All Stars and Next Year.

It's time for fans and three teams to think about next year. The five old MWL teams and new member, Marist, all have all stars returning. That wasn't the case last year as two teams didn't return an all star......


We don't know right now how football playoff teams will be chosen next year. Lot's of possibilities exist, including combining the six 5A schools in the MWL and the two 5A schools from Southern Sky, Ashland and Eagle Point, for the football season only. (To see initial OSAA thoughts on playoffs, including systems that use 'Power Ratings' see their document.)


QB's: Having a returning QB is a huge advantage. Churchill's Spencer Savelich and Springfield's Levi Green had very good years. Savelich's year is particularly impressive as he got the call during the first league game after having thrown just three passes in the Lancer's last two non - league games as a back up. Both Savelich and Green earned honorable mention all league honors. Marist's QB will graduate, but Logan Silver, their first team all league running back, was a combined 21-35, with six TD passes against Marshfield and Springfield. If Logan stays an RB, sophomore Josh Paiment got in some playing time almost every game. Marshfield has a quality back up returning in Dallas Milburn while North Eugene has both Dylan Lubonski and Jackson Landgreen returning. I'm not sure what Willamette has in the wings as both of their QB's who played in league were seniors.
Advantage: Churchill & Springfield. Of this group, returning all-stars Savelich and Green give their teams a tremendous edge right out of the blocks for 2010.


Receiver's. Savelich will be throwing to 2nd team all leaguer Brandon Determan. Green has no such luxury. The top six Miller receivers graduate. Marist returns 2nd team all leaguer Taylor Waldcott. Other than Willamette's all leaguer Cameron Koehler and North Eugene's Alex Wilson and several backs who occasionally slip out of the backfield to catch a pass, most of the receivers in league graduate. Look for North's Taylor Demerick, a speedy 1st team special teams player to take on a larger role in the Highlander passing game next year.
Advantage: Churchill & North Eugene


RB's: It will be interesting to see what role Marshfield's Ryan Scoville plays next year for the Pirates. Will he continue to be a sneaker back, with few touches but lots of yards. Or will he be a go-to back? I'd like to see the Pirate line step up a level and match Thurston's conditioning and strength and put Scoville behind them all of the time. ... Marist's first team RB, Logan Silver almost hit 1000 yards in regular season, averaging 8.7 YPCarry. And remember, he played two games at QB. The other returning all league back is Skylar Mohr over at Willamette. Mohr ripped off 7.7 yards per carry in league. Another Wolverine to watch is sophomore Jordan Visarraga. Springfield returns Thomas Spikes, who pounded the ball for the Millers. Several other 'good for three yards' backs return. Marshfield's Jorgen Mulkey, and the duo of Nick Bell and sophomore Aaron Ingram at Churchill.
Advantage: Marist and Marshfield


Offensive Linemen: Bad news for the backfield. There aren't a whole lot of returning all league linemen. Or maybe that's good news, because no team has a big advantage. The studs are two way 1st team all leaguers Danny Granillo of Willamette and Matt Devereux of Marist. (Two year two-way 1st team lineman Kraig Akins graduates to 6A ball next year). Marist has another all leaguer (2nd team) on the line in center Chris Bender. Churchill and Springfield each return a 2nd team tackle - Zach Swann for Churchill and Kameron Bates for Springfield. The Pirates contribute a 2nd team guard, Kevin Kight.
Advantage: Marist by a little.


Defense

Only four MWL all leaguers return on defense next year. Springfield has two of them - DB Kyle George and two way all leaguer Kameron Bates at LB. First team Willamette LB Grannilo doubled as an all league O lineman. North Eugene brings back DB Jackson Landgreen. Marist returns four from the Sky-Em league. Marist's all league returnees are Devereux, LB Will Swindling, DL Logan Mayes and DB Brady Chiongbian .
Advantage: Marist by a little.


Overall

Swapping out Thurston for Marist was pretty even. Marist pasted Springfield and Marshfield in 2009 and although the Spartans graduate seven first team offensive players, I think they will be the team to beat.

Churchill has a great QB-WR combo returning in Savelich and Determan. At least one of their returning running backs, Bell or Ingram is bound to have a better year, and certainly neither will have a worse year. Tackle Zach Swann will have to motivate his fellow linemen. Right now I'm thinking Churchill earns a playoff spot.

After the Spartans and Lancers, I can't see that one or two teams have a stronger shot at the final playoff spot than the other teams.



Marshfield returns only two all leaguers, RB Scoville and Guard Kight, the least of any team in the league. Success starts in the off season and Coach Ainsworth is going to have convince his crew, especially the linemen, that they need to make former Pirate and two time MWL MVP Bobby McClintock look like a weightroom wimp, or the Pirates are going to have a long, long year. Scoville could be a 1000 yard back, but it won't come on 5 carries a game. And it would be criminal to give any back the ball more than that without any holes.

Willamette has two solid backs in Mohr and Visaraga. Of course, Danny Grannillo will be a force on both sides of the ball. Coach Fritz will need to find a QB and receivers, or opponents will just sit on the running backs. Perhaps a bigger issue for the Wolverines is reducing penalties and turnovers.

Springfield returns a very good QB, Levi Green. Unfortunately, the Millers graduate all of their receivers. On the upside, they return a total of five all leaguers (actually four - Bates doubled up), second most in league. They also return several offensive linemen. The Millers are actually in a decent position to prove themselves and earn a playoff spot.

North Eugene only had 7 seniors on their roster in 2009. Obviously, a tremendous number of juniors and a few sophomores got a lot of playing time. Most importantly, they return a lot of good linemen. Next year is a year when very few teams will have a lot of experience returning. North is a major exception. Bibbee was worth the price of admission this year, and I think they have some highlight film material guys returning. But they are more of the explosive, speedy type, rather than they "I beg you, please don't run over me" manner of Bibbee. If North can find a running back and balance out their O game a lot more, I think opponents will be surprised at their play. They should have a good line, and that's where it all starts.

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