For King’s it’s good to be Green
Published 12:03 am Friday, September 23, 2011
Coming into the season, King’s quarterback Billy Green had some big shoes to fill.
Thankfully, Thomas Vincent was doing everything he could to help him do just that.
During this past winter and summer, Vincent, who had just wrapped up a record season behind center for the Knights, worked out with Green and helped tutor the future King’s signal-caller.
“Thomas really took (Billy) under his wing,” said King’s head coach Jim Shapiro. “He would call him in the morning, go pick Billy up and lift weights with him and then have lunch with him. Hat’s off to Thomas, but that’s just the kind of guy he is.”
The work paid off. Through three games, Green leads the Cascade Conference in passing and is completing nearly 73 percent of his passes to lead the Knights to a 3-0 start. Green has thrown for 622 yards and 11 touchdowns in wins over Lakeside, Coupeville and Sultan.
Shapiro credits a passing drill King’s has been using in practices in which they send eight defenders at Green without any defensive backs, allowing Green to have to work on finding receivers with defenders in his face.
Tonight Cedarcrest invades Woolsey Stadium to take on King’s in a battle of Cascade Conference powers.
It doesn’t hurt Green that he’s got a strong trio of wide receivers to throw to. Brothers Christian and Caleb Taylor and Ben Welch all play a big role in the passing game. Caleb Taylor and Ben Welch are first and second, respectively, in receiving yards in the Cascade Conference.
“All three of those guys are good athletes,” Shapiro said of the trio.
My pick: King’s 27, Cedarcrest 20
Jackson vs. Kamiak
7 p.m., Goddard Stadium
With only five teams in the Wesco South division, every game is a big one. This one is extra big. The Timberwolves and Knights are two of the favorites in the division (Jackson has won three Wesco South titles in a row) with Mariner the other likely contender. Kamiak is coming off of a heartbreaking loss to Monroe last Friday at home and at 1-2 is in danger of falling too far behind Jackson with a loss here. The Timberwolves, meanwhile, have scratched and clawed for their two wins over Marysville Pilchuck and Snohomish, respectively. Kamiak quarterback Anthony Berg, who missed the team’s first three games of the season with a knee injury, was hoping to return for tonight’s game but his health is still in question. If he can’t go, Brett Ludeman, who has thrown for 379 yards and three touchdowns, will get the start. I say desperation is an important motivator.
My pick: Kamiak 24, Jackson 22
Snohomish at Lake Stevens
7:30 p.m., LSHS Football Field
This game will be the culmination of a fun night for Lake Stevens athletics. Before tonight’s football game between the two longtime rivals, the Lake Stevens and Snohomish girls soccer teams — two of the better teams in Wesco — will take the field at 5 p.m. to do battle. The idea was Vikings head coach Andy Knutson’s. “We get a decent crowd at our games, but I figured if we did this we could really generate some excitement,” Knutson said of playing before the football game. “The girls are really excited.” As for the football game, on paper it would seem to be a mismatch. The 3-0 Vikings are rolling after a big nonleague win over Inglemoor, while Snohomish is mired in an 0-3 start. But the Panthers gave Wesco South power Jackson everything it wanted in a loss last Friday and they seem to be improving as they enter Wesco North play.
My pick: Lake Stevens 25, Snohomish 17
Oak Harbor vs. Everett
5 p.m., Everett Memorial Stadium
The Oak Harbor Wildcats roll into town tonight averaging more than 42 points per game and coming off a blistering 56-33 win over Shorewood last Friday night. Everett, meanwhile has had to come from behind in its past two games to beat Cascde and Lynnwood — two 0-3 teams. If the Seagulls want to have any chance they’ll have to slow down Wildcats running backs Brent Ryan and Josiah Miller.
My pick: Oak Harbor 39, Everett 21
