MUKILTEO — First-year Kamiak quarterback Connor Alexander had his breakout game in a 42-22 win last Friday.
However, the Knights say things are just beginning for their offense.
Alexander accounted for all six touchdowns — five through the air and one rushing score — to bolster Kamiak’s offense. But with running backs Alex Indelicato and Josh Binda, as well as receivers Donte Hamilton, Brock Merkley and tight end Nate Shubert also in the mix, the Knights have an array of weapons to attack opponents’ defenses.
“We have some nice skill players,” said Dan Mack, Kamiak’s head coach. “We feel like our passing game is coming along and our running game too. Our offensive line really came into their own this last week.”
After suffering a nail-biting 21-20 loss to Marysville Pilchuck to start the season, the Knights believe they made tremendous strides in week two as they prepared for a non-conference game against former league rival Edmonds-Woodway.
“I think we kind of took that team for granted,” Alexander said. “We knew that Marysville Pilchuck was a great team but, for whatever reason, after we scored two or three touchdowns we kind of thought the game was over and wrapped up.”
Mack said the season opener showed the importance of finishing and capitalizing on every opportunity for the young Kamiak squad.
“We had so many young, inexperienced players,” Mack said. “We had a lot of guys get their first action — and I know Marysville did too, hence the score 21-20. The margin between winning and losing, on a Friday night, can be so thin. You’ll run maybe 70 offensive plays — there will be 120 to 130 plays in a game — and the margin between winning and losing sometimes comes down to one or two plays. The importance of doing their job every play is what they took away from that game.”
In Week 2, Kamiak answered their coach’s call. Alexander was 22 of 31 for 292 yards with touchdown passes to Andrei Prikhodko, Hamilton, Anthony Bollschweiler and a pair of scores to Shubert.
“He’s just part of the lineage here of some of the fine quarterbacks we’ve had come through Kamiak,” Mack said. “Connor, like (two-year quarterback Tyler Becker, who graduated after last season), is a young kid that grew up wanting to play quarterback at Kamiak High School. Connor’s been through all of our camps since he was little and now all his hard work has paid off and he’s the starting quarterback here. We’re all really excited for him, primarily, because we know all the hard work he’s put in.”
“Connor can throw the ball really well,” Shubert added. “He’s a great quarterback. He can do a lot for us and he leads the offense really well. When we’re in the huddle he’s the one taking charge.”
Alexander praised his receivers, who stepped up after an injury to Merkley, a starting wide out for the Knights.
“They just make it so easy out there,” Alexander said. “All I have to do is pick a target and if they’re open I know they’ll catch the ball. I just have to get them the ball and I know they’ll make a play. Being a first-year starter that’s one thing: there were some nerves and they just make it so easy out there.”
The offensive line also turned in a strong performance against Edmonds-Woodway, not allowing Alexander to be sacked. Senior Matt Morton, the only returning starter on the line for the Knights, said the line knew it had to improve after the Marysville Pilchuck game.
“The big nasties up front really had to be physical and we didn’t really show that against Marysville Pilchuck,” Morton said. “But as soon as we started dominating physically we were able to get off the ball and be chargers on the offensive and defensive line. … It just took a little bit of time. I think the MP game got us down a little bit, but as soon as we realized what we had to do we were able to protect Connor and able to build our offense.”
“The Pilchuck game gave us experience,” Shubert said. “We had a game under our belt and a lot of guys worked from that.”
The line’s strong play made a big impression on their teammates, who believe the Knights are close to firing on all cylinders.
“These guys just worked hard all summer,” Hamilton said. “They’re out here three days a week pushing the sled back and forth. The work was there and I feel like it’s all starting to come together now. I’m not saying we’re completely perfect but we’re getting there. We can do some things. We can do some damage.”
Last Friday’s big win over Edmonds-Woodway gave Kamiak a bit of momentum as the Knights prepare to face Mukilteo School District-rival Mariner Friday night at Goddard Stadium. Kamiak hopes to keep its two-game winning streak over the Marauders alive.
“We’re definitely riding a high right now,” Morton said. “We need to keep playing at this high level. When we finished playing against Edmonds-Woodway we were playing at a really high level and if we can continue that we’re going to dominate every team in the conference and every team in the state playoffs. … Believing is the one thing that will keep this team alive.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
