Local players help Eastern Washington to championship game berth
Published 1:30 am Thursday, January 3, 2019
The Eastern Washington University football team wants to bring home a trophy, and players from Snohomish County are trying to help the Eagles lift it.
Eastern plays for the Football Championship Series national title at 9 a.m. (PST) Saturday, and when the third-seeded Eagles (12-2) take the field against the top-seeded North Dakota State Bison (14-0) at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, there will be a strong contingent of players from Snohomish County on Eastern’s sideline.
Here are the 10 players from Snohomish County high schools who are on the Eagles’ roster:
HENDERSON BELK
Hometown: Mukilteo
High school: Kamiak
Position: Tight end
Year: Senior
Role: Belk is one of Eastern’s two starting tight ends, earning third-team All-Big Sky Conference honors as a fullback. He’s caught 15 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns this season — including earning Eagles Offensive Player of the Week honors in their quarterfinal victory over UC Davis, when he had five catches for 73 yards and a TD — and he plays a key role in run blocking.
ANDREW KATZENBERGER
Hometown: Lynnwood
High school: Lynnwood
Position: Linebacker
Year: Junior
Role: Katzenberger may be a back-up at middle linebacker, but he sees plenty of time on the field on defense. This season he’s appeared in all 14 games and is tied for 11th on the team in tackles with 42, 26 of which are solo. He also has 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one forced fumble.
ANTHANY SMITH
Hometown: Everett
High school: Mariner
Position: Safety
Year: Freshman
Role: Smith, a redshirt freshman, plays primarily on special teams, but he also sees some snaps on defense on passing downs — he had an important interception in Eastern’s quarterfinal victory over UC Davis. This season he has 18 tackles, including eight the past two games, and he’s also cropped up in other roles, completing one pass for 30 yards and serving as punter in one game.
CURTIS BILLEN
Hometown: Everett
High school: Mariner
Position: Long snapper
Year: Senior
Role: Billen is in his fourth season as the Eagles’ long snapper, handling all snapping duties on punts and kicks, and this year he was named third-team All-Big Sky.
JOSHUA JEROME
Hometown: Monroe
High school: Monroe
Position: Defensive tackle
Year: Freshman
Role: The true freshman has appeared in four games this season, registering 15 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. He most recently appeared in Eastern’s semifinal victory over Maine, when he had two tackles.
ISAIAH LEWIS
Hometown: Monroe
High school: Monroe
Position: Running back
Year: Freshman
Role: The true freshman has appeared in three games this season, registering seven carries for 52 yards, and he has one tackle on special teams. He most recently appeared against UC Davis in the quarterfinals, though he didn’t have a carry.
KESHAUN KING
Hometown: Marysville
High school: Marysville Pilchuck
Position: Cornerback
Year: Freshman
Role: The redshirt freshman has appeared in three games this season, registering one tackle. He last played on Oct. 6 against Southern Utah.
ANFERNEE GURLEY
Hometown: Everett
High school: Archbishop Murphy
Position: Safety
Year: Sophomore
Role: Gurley was expected to be a major contributor for Eastern this season after earning freshman All-American honors and third-team All-Big Sky honors last year, when he was a key special teams performer and the Eagles’ nickel back. He’s redshirting this season after suffering of a knee injury.
NICHOLAS BLAIR
Hometown: Everett
High school: Everett
Position: Guard
Year: Sophomore
Role: Blair has not appeared in a game this season.
EMMANUEL OSUOHA
Hometown: Seattle
High school: Archbishop Murphy
Position: Linebacker
Year: Freshman
Role: Osuoha, a true freshman, has not appeared in a game this season.
