Games of the Week
Naselle vs. Knappa, Ore., 7 pm, Friday, Sept. 9, Pentilla Field, Naselle
The Naselle Comets (0-0, 1-0) have quite a test in their second game of the year when they host the Knappa Loggers Friday night. The 2A school from Oregon will be playing their first game of the season, but if their recent history holds true, the Comets will have their hands full.
The Loggers lost in the state semifinals to eventual state champ Scio last year, after going undefeated in the regular season. Not only did they not lose a game till their Scio match up, but the games weren't even close. Knappa averaged 47.7 ppg while giving up a mere 11 ppg. In fact, the most points they gave up in a single game during the regular season was 16 in a 52-16 win over Gaston. They only allowed 45 points in the regular season, an average of just 5.6 ppg. In 2009 the Loggers pretty much did the same, losing to Kennedy in the semis. And 2008? They won the state 2A championship, giving up just 72 points all year.
But ... and here's the key info — the Loggers are going to be a young team this year, having graduated many of the players that brought them their recent success, including all-state offensive player of the year RB Bryan Sablan. And according to their coach, half of their starting line up will be freshmen and sophomores.
The good/bad news for the Comets is that this will likely be the toughest non-league game they've played since losing to Wahkiakum in 2008. Win, lose or draw the Comets need to remember that it is, in a sense, a preseason game, as we all know the season really begins next week with their league opener against Raymond.
The Comets looked fantastic last week, scoring seemingly at will and shutting down an Ilwaco offense that featured more passing than the Comets usually face.
Naselle were just shy of reaching 400 yards of total offense, racking up 287 yards on the ground and another 103 in the air. Dustin Eaton had perhaps the biggest game of his career, running for 171 yards and two TDs, and throwing for 84 yards and two more scores. His big brother Robert picked up 86 on the ground, two TDs and two two-point conversions.
Don't forget to check back Saturday for a game recap, photo gallery and player blog posts
Ilwaco vs. Manson, 1 pm, Saturday, Sept. 10, Peterson Field, Ilwaco
While the Ilwaco Fishermen (0-0, 0-1) didn't get the results they wanted last week, they did show some signs of honest to goodness improvement, especially on the offensive side.
The Fishermen came oh so close to scoring on their first offensive play of the season as QB Josh Berteaux hit Kasey Plato in the flat for what looked like a sure thing TD. Unfortunately, around the Naselle 35 yard line Plato fumbled the ball, turning it over to the Comets.
That aside, the Fishermen offense was fun to watch as they have added a lot of speed and quickness to their plays that can catch a defense off guard. If the QB can get the ball away to receivers quickly (because their line can't hold much), and running backs can get to the outside, they can gain a lot of yards. This was evident on back to back double reverses that led to their only score late in the fourth last week. The switch to Eric McMillan at QB later in the game gave the Fishermen more options, as they could run Berteaux out as a RB or receiver, or even a wildcat QB if they wanted. And of course with a McNulty offense you're going to have some trickeration, as witnessed with the fake field goal attempt they couldn't quite pull off last week.
The Manson Trojans will be making the long trek west to the coast, escaping the 90-plus degree heat for the milder 72 degree partly cloudy forecast of Ilwaco Saturday. The Trojans went 5-4 last year, averaging 19.3 ppg while giving up 23.2 ppg. That was quite a considerable improvement over their previous two seasons when they went 2-7 and 0-9 (in their winless 2008 they scored only 43 points all year while giving up an astonishing 452 points). The Trojans have a new head coach this year, so it is uncertain what kind of offense the team will be running. According to the coach, "We were beggars for players (in previous seasons), because when you lose in football you get beat up too."
Be sure to check back Saturday evening for a game recap and photo gallery
Pigskin Pick'em
Last week guessed about right with the Bear River Battle, off to a good start at 1-0
W- Naselle vs Knappa, Ore.
As good as Naselle looked last week its too hard to pick against them, but I have a feeling this one could be close.
W- Ilwaco vs. Manson
The Trojans won by a lot and lost by a lot lost year, that coupled with the spark IHS showed on offense last week and probably seven hours of travel from central Washington could equal a close win for the Fishermen under the Saturday sun.
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