Making the case for Curtis: Why the Vikings can win 4A state title
The high school football state tournament brackets in Washington are filled with teams from the South Sound. Over the course of the season, some of these teams have separated themselves and look like legitimate state title contenders.
One of those teams is Curtis, in Class 4A. The Vikings earned the No. 7 seed in the 4A state tournament, which begins Friday. Here’s a look at Curtis’ season, key players and signature wins. Plus, thoughts from multiple coaches who coached against Curtis this year — why they think the Vikings could win it all and what could cause them to fall short of hoisting the trophy at Husky Stadium. Coaches are quoted anonymously to allow them to speak candidly.
RECORD: 8-2 overall, 7-2 in 4A SPSL
SIGNATURE WINS: 38-33 over Sumner in Week 2; 50-34 over Emerald Ridge in Week 4
STAT LEADERS: QB Rocco Koch: 128-of-180 passing, 2100 yards, 28 TD, 5 INT, 198 carries, 1470 rushing yards, 23 TD; WR Parker Mady: 50 receptions, 932 yards, 13 TD; WR Xavier Ahrens: 48 receptions, 753 yards, 9 TD
MAKING THE CASE FOR THE VIKINGS
It all starts with Rocco Koch, one of the state’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. He has racked up 51 combined passing and rushing touchdowns this season and has been nearly impossible to slow down. His top two receivers, Parker Mady and Xavier Ahrens, have been two of the league’s best receivers this season, too. If teams aren’t able to slow down Koch, he’s capable of taking the Vikings all the way.
Opposing Coach A: “Rocco. He’s just a great kid. I love all the publicity he’s getting. They’ve got some good DBs, too. Good secondary, they do some creative things. I think Rocco is the big key. He can take over a game. He’s super hard to tackle. You’ve gotta prepare for the passing game but you have to spy him all the time. If you’re worn down in the fourth quarter, Rocco’s taking over.”
Opposing Coach B: “Rocco. He has single-handedly been the best statistical player in the state, arguably that the state has ever seen. Rocco is their engine. If he’s right, they’re hard to beat. They’ve got enough good athletes around him. If your QB is the best player on the field, you’ve typically got a better shot to win than the other team does.”
Opposing Coach C: “It all starts with Rocco. He led our league in rushing and was like third in passing. No one has been able to really slow him down too much. They’ve gotten some really good play out of some other guys that were kind of newcomers this year. That loss (to Puyallup) at the end of the year, sometimes that can be a good thing, it can propel you. Their mindset is probably right now.”
WHY THE VIKINGS COULD FALL SHORT
A surprising loss to Puyallup in the regular season finale showed Curtis may be more vulnerable than we originally thought. In the loss to Graham-Kapowsin, the Vikings surrendered 42 points. It remains to be seen if Curtis will be able to slow down similarly high-powered offenses in the state tournament, although the Vikings did hold Emerald Ridge’s offense to 34 points in a win. The common sentiment among opposing coaches: limit Koch’s yards on the ground and Curtis is beatable. Of course, that’s much easier said than done.
Opposing coach A: “I think somebody, if they’ve got good skill kids and can take away the passing game and have a couple kids that are athletic enough to spy Rocco, that gives them a shot. I think they’re vulnerable to give up some points. If they can keep games close, then Rocco can take over. If they’re down 14, it becomes a different issue.”
Opposing coach B: “It’s gotta be their ability to contain Rocco. If you can keep him inside the pocket — he throws it really well — but if he’s gonna run for 150 yards, they’re gonna be extremely difficult to beat.”
Opposing coach C: “If they make them a little one-dimensional. If they come up against a stout defense where he can’t run the ball too well. The way they’ve been winning, he’s been able to do both.”
Opening round game: No. 10 Kennedy Catholic (9-1) vs. No. 7 Curtis (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Curtis High School
