Photo gallery - Practices begin for Comets, Fishermen

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

Photo Gallery - Preseason practices begin

Photos by Damian Mulinix/Chinook Observer

2011 Naselle football schedule

The Naselle Comets open their season as the fourth ranked team in the Tacoma News Tribune preseason rankings. They begin their highly anticipated season with rival Ilwaco in the annual Bear River Battle. The Comets have to thank the scheduling gods for the SIX home games they have. But the two back to back road games at defending state champion South Bend and then Valley a week later will likely be their toughest test once again. But seeing as how they could run the table in their other seven games, the crossover game on Nov. 5 could put them into the playoffs once again, after missing out last year.

9/2 - vs. Ilwaco
9/9 - vs. Knappa
9/16 - vs. Raymond
9/23 - @ South Bend
9/30 - @ Valley
10/7 - vs. Pe Ell
10/14 - vs. NW Christian
10/21 - @ North Beach
10/27 - vs. Ocosta
11/5 - Central-Pacific League crossover game

Season Preview — Are Comets primed for record fourth state trip?

By KEVIN HEIMBIGNER
Observer staff writer

NASELLE - Many a football fan recalls the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame and their 10-0 season in 1924, far fewer remember the Seven Blocks of Granite that Fordham University parlayed into an undefeated season in 1937. For veteran Comets Coach Jeff Eaton, he's looking to have a blend of both the skilled backs and the strong blockers on his way to what would be a school-record fourth consecutive state playoff season in 2010.

Read the full preview HERE

Season Preview — Ilwaco shows 'right stuff' in prep for tough schedule

By KEVIN HEIMBIGNER
Observer staff writer

ILWACO - "This could be Stevenson's year and Toledo and LaCenter are loaded with talent," Ilwaco coach Kevin McNulty predicts. "Then there are the perennial favorites Kalama and Castle Rock and (Columbia of) White Salmon will be solid, and I don't know much about Ridgefield, but they are down from 2A so they should have some athletes."

Read the full preview HERE

Season Preview - Mix of youth and experience will be formula for Fishermen season

ILWACO - The Fishermen football team is long on positive attitude and short of varsity experience, making for what could be a rewarding, but challenging season for Coach Kevin McNulty and his 42 charges in 2009. Five starters return on both offense and defense, but at least one important cog in the Ilwaco football machine will be sidelined for the start of the season.
The Fishermen's leading rusher and passer last season was Rey Sanchez. After overcoming a knee injury he suffered a neck injury in a spring scrimmage against Naselle and may not be cleared to play until several games into the campaign. "We will go with Justin Short at quarterback. He was our leading receiver last season, but also did well at quarterback and he's a competitor," McNulty relates.

Read the whole story at Chinookobserver.com

Season Preview - Comets reloading after state semifinals appearance last season

NASELLE - Last season's dream ride to third place in the state playoffs for Naselle's football team created a renewed dedication for effort in the weight room over the summer and a team that is eager to hit the gridiron in 2009, which is good news.
However last year wasn't without drama and a few last-minute victories and this year's team will face those same "scary" teams and the same problem with numbers. "There are just too many good teams and not enough playoff berths. South Bend and Valley are league favorites and North Beach and Northwest Christian have exceptional athletes," veteran coach Jeff Eaton says. That's the bad news.

Read the whole story at Chinookobserver.com