive board definitely has the power to change the field dimensions,” Laffey said. “But in the five years that I’ve been here, I’ve never heard a proposition to change the field.

If there was enough push or backing of changing the field dimensions, the board would hear it and take a look, but I just don’t think people are thinking that way. The defensive-minded coaches might like it, and the scoring would probably dip, but I really don’t see that happening.”

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

F

orget the offensive tackles. The eight-man game sacrifices the two end linemen because most coaches elect to have more playmakers spread out across the field in — you guessed it — the spread formation. Teams that have an explosive, fast and smart quarterback seem to thrive and put up a bunch of points.

“The No. 1 thing for eight-man is speed,” said Wenatchee Valley Rams coach Mickey White, who coached Waterville from 2009-11. “If you’ve got fast kids and can get to an edge, it’s a fast-paced game.”

Entiat senior quarterback Trang Tran epitomizes the fast, successful eight-man quarterback.

“I’ll speak about Trang specifically,”

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Entiat coach Brian Bailey said. “He’s a dual-threat guy. He’s what I want in a quarterback, and you don’t always get to have that. So I’ve built our offense around that kid; that’s the way it is in our program.

His style of play is a dream for an offensive-minded coach like myself.”

Tran can launch the ball down the field with near pinpoint accuracy, but the

moment he sees a hole in the linebacking core, he sprints for first downs. This was especially evident when Tran amassed more than 700 yards by himself in a game against Wellpinit last season.

In comparison to the bigger, bulkier, 11-man game, in which running the ball is usually the focal point, beefy linemen seem out of place in the elevated pace

Go Wenatchee Panthers!

For more information on Wenatchee High School sports go to: whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Athletics/Athletichome.html GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL GIRL’S SWIMMING Date

Opponent

Site

Meet Time

Sept. 12

Moses Lake Invite

Away

11:00 a.m.

Sept. 17

Davis

Away

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 23

Jackson

Away

2:30 p.m.

Oct. 1

Eastmont

Home

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 3

Mukilteo Invite

Away

9:00 a.m.

Oct. 8

West Valley

Home

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 9

Dive Meet

Home

10:00 a.m.

Oct. 15

Moses Lake

Away

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 16

Dive Meet

Away

10:00 a.m.

Oct. 17

Woodinville

Home

12:00 p.m.

Oct. 23

Dive Meet

Away

4:00 p.m.

Date Sept. 5 Sept. 8 Sept. 10 Sept. 15 Sept. 19 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 Oct. 10 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 22 Oct. 27 Oct. 29

Opponent Wenatchee Jamboree Cascade Chelan Eastmont Sundome Invite West Valley Eisenhower Davis Sunnyside Moses Lake Eastmont Wenatchee Invite West Valley Eisenhower Davis Sunnyside Moses Lake

Site Game Time Home 9:00 a.m.

Home 6:30 p.m.

Away 6:30 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Away 9:00 a.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Home 8:00 a.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

GIRL’S SOCCER

Date Sept. 4 Sept. 5 Sept. 8 Sept. 12 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 22 Oct. 27 Oct. 29

Opponent Eastlake Mt. Si Cashmere Archbishop Murphy Eastmont West Valley Eisenhower Davis Sunnyside Moses Lake Eastmont West Valley Eisenhower Davis Sunnyside Moses Lake

Site Away Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away

Game Time 4:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m 4:00 p.m 7:00 p.m 7:00 p.m

FOOTBALL

Date

Opponent

Site Game Time

Sept. 4

Mead

Home 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 11

Chiawana

Away

Sept. 18

Eisenhower

Home 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 25

Davis

Away

Oct. 2

Sunnyside

Home 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 9

Eastmont

Home 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 15

Eisenhower

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 23

Moses Lake

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 30

West Valley

Home 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

BOYS & GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Date Sept. 12 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Sept. 26

Opponent Highlander Invite League Meet #1 Sundodger Invitational Nike Invite

Site Game Time Away TBD Home 3:30 p.m.

Away 10:00 a.m.

Away TBD

Date Sep. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 10 Oct. 20

Opponent Bellevue Invite Wenatchee Invitational Richland Invite League Meet #2

Site Game Time Away TBD Home 3:30 p.m.

Away TBD Home 3:30 p.m.

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

Entiat football players rest during an August practice session.

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL of the eight-man game. Joe Worsham, Pateros’ coach for more than a decade, said most linemen have no place in the eight-man game and that speedy, agile players are the most valuable at the 1B level.

“You need wide bodies in the 11-man game,” Worsham said. “In the eight-man football, you just need smaller, quick guys. If a big slow guy is out there, he’s going to hurt you.”

The skill position players are key in any offensive system, but especially in a game that has so much wide-open spaces. If you can get your hands on a guy like now-graduated Carlos Ceniceros from Pateros, he can make life as a coach easier. Just ask Billygoats coach Marcus Stennes.

“If you are fast, you are going to be in good shape,” Stennes said. “(If you) make a few cuts, there is a lot of open field.”

Defensive alignments shift from one team to another. Some teams, like Worsham’s Pateros and Soap Lake teams of old, ran the 3-3-2 defense, with the linebackers sometimes dropping back in coverage to help the safeties.

Other teams play three linemen, two backers and three defensive backs, or use four defensive backs near the line of scrimmage to fool offenses, only to retreat downfield after the ball is snapped.

One thing that usually cannot be done in the eight-man game, however, is zone coverage, a factor that makes defense one of the hardest aspects of the game.

“The coverage schemes that are played … everybody plays man-to-man to take more guys

out of the box,” Bailey said. “Zone principles are something we don’t see a lot of other teams do. Eight-man football is a struggle to conquer any other defensive schemes other than man-to-man.”

W

orsham and Bill Alexander became friendly rivals at the turn of the 1980s and helped pioneer the eight-man game east of the Cascade Mountains. Alexander, then at the helm of the Bridgeport Mustangs, and Worsham, head honcho of the Billygoats, helped revolutionize the game from a simpler version of 11-man football to its own, glorious eight-man game.

“It’s not the difference between eight and 11,” said Alexander, who went on to a longtime coaching stint at Quincy after leaving Bridgeport and is currently the Jackrabbits’ athletic director. “It’s the difference between 16 and 22.”

Alexander said when he first got to Bridgeport in 1985, he brought along with him offensive and defensive schemes from the 11-man game, including the I-formation, double tight-end sets, option plays and reverse hand-offs — the latter brought in specifically for eight-man football. It was the beginning of his realization that the games were different.

The ground-and-pound game slowly evolved into something different — a different type of football, a different type of game entirely.

Worsham said conventional 11-man football thoughts could no longer work at the eight-man level, and that as a coach, he needed to keep his

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“At the time, I was playing some kind of defense that wasn’t well known,” Worsham said. “Bill Alexander was at Bridgeport at the time, and he told me, ‘That will never work. You won’t make it through the season with that.’ We went through the season undefeated. At the end of the season he says to me: ‘You

I

n my opinion, you take the 11-man game, bring it down a notch and make it craftier,” said Bailey, referencing his

Thursday, September 3, 2015

decade-long stint in the 11-man ranks with Cashmere. “Offensively, we spread out the field; running and passing within the same offense is somewhat unique across the state. The Neah Bays and Lummi Nations of the world, they just tackle and block better than you do and run the ball down your throat until you stop it. We spread it out, and we get creative

and innovative. I preach to our kids that we need to get going and score 50 to 60 points a game. Once we get there, we feel confident we can win the game.”

Bailey’s 2015 interpretation of the game is much different than those before him.

He said triple reverses, halfback passes, wide receiver pitches and innovative option plays frequent his playbook, and

Go Eastmont Wildcats!

For more information on Eastmont High School sports go to: www.eastmont206.org

GIRL’S SOCCER

FOOTBALL GIRL’S SWIMMING Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 12

Davis Invitational

Away 10:00 a.m.

Sept. 17

Moses Lake

Home

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 24

Davis

Home

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 24

Eisenhower

Home

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 24

Sunnyside

Home

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 1

Wenatchee

Away

4:00 p.m.

Date Sept. 4 Sept. 10 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Nov. 6

Opponent Rogers (Spokane) Mt. Spokane Davis West Valley (Yakima) Eisenhower Wenatchee Moses Lake Davis Sunnyside

Site Home Away Away Home Away Away Home Home Away

Game Time 7:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Opponent

Site

Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Date

Opponent

Site

Sept. 5

Ellensburg

Away

1:00 p.m.

Sept. 5

Wenatchee Jamboree Away

9:00 a.m.

Sept.8

Cascade

Away

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 12

S. Whidbey Invitational Away

9:00 a.m.

Sept. 12

Lewis & Clark

Home

1:00 p.m.

Sept. 15

Wenatchee

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 17

Eisenhower

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 15

Wenatchee

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 17

Eisenhower

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 19

Mead

Home

3:00 p.m.

Sept. 19

Eastlake

Home

3:00 p.m.

Sept. 22

Moses Lake

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 22

Moses Lake

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 24

Davis

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 24

Davis

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 1

West Valley (Yakima)

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 1

West Valley (Yakima) Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 6

Sunnyside

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 6

Sunnyside

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 8

Wenatchee

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 8

Wenatchee

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 10

Wenatchee Invitational Away

8:00 a.m.

Oct. 13

Eisenhower

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 13

Eisenhower

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 15

Moses Lake

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 15

Moses Lake

Away

7:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

Oct. 20

Davis

Away

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 20

Davis

Home

7:00 p.m.

BOY’S & GIRL’S CROSS COUNTRY Date

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

Game Time

Game Time

Oct. 9

Dive Meet-Wenatchee

Away 10:00 a.m.

Sept. 12 Highlander Invitational

Away

TBD

Oct. 13

West Valley (Yakima)

Away

Sept. 17 League Meet #1

Away

3:30 p.m.

Oct. 16

Dive Meet

Home 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 17

Lindbergh

Away

3:30 p.m.

Oct. 3

Wenatchee Invitational

Away 11:00 a.m.

Oct. 27

West Valley (Yakima) Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 27

West Valley (Yakima)

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 23

Dive Meet-Moses Lake Away

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 20

League Meet #2

Home

Oct. 29

Sunnyside

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 29

Sunnyside

Home

7:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 26 Inland Empire Challenge Away Oct. 3

Sunfair Invitational

Away

LCSC

3:30 p.m.

Away

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

that certain trick plays are inserted for different situations. The objective is to get the best athletes in a position where they are in the most space and can make a few cutbacks to spring free for a score.

Senior Entiat lineman and linebacker Orfil Ormos said with the amount of space available, athleticism shines.

“Without so much muddle in the middle, you can see things more. You see every cut, juke and spin,” Ormos said. “You can really tell who is making athletic plays and who the good athletes are.”

When Ormos and senior teammate running back and linebacker Alberto Quezada were given their choice between the eight- and 11-man games, they responded simultaneously, “eight-man,” citing the game’s constant speed, accountability and room for improvement.

“The sky’s the limit,” Quezada said. “It’s so fast-paced. Timing is everything with what we do. If you’re a half-second fast or slow, it messes the whole play up. It has to be more precise. You can never prepare enough. ... I would say preparation is the hardest part of the game.”

Entiat never huddles. “We want (the opposing team) to be tired before we get tired,” Bailey said of his team’s offensive pace. “Ever since we introduced the no-huddle, the kids won’t play huddle ball.

It will always be no-huddle for us from now on.”

Conditioning is key. Ormos said when one of the players on the field misses an assignment, the whole team pays a big price.

“I like how everyone is important,” Ormos said. “Everybody just means that much more. Everybody has to be responsible for their job. If one person fails their assignment, it’s over. You really have to lean on each other.”

Pateros likes to grab into the bag of tricks now and again, but also tries to implement a running-game foundation, which conventional wisdom suggests can open up long plays through the air when used in frequent succession.

“We’ve had some successes with reverses, reverse passing, but for the most part we are a split mix of running and passing,” Stennes said. “We’ll run the trips, we’ll put the receiver out with the two backs and pass to the screen. I think we are unique when we do that. “

B

ailey’s sentiments on the defensive side of the ball are simple: “We focus on offense.” But that doesn’t mean defense needs to be completely thrown out the window. In Entiat’s system, it’s true — offense rules the field; but if a player falls asleep on his defensive assignments, it only takes one defensive stop by the opponent to turn the tide.

Maybe not surprisingly, the play that can be the most rewarding and which shift the momentum the greatest in eightman football is the defensive stop — the

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

1B Northeast League south division: At a glance Entiat Tigers Home field: Russell Whitehall Memorial Playfield.

Head coach: Brian Bailey (third year).

Last year’s record: 7-4 overall (4-1 league).

Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense.

Key players: Trang Tran, sr., QB/DB; Alberto Quezada, sr., WR/RB/LB; Kirston Tran, jr., WR/RB; Orfil Ormos, OLB. Impact newcomers: Blake Duncan, fr., LB/WR. Season storyline: Tyler McDonald will anchor the Tigers’ offensive and defensive lines, which for the first time will have three 200-pound players on each side. The Tigers graduated four players, including leading tackler and receiver Truong Tran, but will lean heavily on explosive playmaker Trang Tran to outscore opponents. Entiat seeks its third consecutive playoff berth.

Pateros Billygoats Home field: No formal name.

Head coach: Marcus Stennes (third year).

Last year’s record: 6-5.

Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense.

Key players: Carlos Cruz, RB/WR; Lane four-and-out.

“It’s huge, absolutely huge for sure,” Bailey said. “We stuffed (Republic) three times at the goal line in a game last year. It doesn’t get better than that, and the kids were jacked. A three-and-out or four-andout, it’s huge. It’s like a fumble recovery or interception in the 11-man game.”

Worsham said he remembered a game so high-scoring, a game with such lucrative stats, that when it was all said and done, the reason his team came out on top was because of two defensive stops.

Defense does win championships — sometimes.

“We were at the Tacoma Dome for a big game,” Worsham said. “The final score was 74-64. I remember and I said to everyone after the game, ‘It was the defense that won it for us,’ and everyone just laughed, but it was true.”

“One of the biggest differences between the 11-man game and the eight-man game is this: If you’re down by three touchdowns in the 11-man game, it’s basically over. In the eight-man game, you can be up by 20 points in the third quarter and it’s not safe.

It’s sort of like the sixth inning in Little League baseball with one team up by eight runs. Never safe.”

One of the most essential skills utilized in the eight-man game is the art of the

Webster, WR; Julio Espino, RB/WR. Impact newcomers: Dakota Poole, QB/CB. Season storyline: The Mikey Piechalskito-Carlos Ceniceros connection is gone, and in steps a new group of players ready to lead the charge in Pateros. The defensive side of the ball will look to make plenty of stops to allow a new offense to round into form early in the season. After losing a majority of their big-play threats to graduation, the Billygoats will need to find new reliable targets to rely on offensively.

Waterville Shockers Home field: Kellen Biggar Memorial Field.

Head coach: Mike Gray (fifth year).

Last year’s record: 5-3.

Returning starters: 3 offense, 2 defense.

Key players: Lakin Thompson, sr., TE/DE; Nolan Ruud, sr., QB; Tyler Tollickson, sr., UTL; Zane Salcido, sr., DE. Impact newcomers: Taylor Riggs, sr., WR/ CB; Matt McCullough, sr., OL/DT. Season storyline: The Waterville program will receive a much-needed boost in numbers with the addition of players from Mansfield.

The Shockers will once again play an independent eight-man schedule. open-field tackle. This became quite clear when eight-man football was getting its start and holds true today. Quezada and Ormos acknowledged that tackling is the hardest part of the game to succeed at.

“We would tackle your shoelace, chin strap, sleeve, because when they get past you, they’re going to score,” Alexander said.

O

ften times, high schools elect to play eight-man football because of lack of enrollment. Schools with less than 92 students can be wise to play the smaller version of football.

But when a team anticipates starting the season with less than 16 bodies at its disposal, training camps and practices can be very hands-off, making for early-season tackling struggles and skyrocketing final scores.

Stennes said for his team, pure numbers are the biggest struggle to playing at the 1B level.

“I can’t speak for every team, but for us, it’s bodies for sure,” Stennes said. “There were a couple times this past season where we could go eight-on-eight. You know, having guys play scrimmages is important to get a long look at where guys should be playing, but most of the time we couldn’t do even that. … If you have a guy hurt, or

Versatile Quezada integral to Tigers’ hopes of contending Entiat quarterback Trang Tran was hospitalized with a health issue in mid-August, but Tigers head coach Brian Bailey said he is optimistic Tran will be able to play a majority of Entiat’s games at quarterback.

But the duties could be temporarily transferred to “the second best athlete on the team,” Alberto Quezada.

Quezada, or Tito as he is commonly known, said in order to play quarterback effectively, he will need to be completely dialed in and have his effort turned up to 100 percent.

“I’m at running back when Trang is around,” Quezada said. “But I’ll give it all that I got mentally, and that’s all I can do — be ready to play when it’s my time.”

Entiat uses a heavy dose of motion offense, meaning wide receiver movements need to be aligned with the snap count in order for the play to be effective. Since Tran has been hospitalized, Quezada said the aspect of the game he is trying to perfect most is the timing of Entiat’s offense.

Bailey praised Tran for being the type of guy his offense thrives under, but in the same system and with a similar skill set, Quezada should be able to have some success of his own.

“Man, that timing needs to be spot on,” Quezada said. “Even a second too soon or too late can mess everything up.”

Quezada anchors the backfield in the traditional Entiat offense, and said his favorite thing about the game is finding wide-open spaces to make defenders miss and taking it the distance for a long touchdown run.

Entiat has made the postseason the lat two seasons. Both years it has been ousted in the first round. Quezada thinks the 2015 Entiat squad can be the team to take the next step. “I really want to get to the quarterfinals this year,” Quezada said.

“I’d say that could count as my personal and team goal.”

— David Heiling, World sports writer

not making the grade, it makes this really hard.”

When teams enter camp with fewer players than necessary to play full scrimmages, the players don’t get real-game experiences.

“We have good kids, nice kids, not overly aggressive kids in our program. What I’ll see is I have kids who don’t want to hurt their teammates,” Bailey said. “They’re not willing to go full speed on a teammate, and I understand and value that as taking care of our own."

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Central Washington 2B League

Catching on Brewster’s Smith leads North Central Washington’s best passing attack

BY BRIan DeshaZo World sports writer

usually I play like a slot.

I’ll also get designed run plays, like an end-around uring a hot summer or fly sweep sometimes.” afternoon on While his ability to the ranch land “make guys miss and score northeast of Brewster, a from anywhere on the brush rig lumbers along field” reminds Bears coach to provide support against Jake Johanson of former the rapid advance of Seattle Seahawks receiver wildfires. This is Cade Golden Tate, Smith Smith’s first summer models his skills after helping fight fires with another National Football his father Dale, who uses League star. “My favorite the brush rig primarily would probably be Calvin for structure protection Johnson,” Smith said, and initiating back burns. “just because he’s a freak Smith, a senior wide athlete who can dominate receiver for Brewster, a defense.” believes he has learned a Luke Divis, now a lot from the experience freshman at Whitworth, and sees it as a way to give served as the Bears’ back to a community that primary downfield option provides its football team last season. This year, with unwavering support. others will be called upon Brewster’s passingto fill that role. “Opposite oriented offense provides to me, the other slot Smith and his teammates receiver will be Isidro the opportunity to provide Najera,” Smith said. “He’s a distinct advantage over similar to Luke in his defenses in the Central quickness and athleticism.

Washington 2B League.

On the outside we’ll have Because those defenses are Josh Hammons, who’s tall geared toward confronting and can really run, and the run-heavy attacks possibly Matt Sonneman.” typically used by opposing After gaining nearly offenses, the Bears hope 1,000 yards in both his to take advantage of the sophomore and junior match-up nightmares their seasons, Smith has set his four-receiver formations sights on greater heights as will invariably create. a senior. “Anywhere from “I like it because having 10 to 15 touchdowns would four wide receivers be a good personal goal, spreads out the defense’s and I’d like to get over coverage,” Smith said.

1,000 yards, but the main “They can’t just guard one goal is just to try to make it guy, so everybody has a to state and keep going as fair chance to catch the far as we can,” he said. ball.”

Key to meeting these He then described his goals will be the continued primary role as the team’s development of his on-field chemistry with starting slot receiver. senior quarterback Timbo “I play more inside and run the quicker routes,” he Taylor.

“When we started off, said. “Sometimes I’ll move to the outside and run post we were just getting used to each other,” Smith patterns or corners, but

D

Al Camp/The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle

Brewster wide receiver Cade Smith formed a dynamic duo with quarterback Timbo Taylor last season. said. “But as the season progressed, our chemistry improved and we started connecting more.”

Smith’s success on the football field is largely a result of his impressive work ethic, and Johanson offered a glowing review of his efforts.

“He’s the guy that’s there in every practice and 7-on-7 workout,” Johanson said. “Other players look up to him because they see his tireless work ethic and recognize that it makes him one of our best players. During his sophomore year he gained a love and understanding of working out.

His improved breakaway speed is really a result of hitting the biometrics hard that season.”

Smith agrees with his coach’s assessment that it’s the most important element of his game.

“I like to lift every day so I can come out and make sure we have a good, efficient practice,” he said.

“If we practice hard, then

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Thursday, September 3, 2015

VISIT WENATCHEEWORLD.COM EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT DURING THE FALL SEASON FOR COVERAGE OF THE NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON PREP FOOTBALL SCENE.

Go Cashmere Bulldogs!

For more information on Cashmere High School sports go to: www.cashmere.wednet.edu/hs FOOTBALL Date Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 6

Opponent Okanogan Connell Kiona Benton Royal Omak Naches Valley Granger Cascade Chelan Lakeside

Site Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Home

Game Time 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

TBD TBD 7:00 p.m.

TBD 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

GIRL’S SOCCER Date

Opponent

Site

Sept. 8 Ellensburg Jamboree

Away

5:00 p.m.

Sept. 5

Eastlake

Away

2:00 p.m.

Sept. 10 Soap Lake

Away

TBA

Sept. 8

Wenatchee

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 12 Zillah

Home 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 10

East Valley (Yakima)

Home

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 Warden

Home

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 15

Connell

Away

4:00 p.m.

Sept. 17 Wapato

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 19 Kittitas

Away

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 17

Kiona Benton

Home

6:00 p.m.

Sept. 22 White Swan

Home

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 19

Naches Valley

Home

1:00 p.m.

Sept. 24 Toppenish

Home

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 24

Toppenish

Away

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 1

Ephrata

Away

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 6

Omak

Away

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 9

Naches Valley

Away

4:00 p.m.

Oct. 12

Okanogan

Home

4:30 p.m.

Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 26 Okanogan Tournament Away 10:00 a.m.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Date Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 10 Oct. 15 Oct. 22

Opponent Site Moses Lake Invitational Away Apple Ridge Invite (Highland) Away King’s Cross Invitational Away Wenatchee Invite Away Chelan Invite Away Leavenworth Invite Away Cashmere Invitational Home Enchantment Dual (Cascade) Away

Game Time 10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

TBD 3:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

TBD 10:00 a.m.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Date Sept. 12 Sept. 19 Sept. 26 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 10 Oct. 15 Oct. 22

Opponent Site Moses Lake Invitational Away Apple Ridge Invite (Highland) Away King’s Cross Invitational Away Wenatchee Invite Away Chelan Invite Away Leavenworth Invite Away Cashmere Invitational Home Cascade Away

Oct. 6

Game Time 10:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

TBD 11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

TBD 10:00 a.m.

Omak

Oct. 10 Wenatchee Invite

Away

6:30 p.m.

Away

8:00 a.m.

Game Time

Oct. 13 Cascade

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 20 Chelan

Away

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 15

Cascade

Home

6:30 p.m.

Chelan

Away

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Omak

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 20

Oct. 24 Kittitas

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 22

Omak

Home

4:30 p.m.

Nov. 3

Cascade

Away

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 27

Cascade

Away

6:30 p.m.

Nov. 5

Chelan

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 29

Chelan

Home

6:00 p.m.

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10

Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Central Washington 2B League north division: At a glance Brewster Bears

Manson Trojans

Home field: Memorial Field.

Home field: Lanny Smith Field.

Head coach: Jake Johanson (third year).

Head coach: Scott Ward (fifth year).

Last year’s record: 10-2 overall (5-1 league).

Last year’s record: 2-7 overall (2-4 league).

Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Key players: Cade Smith, sr., WR/LB; Chris Varelas, sr., C/LB; Mitch Boesel, sr., RB/S; Isidro Najera, sr., WR/CB; Timbo Taylor, sr., QB; Raul Olvera, sr., K. Impact newcomers: Matt Sonneman, soph., WR/DB; Chance Williams, sr., OL/ DL; Joe Taylor, fr., QB/WR; Jeff Sonneman, RB/DB. Season storylines: The Bears come into the season looking to unseat defending 2B state champion Okanogan for the league title. Their pass-heavy, four-wide receiver offense will create matchup problems for most defenses in the Central Washington 2B League. Smith and Taylor lead a deep senior class that hopes to improve on last season’s first-round playoff appearance. we’ll play hard in the games and be in better shape.”

This hard-working mindset is also an essential part of his leadership style. “I would say that I lead more by example,” Smith said. “I want to go hard when I play, to set a high standard for the younger kids.”

His coach certainly notices the intangibles he brings to the team.

“Cade is a naturally quiet guy, but I’ve seen him grow every year and become a little more vocal as a leader,” Johanson said. “He’s a very positive guy who never has any negative things to say about his teammates.”

Brewster sports have become a legacy for the Smith family. Cade’s older sister Chandler played basketball for the Bears and at the NCAA Division-I level with Nebraska last winter before transferring to Gonzaga. His father, Dale, is a basketball legend in Brewster who helped lead head coach Dick Olson’s 1974-77 Bears teams to a record three consecutive state B titles and an 82-game win streak.

Although their success gives him big shoes to fill, Johanson said, “He never shows that. He just wants to be the best player he can be.”

It even helps fuel his competitive fire.

“They’ve supported me in everything I’ve done and pushed me to be the best I can be, and I get a lot

Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense.

Key players: According to Ward, “The key players to our team this year will be the ones that show up every day to practice, continue to hit the weight room all season, perform their individual job on every given play and make the big plays when the opportunity is given to them.”

Impact newcomers: “We have a couple of newcomers and incoming freshmen that may have an opportunity to help the team, but we have a long way to go before we will figure that out,” Ward said.

Season storylines: The Trojans enter this season with relatively simple goals. “We want to work hard every day to get better as individuals and as a team,” Ward said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to be able

to compete at a high level every Friday night and create an environment where the kids can learn and have a lot of fun.” Offensively, the team’s focus is on taking care of the football and using more spread offensive concepts to take advantage of its improved speed. On both sides of the ball the Trojans will rely on physical play, mental discipline and maximum effort as they seek to improve on last season’s performance.

Okanogan Bulldogs Home field: No formal name.

Head coach: Erick Judd (fifth year).

Last year’s record: 14-0 overall (6-0 league); 2B state champions.

jr., OL/DL. Season storylines: The Bulldogs enter the season looking to defend last year’s 2B state championship. Judd said the team has high expectations and will focus on daily improvement. The large senior class will be counted on to provide team leadership accountability. Senior quarterback Clay Ashworth returns to lead the Bulldogs’ run-oriented offense after missing most of the last two years with season-ending injuries.

The offense will miss the production of state 2B offensive player of the year TJ Morris, and an aggressive team effort will be required to replace state 2B defensive player of the year Jim Townsend.

Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense.

No season for Bridgeport

Key players: Jalen Moses, sr., WR; Riley Prescott, sr., WR; Mason Guerrette, sr., WR/S; Joe Esquivel Jr., sr., TE/LB; Joe Mintzer, sr., OL; Austin Eastridge, sr., OL.

Bridgeport will not field a team this season, Mustangs athletic director Rick Halterman told the World. Fidel Coronado, who coached Bridgeport last season to a 2-6 record, resigned, and nobody applied for the position.

Impact newcomers: Morgan Poulin, jr., RB/ LB; Greyson Fields, jr., RB/LB; Dakota Huff,

to keep him on the field as much as possible,” he said. “He’s been learning to be more aggressive on that side of the ball, and he’s smart in the way he sees plays develop and puts himself near the ball.”

Smith enjoys playing defense and believes it pays dividends to his receiving skills as well.

“I think it’s helping me be more aggressive on offense,” he said.

“It helps me challenge defenders and run them over. It gives me the chance to go hit someone instead of Jake Johanson getting hit.”

Brewster football coach The Bears hope for a prolific season from Smith as they hope to unseat defending state 2B of support from my siblings,” Smith champion Okanogan for the Central said. “I’ve always looked up to Washington 2B League title. Last Chandler because she’s worked so season, unusual circumstances led hard. I try to be in the weight room and work really hard to better myself to Brewster and Okanogan playing like she betters herself in basketball.” each other twice. Each team won at home, though Okanogan rested most Cade also plays basketball for of its starters on homecoming night Brewster and believes each sport in Brewster before walloping the helps him be more successful in the other. “It helps me stay in shape and Bears in Okanogan.

Smith believes his team will remain competitive,” he said. “Being a wide receiver has helped me when benefit from multiple encounters running the floor in basketball, while with the defending champions.

“I think it helps us to play them, so playing basketball improves my quickness and tenacity in football.” we know what they’re like,” he said.

Brewster doesn’t have the roster “We beat them once, so we know we size luxuries of larger schools, a fact can play with them.” that requires Smith to play outside Brewster will host the Bulldogs linebacker for the Bears’ defense. in a season-ending showdown Johanson doesn’t particularly mind. which will likely decide the league “His athleticism makes it necessary championship.

“During his sophomore year he gained a love and understanding of working out. His improved breakaway speed is ... a result of hitting the biometrics hard.”

Al Camp/The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle

After coming close the last two seasons, Brewster wideout Cade Smith hopes to crack the 1,000-yard barrier in 2015.

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON PREP FOOTBALL Publisher: Rufus Woods. Editor: Cal FitzSimmons.

Sports editor: Doug Flanagan.

Sports writers: David Heiling, Matthew Ockinga, Brian DeShazo, Reilly Kneedler.

Photographers: Don Seabrook, Mike Bonnicksen, Reilly Kneedler, Kurtis J. Wood, Al Camp, Richard Uhlhorn.

Go Cascade Kodiaks!

For more information on Cascade High School sports go to: www.cascade.wednet.edu

FOOTBALL

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 8 Tonasket Invitational

Away

TBD

Sept. 12 Ellensburg Invitational

Away 11:00 a.m.

Sept. 19 South Whidbey Invitational Away 10:00 a.m.

Sept. 26 Bellevue Invite

Away

Oct. 3

Sunfair Invitational

Away 11:00 a.m.

TBD

Oct. 6

Chelan Invite

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

Opponent

Site

9:00 a.m.

Sept. 8

Eastmont

Home

Away

6:30 p.m.

Sept. 12

Selah

Away 12:00 p.m.

Home

TBA

Sept. 17

East Valley (Yakima)

Away

Sept. 12 Burlington-Edison

Home 11:00 a.m.

Sept. 19

Okanogan

Away 11:00 a.m.

Sept. 15 Selah

Home 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 22

Toppenish

Home

4:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 19 Sun Dome Tournament

Away

8:00 a.m.

Spet. 26

Naches Valley

Away

TBD

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 24 Zillah

Away

6:30 p.m.

Away

TBD

Oct. 3

Sheridan Classic (Spokane) Away

8:00 a.m.

Oct. 1

Othello

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

Chelan

Oct. 3

Sultan

Away

2:00 p.m.

Oct. 6

Chelan

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 8

La Salle

Away

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 15

Cashmere

Away

6:30 p.m.

Opponent

Site

Opponent

Site

Sept. 4

Quincy

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 5 Wenatchee Jamboree

Away

Sept. 11

Zillah

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 8 Wenatchee

Sept. 18

Mt. Baker

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 25

Cle Elum

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 12 Lynden Christian

Oct. 2

Bellevue Christian

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 9

Omak

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 16

Chelan

Away

Oct. 23

Cashmere

Oct. 30

Royal

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Date

Opponent

GIRL’S SOCCER

Date

Game Time

Date

Date

Site

Game Time

Sept. 8 Tonasket Invitational

Away 12:00 p.m.

Sept. 12 Ellensburg Invitational

Away 11:00 a.m.

Sept. 19 South Whidbey Invitational Away 10:00 a.m.

Game Time

Home 6:30 p.m.

Game Time 4:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 13 Cashmere

Away

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 17 Naches Valley

Away

TBD

Oct. 17 Connell

Away

TBD

Oct. 20 Omak

Home 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 17

Ephrata

Home 12:00 p.m.

Oct. 22 Chelan

Away

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 20

Omak

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 3

Sunfair Invitational

Away 11:00 a.m.

Away 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 6

Omak Invite

Away 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 24 East Valley (Yakima)

Away 12:30 p.m.

Oct. 22

Chelan

Away

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 10 Leavenworth Invite

Home 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 10 Leavenworth Invite

Home 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 29 Omak

Away

5:30 p.m.

Oct. 27

Cashmere

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Enchantment Dual

Home 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 22 Enchantment Dual

Home 10:00 a.m.

Nov. 3

Home 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 29

Omak

Away

4:30 p.m.

Cashmere

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Caribou Trail League

Likely leaders Chelan seniors Gleasman, Padilla set the tone for an inspired team

T

BY MATTHEW OCKINGA World sports writer

he smell is potent. The air is hazy.

The town is quiet.

On a gloomy Wednesday in late August, the usual bustling summer town of Chelan collectively licks its wounds after surviving the Chelan Complex Fire’s devastating carnage. The daunting hills standing proudly behind the high school are dark and charred. Inside, a fire burns within a football team forced indoors by smoke for its first summer practice.

Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” blares from the speaker as players traverse from line to line via footwork drills and lunges.

The nightmare outside is undeniable, but head coach Travis Domser knows his task.

“Our town needs the normalcy,” Domser says, referencing opening day. “Our mission is to bring the normalcy back, and Sept. 4 is the best way to do it.”

Two key agents in enforcing that mission have been friends since their pee-wee days. Lucas Gleasman and Tony Padilla navigated different paths en route to their senior year. At practice Domser rotates three groups between a classroom, the main gym and an upstairs weight room. Upstairs, Gleasman demonstrates the correct form of box jumping: bend the knees, propel upward and have a purpose.

“That guy wants to win right there,” Domser announces intentionally. “That guy wants to win.”

Gleasman, who plays linebacker and quarterback, doesn’t take bending knees for granted. Pitching in a game during his sophomore baseball season, he covered home during a play at the plate. In the ensuing collision, Gleasman suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that sidelined him for six months.

Special to the World/Richard Uhlhorn Domser felt uncertain he would play Lucas Gleasman, left and Tony Padilla hope to lead the Chelan football team to a in the 2014 season. But through a focused playoff berth. and demanding rehab, Gleasman returned to help the Goats claim the Bronze Shoe trophy in the rivalry game against appears very coach-like, instructing anothwant him running into me.”

Cashmere on Halloween.

So how does a quarterback evade Padil- er teammate, “Always be doing something.

“We’re not a great football team without Don’t be standing around.” la? “You can’t,” Gleasman said, drawing a Lucas. When he’s on the sideline injured, “If we’re going to do that on the field, meek smile from Padilla. we need him,” Domser said. “He was inspiWhile completing squat drills, Padilla why not do it upstairs while we’re getting rational on the sidelines (when we won) six out of our last seven. You just can’t replace him whether he’s on the field or off the field.”

Ditto for Padilla, who anchors the Goats’ offensive and defensive lines. The biggest, strongest guy on the team, he entered the track and field season last spring as the fourth-ranked shot putter in the country.

Colleges are contacting him about football, including Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and Central Washington University.

While calling him a “teddy bear” off the field, Gleasman says his friend transforms come game day.

“He’s a big mean guy. I wouldn’t want to mess with him,” Gleasman said. “Actually, no one wants to mess with him. I don’t

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2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Thursday, September 3, 2015

15

Caribou Trail League: At a glance Cascade Kodiaks Home field: Peshastin-Dryden Sports Complex.

Head coach: Dominique Coffin (first year).

Last year’s record: 8-4.

Returning starters: 3 offense, 4 defense.

Key players: Christian Merritt, sr., RB/DB; Dane Williams, jr., QB; Dillon Scott, sr., RB/ LB; Tristan Zucktriegel, sr., TE/LB. Season storyline: The Kodiaks lost many valuable seniors from a team that reached the state semifinals, but those vacancies opened up slots for a group of eager young players that have patiently waited their turns. New head coach Coffin returns to his alma mater, taking over for Elia Ala’ilima-Daley.

Cashmere Bulldogs Home field: No formal name.

Head coach: Phil Zukowski (20th year).

Last year’s record: 5-4.

Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Key players: Jadon McCabe, sr., FB/MLB; Henry Cawood, sr., OL/DL; Lucas Shrader, sr., OL/DL; Gage Kunsman, sr., SB/CB. Season storyline: With Parker Landdeck stepping into the starting quarterback role, Zukowski feels the team’s defense will be slightly ahead of the offense, but added that’s normal. Starting his third decade as Bulldogs coach, Zukowski is looking for a few players from a talented group of sophomores to step up at skill positions.

ready for it?” Padilla asks. “Might as well do it while we’re conditioning.”

During a hitting drill, offensive line/defensive line coach Jeffrey Chambers interrupts the player he calls “Big Tone.”

“With a big dude like you, you want to hit up here,” Chambers instructs. “Nobody’s going to stop you if you do your job like that.”

Chambers praised Padilla for his physical and mental capacities. In school, Padilla tutors students who struggle academically.

“He’s a great all-around leader, and (his) grades are just

Chelan Goats Home field: Sargent Field.

Head coach: Travis Domser (third year).

Last year’s record: 6-4.

Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense.

Key players: Jose Padilla, sr., C/NT; Lucas Gleasman, sr., QB/TE/LB; Donny Watson, jr., WR/DB; Willy Isenhart, sr., OL/DL; Zach Phelps, jr., QB; Julian Buyas, sr., RB/LB; Ty Schwartz, sr., LB; Bryce Robinson, jr., WR/DB; Collin Hendricks, jr., WR/DB; Tanner Johnson sr., RB/LB; Derek Griffith, sr., WR/LB. Season storyline: Several players return from a Goats squad that ignited late, winning six of its last seven games, including nine starters on defense.

unreal for a kid that takes on a lot,” Chambers said. “The dude is smart. We truly do preach student first. The kid is not just a great student; he is also one of his biggest mentors on campus.”

Before practice ends, Chelan coach Eric Romero shares with the players a favorite saying: “Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”

When speaking of hardship, Romero references Gleasman’s knee injury and the fires which affected many players, including junior receiver Donny Watson. That quotation drew similar sentiments from two leaders who

Omak Pioneers Home field: Pioneer Stadium.

Head coach: Nick Sackman (10th year).

Last year’s record: 0-10.

Returning starters: 7 offense, 6 defense.

Key players: Gabe Timentwa, sr., QB; Nolan Springer, jr., WR/CB; Dustin Thorp, sr., RB; Ryan Nilles, jr, OL. Season storyline: The last two seasons have been trying for the Pioneers as their youth has hurt them against more experienced league foes. But with seniors at key positions (including Timentwa, who Domser said may be the best athlete in the league), Sackman said, “Our inexperience can’t be an excuse anymore.”

will key Chelan’s potential extraordinary destiny.

“No matter what, through thick and thin, we’re going to be next to each other and supporting each other, and we’re going to be helping out with all the injuries and all the hardships,” Padilla said.

“We support each other because of the fires and everything,” Gleasman said. “We are a family and we are here for each other.”

As with all fires, the smoke will eventually clear and the Goats will do their part to bring the normalcy back to Chelan.

16

Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Central Washington Athletic Conference

A different level Quincy’s Tafoya primed for stellar season

BY DOUG FLANAGAN World sports editor

A

rmando Tafoya holds the Quincy football team’s record for tackles in a career with 325 from 2010-12.

There’s a chance that the record may be broken this year. If it is, it’s going to stay in the family.

Watch out, Armando. Your younger brother, Alberto, is coming for you.

“I just try to get as many tackles as I can to beat his record,” Alberto said. “My brother was a big leader. He took his team to the (1A state) quarterfinals his senior year, so I just want to try to do the same.”

Last season as a junior, Alberto established himself as one of the Central Washington Athletic Conference’s best two-way players, shining from his right tackle and inside linebacker positions.

Entering the 2015 campaign, he’s primed for an even better season.

“To be honest, we expect him to completely light up the defense,” said Jackrabbits coach Stephen Wallace. “I think you saw toward the end of last year, some of the things that he was able to read against some of the top teams in our league, he just had a better instinct on the field. I expect that to be on a different level this year.”

Involved in every play But his contributions aren’t limited to the defensive side of the ball. He’s also Quincy’s best offensive lineman.

The vast majority of Quincy’s players will play offense or defense — not both — this season.

But Tafoya will be an exception to that rule.

Wallace and the team’s coaching staff flirted with the idea of having Tafoya concentrate on defense, but after reviewing game film from last year, they knew there was no way they could

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Quincy’s Alberto Tafoya was named as an honorable mention all-Central Washington Athletic Conference selection last season.

Kurtis J. Wood/ Quincy Valley Post-Register

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2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL take him off the offensive line.

“Naturally, since he’s already (played two ways) before, it’s a little easier for him. He’s a special kid, so we want to get him out there,” Wallace said. “He’s in great shape. He’s fast, but he’s good with cardio, too. Usually you get those big muscle guys, the two-way (players), you tend to see a drop (in performance as the game goes on). But he’s solid as long as he’s hydrated.

“He’s actually one of the fastest kids on our team. He (weighs) about 220, something like that. Ideally he’d be a fullback for us. But for our tackles, we

need athletic guys there just to be able to get up to the second level (and face) the defensive backs. He just does that with such efficiency that it’s tough to take him off (the field).”

Setback leads to comeback Tafoya might’ve made the varsity squad as freshman, but he suffered a knee fracture during a team camp before the season started. The injury caused him to miss the entire season and a chance to play with his older brother, then a senior.

But Alberto recovered for the start of his sophomore year and quickly proved he belonged.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

“Sophomores naturally defer to the older kids,” Wallace said. “He dominated them, and didn’t apologize for it.”

Wallace said Tafoya is a quick learner, and has been able to digest the information he’s given into useful chunks and keep things relatively simple.

“One thing last year that I think he got a lot better at was assessing the opponents before the game,” Wallace said. “He blocked out all the other mess and focused in on the main things that affected him.”

“I’ve gotten a little bigger, faster, stronger,” Tafoya said, “so every year, just being more used to the game, more intelligent

throughout, just playing, (getting) more experience (has helped me).”

This season, Quincy will have a fairly inexperienced squad — the Jackrabbits return just one starter on offense (Tafoya, of course) and three starters on defense.

Tafoya isn’t “the rah-rah” type of leader, according to Wallace, but the senior is becoming a bit more vocal.

“I always felt like I’ve always been one of the leaders, even if I’m not one of the captains,” he said. “On defense, I yell out the formations, and I like to be a leader back there. For the offensive line, I like to do my job.”

Go Chelan Goats!

For more information on Chelan High School sports go to : www.chelanschools.org/hs/sports/index.html

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

FOOTBALL

Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 8

Tonasket Invitational

Away

Sept. 12 Highlander Invitational Away

Date

Opponent

Site

TBD

Sept. 5

Wenatchee Jamboree Away

TBD

Sept. 8

Brewster

GIRL’S SOCCER Game Time 9:00 a.m.

Away

TBD

Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 8

Brewster

Away

TBD

Sept. 10

Royal

Away

TBD

Sept. 12

Manson

Home

11:00 a.m.

Sept. 26 Connell Invitational

Away 12:30 p.m.

Sept. 10 Wenatchee

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 3

Colville Invite

Away

Sept. 12 Lynden Christian

Home

TBD

Oct. 6

Chelan Invite

Home 10:00 a.m.

Sept. 12 Burlington-Edison

Home

1:00 p.m.

Sept. 15

Tonasket

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 10

Lakewood Invitational Away 10:00 a.m.

Sept. 22 Ephrata

Away

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 19

Quincy

Away

12:00 p.m.

Sept. 26

Granger

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 3

Wahluke

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 6

Cascade

Away

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 8

Cle Elum

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 13

Omak

Away

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 20

Cashmere

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 22

Cascade

Home

4:30 p.m.

Oct. 17

Oroville Invite

TBD

Away

Date

Opponent

Site

Aug. 28

Quincy Jamboree

Away

Sept. 4

Brewster

Away

TBD

Sept. 11

Okanogan

Away

7:00 p.m.

Date

Sept. 18

Meridian

Home

7:00 p.m.

Sept. 8 Tonasket Invitational

Sept. 26

Bellevue Christian

Away

5:00 p.m.

Sept. 12 Highlander Invitational Away

Oct. 2

Clarkston

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 9

Wahluke

Away

TBD

Oct. 16

Cascade

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 23

Omak

Home

Oct. 30

Cashmere

Nov. 6

Chewelah

TBD

Game Time

Sept. 26 Okanogan Tournament Away 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 3

Quincy Invitational

Away

9:00 a.m.

Oct. 6

Cascade

Away

6:30 p.m.

Game Time

Oct. 10

Wenatchee Invite

Away

8:00 a.m.

Away 12:00 p.m.

Oct. 13

Omak

Away

6:30 p.m.

TBD

Oct. 17

Naches Valley

Away

TBD

Sept. 26 Connell Invitational

Away 12:30 p.m.

Oct. 17

Connell

Away

TBD

Oct. 3

Colville Invitational

Away 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 20

Cashmere

Home

6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 6

Chelan Invite

Home 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 22

Cascade

Home

6:30 p.m.

Away

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 10 Lakewood Invitational

Away 10:00 a.m.

Oct. 27

Omak

Home

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 27

Omak

Home

4:30 p.m.

Home

7:00 p.m.

Oct. 17 Oroville Invite

Away

Nov. 5

Cashmere

Away

6:30 p.m.

Oct. 29

Cashmere

Away

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY Opponent

Site

TBD

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18

Thursday, September 3, 2015

“He’s always what we talk about what we want our team to be; he’s very even,” Wallace said. “He doesn’t get very high.

He doesn’t get very low. If one bad thing happens, it’s not going to affect him on the next play.”

A force in two sports Tafoya is also a standout performer on Quincy’s track and field team as a thrower.

Last spring, he qualified for the 2A state meet in the discus, placing eighth with a throw of 137 feet, 3 inches.

“With guys in individual sports, you get to see how they handle pressure,” Wallace said. “So that mental part, he got himself a little more prepared, I think. All that mixed in with his athleticism can lead to a great senior year.”

In the spring, Alberto wants to break the school’s discus record — held, not surprisingly, by Armando, who is now a thrower on the Central Washington University track and field team.

Alberto also wants to make a run at the school’s shotput record — 53 feet, which has stood for decades.

“I’ve hit over 50, but I haven’t done it in a meet yet,” he said. “(I) just (want to) try

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL to get 53 feet. My brother could never get it, so I want to try to get it, and try to make state again and win.”

Wallace said that Alberto has the potential to play football in college, or do track and field, or possibly both.

“There’s very little ceiling for him,” he said. “He’s got untapped potential.”

Mathematical mind

Central Washington Athletic Conference: At a glance Ephrata Tigers

Quincy Jackrabbits

Home field: Kiwanis Field.

Home field: Jaycee Stadium.

2014 record: 6-4.

2014 record: 4-5.

Regardless of his athletic career, he’s interested in possibly a career in engineering. That makes sense, considering the fact that he’s always been pretty good at math.

But he knows that, similar to his ability to improve on the gridiron, that he’s going to have to step up his math game this year in preparation for Wade Petersen’s always-challenging calculus class.

“I’m pretty good at math,” he said. “It’s always been easy, but it’s been getting harder the last couple of years, so I want to focus and get good grades in coach Petersen’s class.”

By the end of this season, the numbers should add up on the football field for Alberto Tafoya as well.

Head coach: Jay Mills (15th year).

Head coach: Stephen Wallace (seventh year).

Returning starters: 1 offense, 3 defense.

Key players: Alberto Tafoya, sr., OL/LB; Travis Harris, RB/S; Zac Hunt, jr., RB; Juan Aguilar, RB; Ray Rubio, DL; Jorge Ruiz, LB. Impact newcomers: Nick Hendrickson, QB; Kaeden Murphy, jr., QB. Season storyline: Quincy fell one win short of the postseason in 2014, but doesn’t return a lot of experience to this year’s squad. Another thing to watch out for is the fact that Wallace will have the vast majority of his players focus on one side of the ball this season, a departure from previous years.

“Somewhat luxury, somewhat necessity,” Wallace said.

Returning starters: 2 (offense), 1 (defense).

Key players: Tyler Lutz, sr., RB/DB; Rolo Reyes, sr., OL/DL; Jacob Firestone, sr., TE/ LB; Patrick Walker, sr., TE/DL. Impact newcomers: Colin Ahmann, sr., QB/DB. Season storyline: The Tigers were one win away from the 2A state tournament last year, but may be in for a rebuilding season in 2015. They’ll be breaking in a lot of new players. “We are a work in progress,” Mills said, “and (our success) will be determined by how quickly our players adjust to the speed of a varsity game.” They’ll lean heavily on Lutz, who’s a proven two-way talent, to lead on both sides of the ball.

Go Manson Trojans!

For more information on Manson High School sports go to: www.manson.org

FOOTBALL Date Sept. 11 Sept. 19 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Date Sept. 26

Opponent Manson Invitational

Site Game Time Home 4:00 p.m.

Opponent Entiat Oroville Lake Roosevelt Okanogan Darrington Tonasket Brewster Orcas Island

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

Site Away Home Away Away Home Away Home Home

Game Time 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

TBD 7:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Date Opponent Sept. 26 Manson Invitational

Site Game Time Home 4:00 p.m.

Date Sept. 8 Sept. 10 Sept. 14 Sept. 15 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 22 Oct. 27

Opponent Waterville Tonasket Okanogan Brewster Lake Roosevelt Oroville Bridgeport Liberty Bell Tonasket Brewster Okanogan Lake Roosevelt Oroville Bridgeport Liberty Bell

Site Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Away

Game Time 5:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

GIRL’S SOCCER Date Sept. 10 Sept. 12 Sept. 15 Sept. 17 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 15 Oct. 20 Oct. 22

Opponent Tonasket Chelan Liberty Bell Bridgeport Oroville Okanogan Brewster Omak Tonasket Liberty Bell Bridgeport Oroville Okanogan Brewster

Site Away Away Home Away Away Home Home Home Home Away Home Home Away Away

Game Time 4:30 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

TBD 1:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

TBD

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2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Thursday, September 3, 2015 19

Columbia Basin Big Nine

A fresh start New Eastmont coach Don optimistic

T

BY REILLY KNEEDLER Special to the World

he last time Mike Don was in East Wenatchee, he was a lineman for Prosser, playing football against Eastmont.

More than a decade later, he’s on the other sideline as the head coach and defensive coordinator of those same Wildcats.

Don learned a lot about the game in those high school days in Prosser’s perennial winning program.

“I came from a community where football was a big deal, and we put a lot of time in,” he said. “We only had about 700 kids, but we were able to compete against much bigger schools just because we thought we could outwork them.”

His experience overcoming long odds will likely prove instrumental at Eastmont, as the Wildcats finished off the 2014 season with a 3-4 Columbia Basin Big Nine record and a 4-5 overall mark.

“That’s what I want to bring here — I want us to be the team that outworks everybody and earns everything we get,” Don said.

Don has had the opportunity to coach at five Washington high schools in his career (including a stint at Brewster in 2012), so he knows what it takes to redevelop a program. “(Coming to a new school), you get an understanding of how kids can adapt and change to meet a different goal,” he said.

“We’re just trying to get kids to understand that we’re trying to build a great

program. It takes a lot of work and takes a lot of time, but we want kids to do big things.”

Don believes firmly that “good programs are built in the offseason,” and so far he’s had seemingly great success bringing that mentality to Eastmont.

“We’ve got kids working hard this summer,” he said. “We’ve got to work to develop a culture of hard work year-round.”

Following that mentality, Don has been working with the other 10 coaches on his staff to provide players with lots of workout opportunities this summer.

“We average about 58 kids a day in the weight room,” he said. “And the weight room itself is wonderful. It has plenty of size and equipment.”

“The turnout has been great. There’s a lot more (kids) than we’ve had in previous years,” Wildcats offensive coordinator Larry Michael said. “It’s been pretty good.”

Don has also worked on maintaining a team chemistry this season.

“It’s important to develop relationships with kids,” Don said. “They have to know who you are before they want to listen to what you say.”

Now that Don has had some time to acquaint himself to the existing crop of Wildcats, he said he’s been able to “identify what kids can do on the field.”

However, the specifics on his prospective starters are still under wraps.

“We’re still in the works,” he said.

“We’ll iron that out the week before the

World photo/Mike Bonnicksen

Eastmont football coach Mike Don talks with a player at the Wenatchee Football Camp in July. first game to see who will be where.”

Michael is also still weighing his options for the look of the starting varsity squad. “(The plan) changes every day,” Michael said. “We’ve seen the kids do a

lot of different things this summer. One day you think one thing and the next day you think something else.”

The budding team’s best test so far was the annual Wenatchee Football Camp in July, when they had the opportunity to

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20 Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Eastmont offensive coordinator Larry Michael, far right, watches as Wildcats senior Jake Ulrich broad-jumps during a recent football practice at Eastmont High School. The Wildcats’ coaching staff uses the results of tests such as the broad jump, vertical leap and the 40-yard dash to help decide the starting lineups.

Eastmont Wildcats: At a glance Eastmont Wildcats Home field: Wildcat Stadium.

Head coach: Michael Don (first year).

Last year’s record: 4-5 (3-4 conference).

Returning starters: 5 offense, 4 defense.

Key players: Nick McGill, sr., QB; Chase Payne, jr., OL; Kaleb McDonel, sr., DL; Noah Woodward, jr., LB; Jake Ulrich jr., S. Impact newcomers: Christian Torn, jr., RB; Zach Lathan, sr., WR.

Special to the World/Reilly Kneedler

match up against other Big Nine squads.

“Wenatchee camp was good for us.

We got better as the week went on,” Don said. “It was nice to see where guys fit and what we can do with them.”

The camp also gave Don the opportunity to check out some of the talent in the other area schools.

“There’s some good coaches. It’s a

good league and a lot of teams do really well,” Don said. “West Valley has a new coach and Sunnyside has a new coach, so they’ll bring a different mentality to the league. But the big dogs are the big dogs.

Wenatchee, Moses Lake and Davis have been pretty good before and will be good again this year. Those are the guys we’ve got to catch.”

Season storylines: Don takes over for Doug McGill and said his No. 1 priority moving into the upcoming season is to compete at the highest level on every play.

“I want other teams to know when they play Eastmont they are going to get a battle and that we can play,” Don said.

Don has previously spent time coaching various aspects of the game and has been a

Go Entiat Tigers!

For more information on Entiat High School sports go to: www.entiatschools.org

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

FOOTBALL Date Sept. 3 Sept. 11 Sept. 19 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 22 Oct. 29

Opponent Republic Manson Tulalip Heritage Lummi Nation Almira-Coulee-Hartline Wellpinit Waterville Odessa-Harrington Pateros

Site Home Home Away Away Home Away Home Home Away

Game Time 7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

Date Sept. 9 Sept. 15 Sept. 19 Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 Oct. 8 Oct. 15 Oct. 17 Oct. 22 Oct. 24 Oct. 27

Opponent Thorp-Easton Cascade Christian Academy Wilson Creek Pateros Riverside Christian Moses Lake Christian Wilson Creek Thorp-Easton Cascade Christian Academy Riverside Christian Moses Lake Christian Pateros Tournament Pateros

Site Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Away Away Away Home Away Home

Game Time 5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m.

GIRL’S BASKETBALL

Date Dec. 3 Dec. 10 Dec. 12 Dec. 19 Dec. 29 Dec. 30 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. 12 Jan. 15 Jan. 22 Jan. 29 Jan. 30 Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Feb. 9 Feb. 12

Opponent Manson Lake Roosevelt Waterville Thorp-Easton NCW Christmas-Manson NCW Christmas-Manson Moses Lake Christian Soap Lake Thorp-Easton Moses Lake Christian Waterville Pateros Soap Lake Wilson Creek Thorp-Easton Pateros Wilson Creek

Site Game Time Home 6:00 p.m.

Away 6:00 p.m.

Home 6:00 p.m.

Home 6:00 p.m.

Away TBD Away TBD Home TBD Away 6:00 p.m.

Away 6:00 p.m.

Away TBD Away 6:00 p.m.

Home TBD Home 6:00 p.m.

Home TBD Home 6:00 p.m.

Away TBD Away TBD

defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, line coach, linebacker coach and running backs coach during his coaching career. He said if he had to pick one area of expertise, it would be the offensive line.

“We have four juniors and a senior on our line this year, so there might be a learning curve, but that’s a great group of kids,” he said.

Don says he anticipates the Wildcats will be able to run the ball quite effectively in the beginning of the season and that quarterback Nick McGill will be a critical component to the team’s offensive success.

“We just hope to bring a competitive game to the field every single week and be able to show the fans a good game with great effort,” Don said.

Eastmont might struggle initially on defense — the linebacking core is fairly inexperienced, Don said.

BOY’S BASKETBALL

Date Dec. 3 Dec. 10 Dec. 12 Dec. 14 Dec. 19 Dec. 29 Dec. 30 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. 12 Jan. 15 Jan. 22 Jan. 23 Jan. 26 Jan. 29 Jan. 30 Feb. 2 Feb. 5 Feb. 9 Feb. 12

Opponent Manson Lake Roosevelt Waterville Cascade Christian Academy Riverside Christian NCW Christmas-Manson NCW Christmas-Manson Moses Lake Christian Soap Lake Thorp-Easton Moses Lake Christian Waterville Riverside Christian Cascade Christian Academy Pateros Soap Lake Wilson Creek Thorp-Easton Pateros Wilson Creek

Site Game Time Home 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Away TBD Away TBD Home 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Home 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Away 7:30 p.m.

Local Tiger Boosters:

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wenatcheewild.com 888-PUCK

663-8427 Wenatchee & Chelan

509-888-9595

www.TownChryslerJeepDodge.com

www.cashmerevalleybank.com

1729 N. WENATCHEE AVE. • 663-1671

(509 ) 8 6 0 - 2233

wenatcheeworld.com • 663-5161

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Thursday, September 3, 2015 21

Go Waterville Shockers!

For more information on Waterville High School sports go to: www.waterville.wednet.edu

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL Date

FOOTBALL Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 4

Inchelium

Home 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 11 Soap Lake

Home 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 18 Selkirk

Away 7:00 p.m.

Sept. 25 Pateros

Home 7:00 p.m.

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 8

Manson

Away

5:30 p.m.

Sept. 15

Wilson Creek

Home

5:00 p.m.

Sept. 17

Pateros

Home

5:00 p.m.

Sept. 24

White Swan

Away

5:00 p.m.

Sept. 29

Mabton

Home

5:00 p.m.

Oct. 1

Warden

Away

GIRL’S BASKETBALL Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Dec. 4

Bridgeport

Away

6:00 p.m.

Dec. 12

Entiat

Away

6:00 p.m.

Jan. 5

White Swan

Away

6:00 p.m.

Jan. 8

Mabton

Home

6:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m.

Jan. 12

Warden

Away

6:00 p.m.

Kittitas

Home

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 3

Wilson Creek

Away 11:00 a.m.

Jan. 15

Oct. 6

Kittitas

Home

5:00 p.m.

Jan. 16

Bridgeport

Home

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 8

Soap Lake

Home

5:00 p.m.

Jan. 19

Soap Lake

Home

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 10

Liberty Bell

Away 11:00 a.m.

Jan. 22

Entiat

Home

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 13

White Swan

Home

5:00 p.m.

Jan. 23

White Swan

Home

6:00 p.m.

Jan. 29

Warden

Home

6:00 p.m.

Jan. 30

Mabton

Away

6:00 p.m.

Oct. 9

Liberty Bell

Home 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 15

Mabton

Away

5:00 p.m.

Oct. 16

Entiat

Away 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 20

Warden

Home

5:00 p.m.

Oct. 23

Almira-Coulee-Hartline Away 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 22

Kittitas

Away

5:00 p.m.

Oct. 30

Yakima Tribal

Home 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 24

Pateros Tournament

Away 10:00 a.m.

Feb. 2

Kittitas

Away

6:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 27

Soap Lake

Away

Feb. 5

Soap Lake

Away

6:00 p.m.

Nov. 6

Liberty Bell

5:00 p.m.

BOY’S BASKETBALL

Date Dec. 1 Dec. 4 Dec. 5 Dec. 12 Dec. 15 Jan. 2 Jan. 5 Jan. 8 Jan. 9 Jan. 12 Jan. 15 Jan. 16 Jan. 19 Jan. 22 Jan. 23 Jan. 26 Jan. 29 Jan. 30 Feb. 2 Feb. 5

Opponent Moses Lake Christian Bridgeport Pateros Entiat Wilson Creek Moses Lake Christian White Swan Mabton Lake Roosevelt Warden Kittitas Bridgeport Soap Lake Entiat White Swan Almira-Coulee-Hartline Warden Mabton Kittitas Soap Lake

Site Away Away Away Away Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Home Home Home Home Away Home Away Away Away

Game Time 7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Local Shockers Boosters

Douglas County PUD www.douglaspud.org

509.745.8450 115 W. Locust • Waterville

509-683-1142

DORSEY INSURANCE, INC Waterville 509-745-8502 East Wenatchee 509-884-1234 CHRYSLER•JEEP•DODGE 1001 N. Miller, Wenatchee

509-888-9595

(509 ) 8 6 0 - 2233

(509) 745-8406

SIGNS

ETCETERA

Kimberly Gormley

www.cashmerevalleybank.com

509-745-8744 gormley@nwi.net wenatcheewild.com 888-PUCK

663-8427 Wenatchee & Chelan

1729 N. WENATCHEE AVE. • 663-1671

www.TownChryslerJeepDodge.com

Waterville, WA (509) 745-8551 www.cwgg.net

(509) 745-8857

wenatcheeworld.com • 663-5161

22 Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL

Next up T

Columbia Basin Big Nine

Upperclassmen dominate Panthers’ offensive, defensive lines

By David Heiling World sports writer

he Wenatchee football team will have to start “too many” players on both sides of the football at its home-opening game at the new and improved Apple Bowl on Friday against Mead, according to Panthers head coach Scott Devereaux.

Five of those players shouldering double duty reside on the offensive line — the men in the middle, the trenchmen.

This senior-laden group has similar stories to tell of their upbringing and experiences, but is a motley crew in a way.

Some of them will be starting for the first time, some for a second or third. There are physically imposing players and the slight of stature, but all of them seem determined. Their passion for the the game resonates within the group, and each one of the players embraces their role.

The linemen think of themselves as a cohesive unit with individual responsibilities, that when working in harmony can spring holes for runners and effectively protect their quarterback.

The Panthers’ offensive line starters will be seniors Will Thompson, Nathan Radcliffe, Clayton Holzerland and Greyson Bettencourt, and junior Cayden Foster.

Foster said this group of linemen has been through the ringer together.

“The thing is, this whole offensive line, we’ve been with each other for our whole careers and we have a good relationship.

We trust each other,” Foster said. “One of my best friends is on the line and we hang outside of school too. When we come back on the field, we can take care of each other and know how to help one another. That’s what it’s like across the line.”

Thompson will be the team’s center for the third consecutive season, and will also play linebacker on the defensive side of the ball. Devereaux said Bettencourt will be playing guard positions on offense and defense. The “pound for pound strongest kid on the team,” according to Devereaux, stands at 5-foot-8 and is “built like a brick.” “(Bettencourt) works his butt off, and he’ll cause some problems on the defensive line,” Devereaux said. “He is scrappy and deceptively quick for his stature.”

Foster said he anticipates being the starting left guard on offense and second on the depth chart at nose guard on defense behind Bettencourt. Holzerland and

World photo/Mike Bonnicksen

Wenatchee linemen, from left, Nate Radcliffe, Curtis Currie, Will Thompson, Cayden Foster and Clayton Holzerland.

“We’ve been with each other for our whole careers and we have a good relationship.”

Cayden Foster Wenatchee offensive lineman Radcliffe round out the starting five on the offensive line; both players will be playing the tackle position on offense and defensive end on defense.

The conditioning needed to play both ways is extreme, and when pulled off, extremely impressive. Conventional wisdom may suggest a player will get tired playing every snap far into the fourth quarter. Holzerland doesn’t anticipate stamina being a problem for the Panthers.

“The conditioning will be fine,” Holzerland said. “I think that everyone who

is going to be on the field is capable of doing well at the times they are in. If they couldn’t, they wouldn’t be on the field.”

The legacy of linemen at Wenatchee is well known. This year, there may not be a star player, but if each part does its job correctly, the system could be added to a long list of successful Panthers fronts.

In years past, though, those players didn’t have to play defense, too.

“We’re trying to live up to expectations,” Bettencourt said of filling shoes left behind by Division-I athletes before them. “We have to build up that strength to take care of business. Being able to go up against Trey (Adams) last year as a defensive player and getting past a guy like that? That gives me a lot of confidence on defense as well.”

The Panthers’ workout regimen is the same for all positions and alternates every day, as does most workout regimens.

Foster, Bettencourt and Holzerland said the atmosphere in the weight room makes

them better players.

“Every day is different. You have a schedule for the week, and how it goes down is there are six days in a workout week,” Foster said. “First day is workout upper body, then lower body, then on the third day we do cardio. Then we repeat the process.”

At the 4A level, playing both ways can be considered an anomaly in a way. “Coach Devereaux doesn’t play favorites,” Foster said. “Whoever deserves to be playing and gives us the best chance to win will be out there.” After a heavy dose of seniors graduated from Wenatchee’s 2014 roster, some of the more experienced players will have to step up.

This season is one of questions for the Panthers. Who will be quarterback?

Who will shine with an extended role or opportunity? How will the two-way system work? But at the end of the year, how do you quantify success? Every classification in Washington will have at least 44 losers,

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL teams that will not win the state championship at the end of the year.

Holzerland said he will gauge his individual successes and lineman successes from the improvements seen between the Panthers’ first and last game.

“With our defense, you have assigned gaps, or assigned holes you’re supposed to go and block,” Hozerland said. “As soon as the ball is snapped, you get to your assignment. I’m looking for everything once that ball is snapped.

“I want to see the improvement from the first snap to the last. With what we do, I can always get a bit better.”

The change from a grass field to a turf field at the Apple Bowl doesn’t have Devereaux nervous. Turf allows fast players to cut on a dime, making it harder to tackle in the open field.

Devereaux said leg injuries shouldn’t be fret upon, saying, “The turf is really a good thing for the community as a whole. I don’t think it will have a huge difference on the guys.”

For this group of Panthers seniors, they’re next up.

Grass or turf. Do or die.

Time will tell if they are up to the task, but if sheer will has anything to say about it, maybe too many will be just enough.

Thursday, September 3, 2015 23

Wenatchee Panthers: At a glance Wenatchee Panthers Home field: Apple Bowl.

Head coach: Scott Devereaux (12th year).

Last year’s record: 9-2.

Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense.

Key players: Joe Sells, sr., RB/LB; Will Thompson, sr., C; Nathan Radcliffe, sr., T/DE; Clayton Holzerland, sr., T/DE; Rowan Parmenter, jr., QB/CB/S. Impact newcomers: Tony Esquivel, jr., RB/CB. Season storylines: Devereaux said there are a few injuries to be nursed and other personnel issues to address before Wenatchee can begin firing on all cylinders. Running back TJ Harris is out with an injury, and Devereaux said the team will have to start “too many” players on both sides of the ball come the team’s first game of the season Friday

against Mead at the Apple Bowl.

“Our guys are going to need to learn a lot about a bunch of different positions,” Devereaux said. “What we do isn’t hard, but they will need to know the assignments of a few different positions.”

It will be hard to replace 2014 Columbia Basin Big Nine player of the year Chase Resch’s production on both sides of the ball. Resch played running back and also broke the program’s career interception record with 18 as a defensive back. On the bright side, Devereaux said he is seeing promise from young players in the linebacking core and defensive backfield. The offensive line is riddled with experience, and the defensive line should cause some ruckus on opposing quarterbacks.

“I’m excited to be out here,” Devereaux said. “I’m excited for what this group can do in comparison to last year.”

Go Quincy Jackrabbits!

For more information on Quincy High School sports go to: www.qsd.wednet.edu/hs/qhs.htm

FOOTBALL

Date Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30 Nov. 5

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY Date Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Oct. 8 Oct. 10 Oct. 14 Oct. 22

Opponent CWAC League Meet Connell Invitational CWAC League Meet Leavenworth Invite CWAC League Meet CWAC League Meet

Site Game Time Away 5:00 p.m.

Away 12:30 p.m.

Home 5:00 p.m.

Away 10:00 a.m.

Away 5:00 p.m.

Away 5:00 p.m.

Opponent Quincy Jamboree Cascade Selah Prosser Ephrata Toppenish East Valley (Yakima) Grandview Othello Wapato Ellensburg

Site Game Time Home 6:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Home 7:00 p.m.

Away 7:00 p.m.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Date Sept. 24 Sept. 26 Oct. 8 Oct. 10 Oct. 14 Oct. 22

Opponent CWAC League Meet Connell Invitational CWAC League Meet Leavenworth Invite CWAC League Meet CWAC League Meet

Site Game Time Away 4:30 p.m.

Away 12:30 p.m.

Home 4:30 p.m.

Away 10:00 a.m.

Away 4:30 p.m.

Away 4:30 p.m.

GIRL’S VOLLEYBALL

Date Sept. 8 Sept. 15 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 8 Oct. 13 Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 27 Oct. 29

Opponent East Valley (Yakima) Omak Prosser Ephrata Invitational Ellensburg Ephrata Wapato Othello Quincy Invitational Toppenish Selah Grandview East Valley (Yakima) Prosser Ellensburg Ephrata

Site Home Away Away Away Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home

Game Time 7:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

GIRL’S SOCCER

Date

Opponent

Site

Game Time

Sept. 8 Sept. 10 Sept. 15 Sept. 17 Sept. 19 Sept. 22 Sept. 24 Sept. 29 Oct. 1 Oct. 3 Oct. 6 Oct. 10 Oct. 13 Oct. 17 Oct. 20 Oct. 24

Ephrata Warden Prosser Royal Chelan Grandview East Valley (Yakima) Selah Ellensburg Toppenish Othello Wapato Ephrata Prosser Ellensburg Grandview

Home Away Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Home Away Home

6:00 p.m.

TBA 4:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m.

Local Jackrabbit Boosters:

CHRYSLER•JEEP•DODGE 1001 N. Miller, Wenatchee

wenatcheewild.com 888-PUCK

663-8427 Wenatchee & Chelan

509-888-9595

www.TownChryslerJeepDodge.com

www.cashmerevalleybank.com

1729 N. WENATCHEE AVE. • 663-1671

(509 ) 8 6 0 - 2233

wenatcheeworld.com • 663-5161

24 Thursday, September 3, 2015

2015 NCW PREP FOOTBALL