Naselle vs. Rainier, Friday, 7 p.m., Aug. 31, Pentilla Field, Naselle
It was over all too soon for the Naselle Comets last season, who after a perfect regular season, a league title, a district playoff win, a number 2 state ranking and racking up more points than any other 2B team in the state, the Comets were knocked out of the state playoffs in the first round by Adna. The Comets also lost all of their starting linemen to graduation, a group who powered the team to those heights, leading to their biggest question mark heading into the season. The offensive skill players are still there, and probably even better, but will the holes and blocks be there?
Naselle opens up their season at home — the place that will determine their fate this year (more on that later) — this Friday when they host Rainier, a 1A team from the Evergreen League. The Mountaineers missed the playoffs last year after ending up in a three-way tie for third with a 4-6 record. They were outscored 204-174 in 10 games. This year's team is small due to low turnout at a school that is just barely still in the 1A ranks. The coach said last week that he doesn't even have enough players to man a JV squad, with only 25 out for the sport. More bad news came when their all-league QB Mac Shaw transferred to Tenino over the summer.The Comets return almost all of their offensive stars from last year, led by all-area QB Dustin Eaton, as well as RB "Slippery" Sam Scrabeck and WR's Chandler Chapman and Brendan Greenfield.
One advantage the Comets will have this year is the fact that all of their tough games will be played at home. North Beach, Valley, South Bend and league-favorite Raymond will all visit Pentilla Field, while the Comets only have one league game on the road, at Ocosta. The Comets will play a slightly shorter schedule this year, as NW Christian decided not to field a team, leaving Naselle with only eight regular season games, five of which at home. Their other two away games are non-league, as they travel to Knappa, Ore., in week two and then to Onalaska in week five.
Rankings
Despite their gaudy numbers last year, the Comets were left off the Tacoma News Tribune's preseason rankings in 2B. Three Central League teams — Morton-White Pass, Napavine and Adna — are there, as are eastern powers Colfax and Waitsburg/Prescott.
Check back Saturday for a photo gallery and game recap
• • •
Ilwaco @ LaCenter, Friday, 7 p.m., Aug. 31
After wrapping up their best season in the previous five last year, the Fishermen have to be coming into this year feeling a little bit robbed after being tantalized by the prospect of playing in the 2B Pacific League, only to be left in a bigger and better Trico instead.
Ilwaco is one of the smallest 1A schools in the state and have opponents spread all across the southwest portion of the state. The Fishermen were denied their petition by a 4-3 vote, the deciding vote being cast by NW Christian, who isn't even fielding a team this year.
So instead, the Fishermen remain in the Trico — but not the one they were in last year. The league is now comprised of nine teams, with the addition of Seton Catholic and Woodland, while losing Ridgefield to 2A. Seton Catholic is a new school fielding a team for the first time, while Woodland was a high scoring team in a 2A league last year.
Unlike Naselle, Ilwaco will play the majority of their tough games on the road, starting Friday when they travel to league-favorite LaCenter. The Wildcats return a number of players on both sides of the ball from a team that tied for the league title last year — including a majority of a big line on both sides of the ball.
The line will be a key area for the Fishermen, as many of their experienced players in those positions graduated. Also gone are the corner stones of last years offense, Josh Berteaux and Justice Schenk.
Taking over full time at QB is Eric McMillan, who saw many snaps, but was eschewed by Berteaux later in the season as the team went run-heavy. A lot will depend on the Fishermen defense to keep games close, giving the offense a chance.
Ilwaco is one of the smallest 1A schools in the state and have opponents spread all across the southwest portion of the state. The Fishermen were denied their petition by a 4-3 vote, the deciding vote being cast by NW Christian, who isn't even fielding a team this year.
So instead, the Fishermen remain in the Trico — but not the one they were in last year. The league is now comprised of nine teams, with the addition of Seton Catholic and Woodland, while losing Ridgefield to 2A. Seton Catholic is a new school fielding a team for the first time, while Woodland was a high scoring team in a 2A league last year.
Unlike Naselle, Ilwaco will play the majority of their tough games on the road, starting Friday when they travel to league-favorite LaCenter. The Wildcats return a number of players on both sides of the ball from a team that tied for the league title last year — including a majority of a big line on both sides of the ball.
The line will be a key area for the Fishermen, as many of their experienced players in those positions graduated. Also gone are the corner stones of last years offense, Josh Berteaux and Justice Schenk.
Taking over full time at QB is Eric McMillan, who saw many snaps, but was eschewed by Berteaux later in the season as the team went run-heavy. A lot will depend on the Fishermen defense to keep games close, giving the offense a chance.
Pigskin Pick'em
My prognostication skills hit an all-time high last year, going 16-4. Ooooh, to be perfect this year...
W- Naselle vs. Rainier
This may be the perfect opening game for the Comets to see where they're at
L - Ilwaco @ LaCenter
Ilwaco's schedule is brutal and the opener is one of the hardest
No comments:
Post a Comment