Camp report: Meadowdale

Published 3:22 pm Wednesday, August 31, 2011

LYNNWOOD — The Meadowdale football team had a lot of questions about its offense heading into the summer.

Unlike the defense, which returns several starters, the offense lost most of its key personnel from last year.

Three months later, the Mavericks are breathing a lot easier and are feeling confident heading into this week’s Western Conference 3A opener against Shorecrest.

“We’re coming together right now,” said senior lineman Tanner Davenport. “I think we’re farther along than we were at this time last year. Offensively, I feel like we’ve meshed pretty well.”

It didn’t quite seem that way in June.

“At first in the summer we were struggling because it’s a new offense with new people,” said senior running back/linebacker Kyle Newsom. “Now we’re hanging in there. We’re executing plays.”

Junior quarterback Brian Marty can take some of the credit for the progress of the offense. Marty, who succeeds Nathan Ball, won’t have to look far for advice. Older brother Eric returns for his second season as offensive coordinator.

But it wasn’t bloodlines that won the younger Marty the starting job over his counterparts.

“I think he’s got a little bit more experience and is more in control from a varsity speed standpoint,” Meadowdale coach Mark Stewart said.

Having an older brother as the offensive coordinator is just an added bonus.

“Eric enjoys working him. They both enjoy playing and coaching football,” Stewart said. “It’s a plus to get to enjoy it with your brother.”

Newsom is impressed with Marty’s skills.

“He has an amazing arm,” Newsom said. “He lands that ball on the target. He knows how to run the offense.”

Joining Marty in the backfield are a pair of running backs with differing styles. Senior Newsom and junior Giavani Shepard have been dubbed the “smash and dash” duo by their teammates.

Meadowdale plans to take full advantage of Shepard’s speed and explosiveness.

“We’ll do some things with Giavani, moving him out to get the ball in space,” Stewart said.

Newsom is ready to do some smashing.

“Go low and hit that hole with all I’ve got,” he said.

Both Newsom and Shepard also play defense, so neither of them is expected to have to shoulder the entire offensive load, which is fine with Newsom.

“It’s going to be good,” he said. “Whenever one of us is tired, the other one gets to go in there. Whoever is doing better on offense will just stay in there and keep doing good.”

Junior Ryan White, who picked off two passes in the 3A Quad-District playoff win over Bonney Lake, likely will be one of Marty’s favorite targets along with senior Jacob Hughes. Senior Kyler Larsen also will see action the backfield as a wingback.

Stewart is pleased with the play of the offensive line with returners Davenport and Nathan Cloud-Rouzan.

“The line is coming together pretty good,” Stewart said. “We have pretty good competition for the open spots.”

While the offense made significant progress, the defense looks to be one of the toughest in the league. The Mavericks return two linemen, three of four linebackers and two safeties.

“It’s a good place to start,” Stewart said.

Hughes, who started at safety, noticed a major difference with all that returning experience.

“They (coaches) don’t have to teach us a lot of stuff. We jumped right into practice,” Hughes said. “It was just like we never ended last season.”

Stewart added that he and his staff were able to go a little more in-depth with the defense this year.

With a strong defense and a promising offense, the Mavericks have high expectations for themselves.

“We want to go to the Tacoma Dome,” Newsom said.

The preseason has been a good start for the team, but it is just the beginning. Meadowdale has to keep working hard throughout the season, Davenport said.

“As long as we come to practice every day and stay focused, we’ll have a chance to make a big run this year,” he said.