Naselle opens league play with perhaps the team they'll compete with for the league title, while Ilwaco travels to Stevenson to open Trico League play with hopes of starting a win streak.
Games of the Week
Naselle vs. Raymond, 7 pm, Friday, Sept. 16, Pentilla Field, Naselle
Well, looks like last week's game wasn't as tough as we thought it might be. The Naselle Comets (0-0, 2-0) had no problem dispatching the Knappa Loggers 47-6. In fact, the Comets biggest enemy last week was themselves.
After playing a near flawless first game, the Comets had multiple turnovers, penalty yards racked up and their offense had trouble getting them their 21-0 halftime lead.
The Comets are now entering the most important portion of their regular season schedule — a three game stretch against Raymond, South Bend and Valley . If they can pull off a three game sweep they would essentially wrap up the league by week 5, as the rest of the Pacific League is pretty light weight. This of course could also go the other way. If the Comets lost all three of these, well, I think you can figure out the rest.
Perhaps the most important of these games is the one this Friday, when the host Raymond. Naselle continues to be ranked 4th in the state at the 2B level in the Tacoma News Tribune's weekly statewide rankings. But not far behind in the other's receiving votes (the poll only ranks the top 5 in the 2B level) are the Raymond Seagulls (0-0, 2-0).
Raymond is put together very much like Naselle. They rely on a power running game on offense — last week their two backs both ran for more than 100 yards and two TDs a piece against Valley. Coming into Friday's game the Comets have scored 89 points and allowed only 14, while Raymond has scored 83 points and given up 20. But while the Comets ere beating up on lesser teams, the Gulls more than doubled up on the rival Vikings in a non-league game, 31-14. This was the first time the Seagulls have beaten Valley since 1998.
Obviously the biggest thing for the Comets is to play "their game," but to be successful they have to do it with more precision, fewer mistakes and more focus. If they can do that, the Comets could take a big first step toward their goals this Friday.
Don't forget to check back Saturday for a game recap, photo gallery and player blog posts
Ilwaco @ Stevenson, 7 pm, Friday, Sept. 16
The Ilwaco Fishermen (0-0, 1-1) won their first home game in three years last Saturday. The last time they did that was 2008, when they blew out Naselle in week three. That was also the last time the team had a win streak, when they went on the road to Des Moines and blew out Evergreen Lutheran the following week. The Fishermen hope history repeats itself this Friday when they make the long 3-plus hour drive up the Columbia River to Stevenson.
Last week the Bulldogs (0-0, 1-1) won 13-0 over Corbett Charter School, a team in only its second year of football. In week one Stevenson was destroyed by a Tenino team that has already scored 94 points and given up only 6 in two games. The Bulldogs are coming off a particularly good season last year where they went 9-2 (6-0 at home), won the Trico League and lost in the first round of the playoffs. 2010 was their first season with a winning record in more than five years.
So the question is, which teams are we going to see this Friday? The juggernaut Stevenson team that bulldozed their way through the Trico last year or the one that managed just 13 points to beat a tiny charter school team last week? Same goes for the Fishermen. Will we see the team that did just about everything right (we'll get to that) to beat Manson last week, or the one that had serious troubles scoring and stopping Naselle in week one?
As I just mentioned, the Fishermen did just about everything right last week. Their running game was just about unstoppable, with Josh Berteaux runninng 24 times for 164 yards (thats nearly a 7 yard per carry average) and two scores. Justice Schenk ran nine times for 71 yards (thats almost am 8 yard per carry average) and a 45-yard TD. And Tom Odneal ran in a score also. The Fishermen kicking game, something we don't talk about too much, looks really good. Edgar Galvan kicked two perfect extra points, with enough leg to maybe open up the possibility of FGs in the future? The Ilwaco punting was excellent as well. One punt hit at the 1 yard line and bounced out, but the refs called it a touchback.
Now, for the not so good. The Fishermen had a really hard time holding onto the ball, a problem it seems they've had for awhile now. If the Fishermen could have kept those to a minimum, they easily could have scored a couple more. Their passing game is starting to become a liability. For the second week Berteaux started at QB and was later shifted to RB, replaced at QB by Eric McMillan, who completed just two of 10 passes. And while the two completions were good for 39 yards, the incomplete ones didn't look too good. The Fishermen need at least the threat of a passing game to have success against some of the bigger teams they will be facing.
**Also, I just wanted to mention my extreme disappointment in the fact that so few Fishermen fans were there Saturday to see the Fishermen play such a good game. I heard that a lot of people didn't come because of the Rod Run weekend. Seriously? You can't get away from an event that lasts two days to come support your team for two hours? I know that in recent years IHS has worked hard to create a positive aura around its school and its teams. This last Saturday was the finest example of the Fishermen on the football field, for many reasons. Not only did they play very well, but they showed some real sportsmanship and citizenship when Berteaux and Tom Odneal shared the teams ice chest of water with the Manson players late in the game.
The Fishermen will be back at Peterson Field on Friday Sept. 23 in their rival game with Kalama. I think any of you who weren't there on Saturday owe this team an extra loud cheer Friday night.
Pigskin Pick'em
Perfect last week, now 3-0 baby!
W- Naselle vs Raymond
Now is the time for the Comets to start showing what all they can do. I think they will, but this one's going to be tough.
W- Ilwaco @ Stevenson
That long drive is always a factor, though they did win there in 2007. I think the Fishermen have some momentum and is facing a team that is off to a so-so start. I think they get that win and enjoy the long ride home.
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