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Glacier Peak
Mountlake Terrace
Meadowdale
Shorecrest
Shorewood
Oak Harbor
Everett
Lynnwood
Marysville Getchell
Games to watch
Glacier Peak
Head Coach: Rory Rosenbach, fourth year
Returning impact players: OLB Marcus Heard, senior, 6’0″, 200; OLB Austin Smedsrud, senior, 6’1″, 200; OL Mike Nulle, junior, 6’0″, 255; WR/DB Sean Elledge, junior, 6’0″, 180
New impact players: RB/LB Alex Karabut, senior, 5’11’, 190; QB/K David Linney, senior, 6’0″, 180.
Returning starters: Offense, 3; defense, 5
Outlook: This is the first senior class at Glacier Peak that has been in the program for four years after fielding teams with players who began their careers at Snohomish for the first three seasons of the school. A year ago the Grizzlies were undefeated in Wesco 3A play but fell in the district playoffs. They hope to return to the state playoffs where GP advanced to the second round in 2009.
Quote: “I think we should be very competitive this year. Strong on defense and the offense is coming along. Young, but physical on the O-line. And fairly explosive at the skill positions.”
Mountlake Terrace
Head Coach: Tony Umayam, eighth year
Returning impact players: RB/DB DJ Downs, sophomore, 6’2″, 210; DB/RB Mason Stone, junior, 6’0″, 160; DB/RB Chris Guerrero, junior, 5’8″, 180; DL/OL Jevin Pahinui, sophomore, 6’3″, 230.
New impact players: QB/DB Beau Kennedy, junior, 5’9″, 175; TE/LB Jazz Barromeo, junior, 6’2″, 190.
Returning starters: Offense, 2; defense, 3;
Outlook: Terrace is aiming for its third straight winning season for the first time in the school’s 52-year football history. This is the youngest team that Umayam will field in his eight-year career. DJ Downs was a second-team All-Wesco running back and led the league with 19 rushing touchdowns as a freshman.
Quote: “One of the strengths of the team the past few years has been the offensive and defensive fronts, so how quickly the young guys in those positions adjust to varsity football will be the key to how the season goes.”
Meadowdale
Head Coach: Mark Stewart
Returning impact players: S/RB Kyler Larsen, senior, 6’2″, 191; LB/RB Kyle Newsom, senior, 6’1″, 195; LB/RB Michael Cummings, junior, 6’1″, 220; OL/DL Tanner Davenport-Thuet, 6’3 1/2″, 280.
New impact players: DB/RB/WR Giavani Shepard, junior, 5’7″, 160
Returning starters: Offense, 4; defense: 8.
Outlook: The strength of the Mavericks will be on defense where they are especially strong at safety and linebacker. It will take some time to break in a new starter at quarterback, but if he finds a groove then Meadowdale will have a shot at its fifth straight trip to the 3A playoffs. Expect newcomer Giavani Shepard to give the rest of Wesco 3A fits with his speed.
Quote: “We have experience coming back on defense. … We’ll rely more on the run because we’ll be pretty young at quarterback and pretty young at receiver.”
Shorecrest
Head Coach: Brandon Christensen, second year
Returning impact players: QB Ted Hammond, senior, 6’2″, 188; OL/LB Ian Bolstad, senior, 6’3″, 266; WR/CB Preston Landon, senior, 6’0″, 185; LB/RB Keegan Small, junior, 6’1″ 180.
New impact players: OL/DL Brandon Mills, senior, 5’10”, 235; LB/RB Matt Brennan, sophomore, 5’9″, 155; WR/S Jerome Seamon Senior 5’11”, 177
Returning starters: Offense, 4; defense: 7
Outlook: The Scots were somewhat of a surprise entry into the district playoffs in 2010, coach Christensen’s first year at the helm of the varsity. He says the roster doesn’t look young for 2011 but the team is inexperienced in several key spots. Brandon Mills and Jerome Seamon were slated to be starters last year but suffered season-ending injuries in week two. They should make an immediate impact.
Quote: “Our QB is extremely talented and will need to carry the bulk of our offensive. Defensively, we will rely on a few seniors to step up and play big roles and help a young cast of juniors and sophomores learn the game.”
Shorewood
Head Coach: Rob Petschl, second year
Returning impact players: RB/DB Eugene Holley, senior, 6’0″ 180; RB/LB Levy Diaz, junior, 5’11”, 195; OL/DL Cody Delijoria, senior, 5’10”, 235; OL/DL Dylan Quigley, senior, 185.
New impact players: WR/DB Gage Carroll, senior, 6’3″; QB Aaron Miller, 6’1″ 170; RB/DB Josh Okumura, 5’7″, 155.
Returning starters: Offense, 4; defense: 4
Outlook: The Thunderbirds have some depth returning at the skill positions, especially in the offensive backfield. Coach Petschi is a bit concerned about depth on the offensive line.
Quote: “Our key is we need to stay healthy.”
Oak Harbor
Head Coach: Jay Turner, fourth year
Returning impact players: RB/DB Josiah Miller, senior, 5’9″, 165; OL/DL Jeremy Foster, junior, 6’0″, 245; OL/LB Cody Hernkind, senior, 6’0″, 190; WR/DB Mike Washington, senior, 6’4″, 190.
New impact players: TE/DL Austyn Walker, junior, 6’3″, 220; RB/DB Isiah Trower, junior, 5’9″, 175.
Returning starters: Offense, 8; defense, 6
Outlook: This is the most experienced team that Turner has fielded in his four years. The team has the feel of one that will return to the playoffs for the first time since 2007, which was the third straight year that Oak Harbor reached at least the state quarterfinals. Turner is confident but aware that with his team’s size and depth deficiencies, expectations could change quickly.
Quote: “We don’t have a lot of big kids but we do have some team speed so we will try to utilize our speed as much as possible.”
Everett
Head Coach: Will Soren, sixth year
Returning impact players: OL/DL Andrew Dickson, senior, 6’2″, 230; QB/OLB Jared Heman, senior, 5’11”, 195; QB/OLB Riley Ayers, senior, 5’10”, 175; RB/DB Blake Williams, senior, 6’0″, 190.
New impact players: RB/LB Connor Boyce, senior, 5’10”, 185; OL/DL Toby Cobb, junior, 6’3″ 210.
Returning starters: Offense, 3; defense, 5.
Outlook: After finishing tied for third in Wesco 3A a year ago, the Seagulls hope to make a return trip to the district playoffs. Everett isn’t flush with returning starters but Soren is happy with the players who are stepping into the lineup this fall. The defense should be the biggest area of strength for the team.
Quote: “We see ourself as an aggressive group that flies around. We are never the biggest group so we have to hang our hat on being able to move and our quickness.”
Lynnwood
Head Coach: Mike Don, second year
Returning impact players: QB Blake Lord, senior, 6’0″, 175; OL/DL Andrew Basham, junior, 6’4″, 295; WR/DB Morgan Skelton, junior, 5’11”, 175; IOL/LB Isaiah Ryales, senior, 6’1″, 205.
New impact players: WR/DB Hunter Lord, sophomore, 5’7″, 155; WR/LB Andrew Katzenberger, frosh, 6’0″, 175.
Returning starters: Offense, 6; defense, 6.
Outlook: Heading into his second season at Lynnwood, coach Don is happy that his team had a good offseason where the players showed plenty of commitment — especially in the weight room. After failing to win a Wesco 3A game in 2010, the Royals are focused on modest goals for the upcoming season. “The big thing we want to see is constant improvement and the kids to buy in and believing in themselves,” Lord said.
Quote: “The strength of the team is going to be our skill players, especially at defensive back.”
Marysville Getchell
Head coach: Davis Lura, first year
Returning impact players: None.
New impact players: QB Dylan Diedrich, junior; MLB Phillip Stewart, senior.
Returning starters: Offense, N/A; defense, N/A.
Outlook: Marysville Getchell, which opened in 2010, is in its first year as a varsity football program. The Chargers, who fielded a C-team last season, are a young, inexperienced lot. Head coach Davis Lura, who coached at West Seattle before coming to MG, said half of the team played on the C-team and the other half played at Marysville Pilchuck in 2010. Lura plans on implementing more of a spread offense with multiback sets and even a little bit of the Wildcat, which puts the running back in the quarterback position.
Quote: “I keep reminding the kids that we’ve got nothing to lose,” Lura said. “We have to see the positives in everything.”
Games to watch
Everett vs. Cascade
Sept. 9, Everett Memorial Stadium
The Battle for Broadway is an intense rivalry that goes back many years. Last year Seagulls quarterback Spencer McKinnon swung the momentum with three second-quarter TD passes to lead Everett to a 39-14 win over the Bruins. This year McKinnon is in college and the Bruins hope to unleash their own quarterback Larry Bruce.
Oak Harbor at Glacier Peak
Sept. 9, Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium
After getting clobbered at home last season by the Grizzlies, Oak Harbor travels to Snohomish for the rematch. If the Wildcats are to prove they are much improved and contenders for the Wesco 3A crown in 2011 this is a big early-season test.
Meadowdale vs. Edmonds-Woodway
Sept. 16, Edmonds Stadium
This rivalry between Edmonds School District teams was a defensive battle a year ago, with the Warriors coming out on top 10-7 due to a Cameron Berlin-Day field goal. This year’s matchup promises to be a similarly close contest with both teams expected to vie for titles in their respective conferences.
Mountlake Terrace at Marysville Getchell
Sept. 16, Quil Ceda Stadium
The Chargers will be two games into their season going into this game, but this is their first game in front of home fans. MG is playing all of their contests at Marysville Pilchuck’s Quil Ceda Stadium, but since half of the players on the Chargers roster used to play at MP they should feel right at home.
Glacier Peak at Meadowdale
Sept. 30, Edmonds Stadium
Since the Grizzlies came into existence three years ago, this matchup has been an important one in terms of who wins the conference championship. Last year GP beat Meadowdale 42-21 behind the arm of quarterback Kevin Campbell, who threw for 328 yards and four TDs. This year Campbell is in college and the game is on the Mavs’ home turf.
Mountlake Terrace at Everett
Oct. 21, Everett Memorial Stadium
Like it was last season, this late-season contest could very well determine who makes the playoffs and who goes home. Last year, Everett missed a PAT with 28 seconds to go in the game, losing to the Hawks 14-13 and ending the Seagulls’ hopes for a Wesco 3A title. The win for Terrace kept its playoff hopes alive.
Oak Harbor at Meadowdale
Oct. 27, Edmonds Stadium
Arguably the Wildcats’ two toughest games are on the road this season, fitting for a team that travels more than any other Wesco squad. This game, the season finale for both teams, could be for the Wesco 3A title. Meadowdale won last season’s game 41-20.
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