The sound of popping pads will be on display tonight as the majority of high school football programs in Washington will kick off its season under the bright glare of Friday night lights. Below the Issaquah Reporter takes a look at how the Skyline Spartans, Eastside Catholic Crusaders, Eastlake Wolves, Issaquah Eagles and Liberty Patriots will perform on the football field this fall.
EASTLAKE WOLVES
Head coach: Don Bartel (second year)
Last year: 9-3 overall (lost to Camas in the Class 4A quarterfinals)
Key players: Blue Thomas, QB/DB; Eric Uhlar, WR/LB; Jeffrey Feinglas, WR/DB; Justin McComber, RB/LB; Michael Nelson, WR/DB; Dalton Napier, RB/WR/DB; Mark Whitley, LB/QB; Connor McCabe, OL/DL; Jacob Kaufman, OL/DL.
The 2013 season was a year to remember for the Eastlake Wolves football program. After suffering early season losses to Skyline and Bothell, the Wolves rattled off seven consecutive victories to advance to the Class 4A quarterfinals.
“We kind of grew as the season went on. Bothell put 45 points on us and it was gut check time. We beat Ingelemoor, we beat Woodinville and the next thing you know we’re scoring 50 points per game and we’re not looking back,” Eastlake head coach Don Bartel said. “It was a great experience for these guys and its something they are looking forward to trying to get to again.”
The Wolves will return five starters on offense and four starters on defense this fall. The Wolves lost 22 players from last year’s team due to graduation. The strength of this year’s squad will be its skill players (quarterback, running backs and receivers).
“We look a lot more polished right now than we did at this point last year,” he said.
Bartel said the team motto this season is, “One way, all day, every day.”
“We just look at it as we want to be better than we were yesterday and just keep working and working and then whatever happens on Friday night happens,” he said. “We play Bothell (Week 1) right out of the gate. We’re going to have to be ready.”
EASTSIDE CATHOLIC CRUSADERS
Head coach: Jeremy Theilbahr (fourth year)
Last year: 11-3 overall (Lost to Bellevue in the Class 3A state championship game)
Key players: Harley Kirsch, QB; Matt Laris, WR; Alex Neale, OL; Colin Stoutt, OL; Brody McKnight, OL; Devon Arbis-Jackson, WR/CB; Brandon Wellington, RB/S; Cody Baker, DE; Tony Masaniai, MLB; Deion Fetui, OL; Matt Kvech, S; Jonathon Webster, DB; Jake Jackson, CB/WR; Robbie Carter, T; Charon Adams, CB/S; Daniel Carlton, CB; Hunter Bryant, TE.
Team camaraderie and togetherness is one of the staples of the Eastside Catholic football program.
Crusaders’ fourth year head coach Jeremy Theilbahr thinks the brotherhood exhibited by his team pays off in pressure situations when the outcome of the game is hanging in the balance.
“The players on this team love to play for each other. That’s exciting to see as a coach and leads to success. It all comes down to that moment in the game on the field where the guys have to come through for each other. Our leadership is strong and that shows in close matchups,” Theilbahr said.
The Crusaders’ roster is loaded with talent including quarterback Harley Kirsch and safety/running back Brandon Wellington. Wellington has already committed to the University of Washington football program. Theilbahr said the road to the state championship goes through Bellevue High School.
Bellevue defeated Eastside Catholic 52-20 in the Class 3A state title game last December at the Tacoma Dome.
“Getting over the hump against Bellevue is a monumental task and that’s the challenge for us,” he said. “Our mission is to win a state championship.”
The team motto this season is faith, family, finish and forever. It’s a mantra Theilbahr and the Crusaders take seriously.
“All of those things are a big deal. If we do those things right everything else will take care of itself. The kids on this team are buying in. We want to get better as the season goes on. Our building blocks are so strong. We just will continue to work hard,” he said.
ISSAQUAH EAGLES
Head coach: Buddy Bland (first year)
Last year: 6-4 overall (Lost to Union in state-regional playoff game)
Key players: Andrew Dieken, OL/DL; Luke Watanabe, WR/DB; Chason Hawkins, TE/LB; Ray Littles, WR/DB; Oliver Lekressner, OL/DL; Connor Smith, OL/DL; Cam Humphrey, QB; Andy Co, WR/DB; Eric Eiken, OL/DL; Parker Simon, OL/DL; Tyrus Tuiasosopo, WR/DB; Gunnar Conley, OL/DL.
One of the largest turnouts in recent memory (95 players) has created an atmosphere of spirited competition during the first two weeks of practice. Issaquah head coach Buddy Bland is a firm believer in focusing on the fundamentals of football. Bland, who coached the Eagles football program from 1999-2005, is back on the sidelines after a nine-year hiatus.
“Our goal is to do all of the little things necessary to have a successful football team and program,” Bland said. “We have set standards for ourselves and we working hard each day to meet those standards. That is all we focus on. We take the opponents as they come.”
The Eagles will host rival Skyline at 7 p.m. in the season opener tonight. Bland said his team will be prepared for the challenge.
“All of our players have demonstrated a very good work ethic. We have two very good quarterbacks and outstanding running back depth,” he said.
LIBERTY PATRIOTS
Head coach: Steve Valach (16th year)
Last year: 5-5 overall (Didn’t advance to the playoffs)
Key players: Quinn Magendanz, MLB/TE; Nate Jarvis, C/DL; Drew Hall, MLB/RB; Nate Solly, QB; Russell Boston, RB/S; Romney Noel, WR/LB; Mitch McQuigg, OL/DL.
The Liberty Patriots football team registered victories against Mercer Island, Hazen, Sammamish, Interlake and Rainier Beach but suffered defeats against Mount Si, Bellevue, Lake Washington, Juanita and Eastside Catholic during the 2013 season. With a bevy of starters returning to the lineup, the Patriots will look to improve on last year’s 5-5 overall record.
The dynamic duo of Russell Boston (KingCo 3A first team all-league safety and second team all-league running back) and Drew Hall (KingCo 3A first team all-league inside linebacker) will make life difficult for opposing team’s offenses. The Patriots also return KingCo 3A-second team all-league offensive lineman Mitch McQuigg and Nate Jarvis in the trenches. Liberty head coach Steve Valach, who has been the head coach of team since the late 1990s, is part of a cohesive coaching staff that have been together for the long haul. Valach, defensive coordinator Andy Hall and offensive/defensive line coach Kyle Noble are all entering their 16th season together at Liberty.
SKYLINE SPARTANS
Head coach: Mat Taylor (seventh year)
Last year: 9-2 overall (Lost to Federal Way in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs)
Key players: Derek Loville, WR/FS; Cameron Hill, OL/DL; Cameron Saffle, OL/DL; Riley Griffiths, OL/DE; Rashaad Boddie, RB/LB; Chandler Wong, RB/LB; Blake Gregory, QB; Blake Sypher, S; Danny Sinatro, CB.
The Skyline Spartans football program is one of the best high school football programs in the United States. The Spartans captured state titles in 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and in 2012. Last year, the Spartans suffered an unexpected setback losing 26-20 to the Federal Way Eagles in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.
“It was one of those games where things just didn’t go our way,” Spartans’ head coach Mat Taylor said. “We were ahead 14-0 and then all of a sudden we were down 20-14.”
The Spartans figure to be in the hunt for the Class 4A state title yet again this fall. It’s a new season and last November’s loss to Federal Way has already been put in the rearview mirror.
“One of the biggest things we talk about with our players is that every season we create a new identity,” Taylor said. “We respect the past and protect the tradition of this program but we want to recreate our identity as a team every year.”
Taylor said wide receiver Derek Loville is going to be a threat in the passing game.
“His downfield ball skills are very very special and he’s so good at the intermediate 15-18 yard routes. He is just able to find the zones. We definitely want to be able to get the ball into his hands,” he said.
The head coach said the offense has looked formidable during the first two weeks of practice.
“We have been looking good and have been making some great progress. I told the guys yesterday that this is as impressive as I have felt about the offense in my seven years here. We are just clicking so well on offense and are understanding what we have to do and how we have to do it,” Taylor said on Aug. 28. “We’ve been very impressive.”
Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com
