Lake Stevens’ Frost learning on the job
Published 10:43 pm Friday, October 1, 2010
Until a few weeks ago, Brennan Frost didn’t know what the football term “cutback” meant. Now he leads his team in rushing and might be one of the best backs in the area.
This is Frost’s second year playing organized football and his first as a starting running back. The Lake Stevens High School senior joined the Vikings a week into the 2008 season and eventually started at defensive back.
But this year Frost, a multitalented track and field athlete, is emerging as an offensive weapon for Lake Stevens (3-1), which plays unbeaten Jackson (4-0) in a non-league game tonight in Everett. Frost leads the Vikings with 365 yards rushing (7.9 yards per attempt) and has four rushing touchdowns.
His breakout game came last week, when he carried the ball 13 times for 147 yards (11.3 yard average) and scored twice in a 31-21 win over Arlington. Frost also made two receptions for 63 yards and a TD.
“He was amazing against Arlington — his effort, his energy. He’s improving week by week,” Lake Stevens football coach Tom Tri said.
Unfortunately for Lake Stevens, Frost won’t play tonight because he suffered a concussion on his final run against Arlington, Tri said. But Tri added he hopes to have Frost back when Lake Stevens plays division favorite Marysville-Pilchuck (4-0) on Oct. 9.
During a Saturday film session earlier this fall, Lake Stevens coaches pointed out all the times Frost could have made cutback runs instead of always bouncing outside. Still a football newbie, Frost said he didn’t know what a cutback was. After teasing Frost a bit, the coaches explained the common running strategy. It was a valuable lesson.
“He’s figuring that out,” Tri said, “and it’s had a big impact.”
Frost wasn’t supposed to start at running back this season but took over after versatile junior Duke Dolphin — Lake Stevens’ most valuable player, Tri said — suffered a season-ending knee injury in late August.
Denton nearing 1,000 yards
Marysville-Pilchuck running back Austin Denton could break the 1,000-yard rushing mark tonight in the Tomahawks’ game at Arlington. Denton, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards in 2008, has run for 942 yards (10.7 yards per carry) this season to go with 10 touchdowns. The senior averages 235 yards per game. He leads the Wesco North’s No. 2 rusher (Snohomish’s Nick Hund) by 468 yards. The division’s No. 3 rusher is Denton’s teammate, AJ Kvangnes (464 yards with a 10.3 average).
The wallaby wrangler
Before he was a co-captain and offensive tackle/linebacker for the Snohomish football team, Keith Wigney had a different — and much more unusual — role in the spotlight. Wigney’s dad, who is from Australia, used to give anti-drug presentations to kids. To keep the kids’ attention, Wigney’s dad brought along the family’s pet wallaby, a kangaroo-like mammal found in Australia. Kids who answered questions at the end of the presentation got to take a picture with the wallaby. Wigney was in charge of handling the fuzzy critter. “They called me the wallaby wrangler,” Wigney said.
Wigney’s family bought their wallaby at The Outback Christmas Tree and Kangaroo Farm in Arlington. Said Wigney: “His name’s Foster, like the beer.”
Ryals nails clutch kick
Nate Ryals wasn’t having a good game. In the first half last week against Glacier Peak, Mountlake Terrace’s place-kicker missed an extra-point kick for the first time all season and had a long field-goal attempt blocked. But in the final minute of the fourth quarter Terrace coach Tony Umayam called on Ryals again and the senior connected on a game-winning 22-yard field goal. Ryals’ first varsity field goal gave Terrace a 24-21 victory over Glacier Peak.
GP’s upbeat leader
Team captains are almost always in the starting lineup. Glacier Peak’s Mitch Rumppe is an exception. The senior lineman is a non-starter but is such an important emotional leader that he was named one of the Grizzlies’ four captains. “He’s a real hard worker. He’s upbeat and always helping other kids out,” Glacier Peak coach Rory Rosenbach said.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
