Naselle, Ilwaco get props in preseason previews

The Comets and Fishermen received praise today in the Longview Daily News football preview. 

Yeah, that's Naselle's Robert Eaton dead center on the cover

Naselle was ranked in the TDN's Preseason Power 8 saying,

This is the Comets' year — at least, that's what we're saying in August. Naselle returns enough firepower to hurdle South Bend and Willapa Valley for the Pacific 2B throne, especially if it can get a full, healthy year out of MVP candidate Robert Eaton, a two-way standout and terror in the trenches. Robert's little bro, Dustin, is a steady hand at quarterback and excellent field general at linebacker, while Ryley Queener and Seth Scrabeck are two of the best linemen in the district, at any level.
The stability of Queener's repaired ACL is a major issue. If he stays healthy, the Naselle offense will be almost impossible to keep off the field.
That includes the T-Dome carpet.
Naselle is ranked fourth by the News Tribune.

The Comets also placed multiple players in the Preseason All-Area teams
Offense
OL: Seth Scrabeck, Naselle
Scrabeck has only one gear - forward. He's the stud of a Comets offensive line that cleared the way for lots of success in 2010. This year, he'll again be eatin' defenders for the Eatons - running back Robert and quarterback Dustin.
If things go as planned, he'll have another first-team all-league honor for dessert. It should settle in nicely with his first team selections from 2009 and 2010.

Defense
DL: Robert Eaton, Naselle
Eaton makes his second straight appearance on our preseason first-team defense. An honorable mention selection by Pacific 2B coaches in 2010, Eaton will take on a bigger role on the offensive side of the ball, where he'll be the workhorse at running back.
The only pity is, we won't get to see Robert Eaton the runner take on Robert Eaton the defensive lineman. The universe might not be able to handle what would happen if those two Comets collided.

LB: Dustin Eaton, Naselle
Who knows if it's the hierarchy in the Eaton household, but Dustin will be patrolling the middle of the field to catch anything that slips by his older brother, Robert. And after being selected as a first-team all-Pacific 2B linebacker in 2010, the word is he's pretty good at it.
A second-year starter at outside ‘backer, Eaton will also direct the Comet offense again. The quarterback accounted for 14 touchdowns last season, seven on the ground and seven through the air.

Naselle senior Ryley Queener, who is coming back from a torn ACL this year, was picked for the 2nd team all-area

Illustration by Andrew Gragg / For The Daily News

And Naselle head coach Jeff Eaton (He's third from the left if you were wondering) was given a spot on the TDN's Mount RUSHmore, as one of the local coaches being praised for their running game and how it could lead them to the top of the mountain, so to speak.

Read the TDN's Naselle preview HERE


Ilwaco also placed a player on the All-Area defensive team

DB: Josh Berteaux, Ilwaco
You've gotta to be a really good athlete to compete in the Trico at 5-foot-7, 145 pounds. Good thing for the Fishermen that Berteaux is more than really good. The 2010 second-team all-Trico selection has the quickness to rival any corner in the area, and was also part of Ilwaco's 4x100 track team and cleared 13 feet in the pole vault.
Ilwaco coach Kevin McNulty is mulling a move to quarterback for Berteaux, just to get the ball in his hands more often.

You can read the TDN's Ilwaco preview HERE