Nisqually 1A football preview

NISQUALLY 1A PREVIEW

ON THE THRONE: Cascade Christian has been to the 1A title game the past four seasons. Easily the league favorite.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A lot of good tailbacks hail from this league, but the best is Cedar Park Christian’s Daniel Watts, the reigning league offensive MVP (1,574 yards, 11 TDs in 2011).

CHANGE IS GOOD: Former SPSL 2A member Eatonville loves the 1A ranks – winning state championships at the 1A level in 1985, 1990 and 1992 under the old classification format.

BY THE NUMBERS: Chimacum doesn’t have much depth, but it does have star power – defensive end Daryl Settlemire (68 tackles, four sacks), who demands a double team.

MARK THE DATE: Oct. 20, Cascade Christian at Eatonville, B.W. Lyon Field, 7 p.m.

PROJECTED FINISH
With school and 2011 record:
Cascade Christian (10-3)
Eatonville (4-6)
Charles Wright (7-2)
Cedar Park Christian (8-3)
Life Christian (5-4)
Bellevue Christian (5-4)
Vashon (1-9)
Port Townsend (0-9)
Chimacum (2-8)

Todd Milles, staff writer

TEAM BY TEAM

BELLEVUE CHRISTIAN VIKINGS

Coach: Greg Schneider, second year
2011 record: 5-4, 5th in 1A/2B Northwest League.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Greg Schneider (multiple). Returning starters – 5. Top players – OL Chad Foster, 6-1, 190, sr.; RB Josh Hazen, 5-10, 165, jr.; QB Kemper McQuaid, 5-11, 160, jr.; RB Scott Miller, 6-4, 190, sr.; OL Jake Vandenbrink, 6-9, 280, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Greg Schneider (multiple). Returning starters – 5. Top players – LB Chad Foster, 6-1, 190, sr.; LB Josh Hazen, 5-10, 165, jr.; DL Scott Miller, 6-4, 190, sr.; DL Jake Vandenbrink, 6-9, 280, sr.
Outlook: Bellevue Christian played football for the first time in its 60-year history last season – and won games over Northwest Christian, Evergreen of Seattle, Concrete, Chief Leschi and Darrington. All things considered, McQuaid (1,525 passing yards, 16 TDs in 2011) had a good debut, although he lost his top four receivers to graduation.

CASCADE CHRISTIAN COUGARS

Coach: Randy Davis, ninth year
2011 record: 10-3, 1st in league; lost in 1A title game
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Brian Flattum (multiple). Returning starters – 4. Top players – RB Hunter Austin 5-11, 195, jr.; WR Nate Brar, 6-4, 180, sr.; QB Jaelin Goldsmith 5-10, 180, soph.; OL Chevy Johnson 6-1, 210, sr.; WR Nathan Roosendaal 6-2, 190, jr.; OL David Thompson 5-10, 160, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Devin Snyder (3-3). Returning starters – 5. Top players – LB Hunter Austin 5-11, 195, jr.; LB Alex Bostwick 5-9, 170, sr.; DB Nate Brar 6-4, 180, sr.; DB Nathan Roosendaal 6-2, 190, jr.; DL Hunter Scott 5-10, 230, jr.; DB Collin Tracy 5-9, 160, sr.
Outlook: If a lull in the Cougars’ string of Tacoma Dome appearances was going to happen, it was supposed to be last season. And it didn’t – Cascade Christian advanced to the 1A title game, losing to Connell. Goldsmith (1,606 yards, 23 TDs in 2011) takes full control of the offense, and the secondary is an experienced group.

CEDAR PARK CHRISTIAN EAGLES

Coach: Todd Parmenter, second year
2011 record: 8-3, 3rd in league; lost in 1A first round.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Todd Parmenter (double wing). Returning starters – 6. Top players – OL Andy Hislop, 6-4, 260, sr.; QB Joshua Ionesi, 6-2, 210, sr.; WR Connor Johnson, 6-1, 180, jr.; RB Andrew Rickman, 5-8, 150, jr.; RB Daniel Watts 5-10, 190, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Corey Owens (4-4). Returning starters – 6. Top players – DL Andy Hislop, 6-4, 260, sr.; DL Joshua Ionesi, 6-2, 210, sr.; DB Connor Johnson, 6-1, 180, jr.; DB Andrew Rickman, 5-8, 150, jr.; DB Daniel Watts 5-10, 190, sr.
Outlook: Last season’s slow start quickly dissipated once the team grasped Parmenter’s coaching system. The Eagles won seven games in a row, including a 22-9 upset over Cascade Christian, during the regular season. The core of the skill-position standouts return – including Watts, the league’s offensive player of the year (1,574 rushing yards, 11 TDs).

CHARLES WRIGHT TARRIERS

Coach: Mike Finch, fifth year
2011 record: 7-2, 2nd in league; lost in 1A districts.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Mike Finch (spread). Returning starters – 9. Top players – RB Raheem Hughey 5-9, 235, sr.; QB Fritz Jacobson 6-1, 195, sr.; OL Robert Luke, 6-4, 335, jr.; RB Colin Reynolds 5-11, 195, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Neil Biermann (4-4). Returning starters – 8. Top players – LB Nick Ho 5-9, 165, sr.; DL Beau Iverson 6-8, 265, sr.
Outlook: While the roster is relatively small (44 players), the talent is large – literally. Iverson is garnering Ivy League interest as a defensive end. And joining him is another giant – Luke, a Gig Harbor transfer who will start at center. That should benefit a backfield that has started the past three seasons – Reynolds at tailback, and Hughey at fullback.

CHIMACUM COWBOYS

Coach: Shawn Meacham, fourth year
2011 record: 2-8, 6th in league.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Shawn Meacham (flex). Returning starters – 7. Top players – OL Seth Ham, 6-3, 230, sr.; QB Alex Morris, 5-10, 150, jr.; OL Daryl Settlemire, 6-2, 250, sr.; RB Mel Thornton, 6-0, 185, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Dan Ankert (3-5). Returning starters – 7. Top players – LB Daryl Ajax, 6-1, 180, sr.; LB Trevor Hare, 6-0, 180, sr.; DL Daryl Settlemire, 6-2, 250, sr.
Outlook: The glory years of John Martin and the program in the 1980s and 1990s are long gone. Now, the Cowboys struggle to get students out for football. This season, Chimacum has 19 players – with many of the seniors being four-year starters. Morris has a strong arm, and Thornton scored seven TDs in his final four games of 2011 – but is it enough?

EATONVILLE CRUISERS

Coach: George Fairhart, 20th year
2011 record: 4-6, 4th in SPSL 2A.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Jeff Mlandenich (wing-T). Returning starters – 6. Top players – RB Brandon Atkins 5-10, 200, sr.; WR Brendan Davis 6-1, 190, sr.; WR Joe Evans 5-10, 165, jr.; QB Zach Fairhart 6-0, 200, sr.; RB Ryley Gray 5-6, 157, sr.; TE Chase Ketter 6-1, 200, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Mike Moeller (4-4). Returning starters – 7. Top players – DL Tyco Brown 6-0, 210, sr.; DB Brendan Davis 6-1, 190, sr.; OL Joe Evans 5-10, 165, jr.; DB Zach Fairhart 6-0, 200, sr.; DL Lucas Hatton 6-0, 210, sr.; LB Jonathan Warner 6-0, 180, so.
Outlook: The Cruisers move down from the SPSL 2A, and intend on throwing a monkey wrench into this league’s hierarchy. The 2010 SPSL 2A co-champions easily could have won it again last season – five of their six losses were by six points or less. Zach Fairhart is the dual threat (921 passing yards, 409 rushing yards) who makes things go.

LIFE CHRISTIAN EAGLES

Coach: Ross Hjelseth, 19th year
2011 record: 5-4, 5th in league.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Doug Burton (spread). Returning starters – 3. Top players – OL Kevin Breen 5-10, 200, jr.; WR Kyle Goodman 6-1, 170, jr.; RB Lionel Hampton 5-8, 165, jr.; OL Chase Knoblauch 5-8, 215, sr.; RB Ben Madlena 5-10, 165, so.; QB Taylor Roelofs 5-11, 170, jr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Morgan Cox (4-3). Returning starters – 3. Top players – DL Kevin Breen 5-10, 200, jr.; DB Hunter Haley 5-6, 140, jr.; LB Chase Knoblauch 5-8, 215, sr.; DL Vlad Rudenko 6-2, 190, jr.; LB Fesili Wynn 5-7, 180, so.
Outlook: The Eagles are really gearing up for 2013. They will have first-year starters at 20 positions this season, which means contending for the league crown might be unrealistic. That does not mean Life Christian can’t earn a playoff spot because this is a group of talented sophomores and juniors – and Knoblauch is a two-way terror as a senior.

PORT TOWNSEND REDSKINS

Coach: Nick Snyder, third year
2011 record: 0-9, 8th in league.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Rich Hill (double-wing hybrid). Returning starters – 10. Top players – TE Skyler Coppenrath, 6-3, 190, jr.; RB Matt Cain, 5-9, 160, jr.; QB Jacob King, 6-1, 170, jr.; RB Tim Russell, 5-10, 180, jr.; OL Alex Reireson, 6-1, 240, jr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Tom Webster (4-4). Returning starters – 10. Top players – DB Matt Cain, 5-9, 160, jr.; DL Skyler Coppenrath, 6-3, 190, jr.; DB Jacob King, 6-1, 170, jr.; DL Alex Reireson, 6-1, 240, jr.; LB Tim Russell, 5-10, 180, jr.;
Outlook: This is Snyder’s second tour of duty – he was his alma mater’s head coach in 2000-02 (15-6 record) before taking an assistant position at Chelan. And the former linebacker intends to restore the Redskins’ reputation as a power-running and defensive-minded squad. King is the team’s best leader – and athlete.

VASHON PIRATES

Coach: Clay Eastly, sixth year
2011 record: 1-9, 7th in league.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Clay Eastly (pistol). Returning starters – 8. Top players – QB Nick Amundsen 6-0, 155, jr.; RB Nick Betz 5-9, 185, sr.; WR Garrett Starr 6-3, 165, jr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Scott Betz (odd front). Returning starters – 9. Top players – DB Evan Anderson 6-0, 150, jr.; LB Nick Betz 5-9, 185, sr.; LB Peter Evans 5-10, 190, sr.; LB Garrett Starr 6-3, 165, jr.
Outlook: Two years ago, this was a playoff team. Now, the Pirates are building for another run. It likely won’t take place this season, but the bulk of their skill-position talent is underclassmen. That is not to say Betz won’t try his best to accelerate the process as the key senior and two-way standout at tailback (882 rushing yards) and linebacker (116 tackles).

Jennifer Chancellor, contributing writer