One week until KICKOFF!!!!
We previewed North Eugene, Eagle Point and Willamette Wednesday. Next Tuesday, we'll cover Marshfield and Marist and then we'll give our opening night previews on Thursday, September 2nd.
A note about the previews. The coaches sent in their team info prior to official practices. Sure enough, there were some changes due to kids not turning out. We've adjusted Eagle Point's and North Eugene's previews to reflect new information received since Wednesday. For Eagle Point, we have a new starting quarterback listed. And for North, the number of returning starters has been reduced by one on both sides of the ball. Still, it's nice to have 11 returning starters.
Again, thanks to Chris Park for the write ups. His efforts have freed me to get out and talk to coaches and take practice photos. I hope to get more photos next week. I'll be showing up at a Wolverine practice for sure, and hope to arrange a trip to Springfield and Churchill.
CHURCHILL:
Offense is the name of the game for the Lancers, as they return a majority of skill players from a 2009 squad that went 7-4 overall and 3-2 in league before losing in the first round of the playoffs to 5A State runner up Jefferson 56-27. The Lancers return eight starters on offense, including Honorable Mention All-League Senior QB Spencer Savelich who threw for 980 yards on 91 of 168 passing. Last years leading rushers Junior Aaron Ingram (721 yards on 115 carries) and Senior Nick Bell (270 yards on 64 carries) return to provide a solid running game. 2nd Team All-League receiver Senior Brandon Deterrman (42 catches for 491 yards) will likely be Savelich’s main target. Senior QB Derek Godfrey provides options at quarterback for Head Coach Darrell Mehl. Three starters return on the offensive line including 2nd Team All-League senior tackle Zach Swann, senior guard Mark Mmari and senior guard Brent Babcok.
The defense is a question mark for the Lancers with four starters returning. In 2009, the defense gave up 276 points and lost the top seven leading tacklers to graduation. Savelich is the top returning tackler (14 solo and 23 assisted) from his safety spot and Swann is at linebacker with senior defense lineman Dan Koffler and sophomore Andrew Bennion at cornerback. Coach Mehl will rely on senior slot Joey Moore and senior wide receiver Newt Fassel. Coach Mehl states, “We feel confident that we will be a competitive football team. Our key games start September 10th. One game at a time.” Churchill will need to score lots of points to be successful in 2010.
KEY GAMES: Home versus North Eugene on 09/24, @ Marist on 10/08, home versus Marshfield on 10/15.
Players mentioned 2009 Height/Weight
QB Spencer Savelich 6- 2 170
RB Aaron Ingram 5-10 175
RB Nick Bell 5-10 170
Rec Brandon Determan 5-11 160
QB Derek Godfrey 6- 0 160
OT Zach Swann 6- 0 200
OG Mark Mmari 6- 0 200
OG Brent Babcok 6- 5 295
DL Kan Koffler
CB Andrew Bennion
Rec Joey Moore
Rec Newt Fassel
SPRINGFIELD:
The Millers are working towards a return to the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Last year, they were out of the picture, finishing 2-8 overall and 1-4 in league. In 2008, the Millers lost out on the last playoff spot on a coin flip.
The 2010 Millers return Honorable Mention Senior QB Levi Green (1581 yards on 148 of 251 passing, 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions). The big question is, who else can help Springfield offensively? 1st team All-League Senior RB Thomas Spikes returns (311 yards on 79 carries). Spikes is also the leading receiver returning with 10 catches for 46 yards. The Millers will be looking to under classmen and unproven upper classmen for help, including senior Kyle George and junior Alister Jorkan.
The defense will need to improve for the Millers to make the playoffs. Spikes is also the leading returning tackler on a defense that gave up 396 points in 2009. 2nd team All-League offensive lineman and LB Kameron Bates returns for his senior season and will look to 2nd team DB Kyle George for help. Springfield Coach Skip Raish feels Green is one of the best quarterbacks, if not the best, quarterback he has ever coached. “Levi is a very intelligent young man who can read the secondary. Not a lot of kids can do that. He’s a great leader who has total command of the offense and respect of his teammates”, said Raish.
KEY GAMES: Is this the year, the Millers break through and make the playoffs? The outcome of two early road games (at Marist on 09/17 and at Marshfield on 09/24) and a home game on 10/01 versus Churchill will be huge.
Players mentioned 2009 Height/Weight
QB Levi Green 6- 2 160
RB Thomas Spikes 5- 7 165
DB Kyle George 5-9 160
WR Alister Jorkan 5- 8 142
LB Kameron Bates 6- 1 210
ASHLAND:
Ashland is the other member of the two team Southern Oregon Conference. In 2009, Ashland finished 5-7 overall and 2-2 in the Southern Sky Conference (SSC). Head Coach Charlie Hall has had to deal with some unusual events during the summer each of the past two seasons. In 2009, the Grizzlies played an exhibition game in Japan on 07/26/09. During the 2010 summer, a fire damaged the home bleachers at Ashland High School’s football stadium. Hall is hoping to get the Grizzlies back to the winning days. Ashland last won a State Championship in 1998. In 2009, Ashland lost in the second round of the playoffs to West Albany, an eventual semifinallist.
The 2010 squad returns five offensive starters, including SR QB Jake Scarrminach (2nd Team SSC) and SR RB Jackson Volz. Coach Hall is excited about having a returning starter at QB, the first time since the 2004-2005 season. The offensive line returns three starters led by SR tackle Sam Cowan (1st Team SSC), SR guard Shea Henthorn and SR center Christian Ostmo. The Grizzlies are unproven in the receiving corps with the graduation of four senior receivers. Coach Hall will be looking to underclassmen WR Sam Gesslinger and TE Franklin Lime to step up as receivers.
Defense, and in particular the defensive line, looks to be a strength for Ashland with the return of six starters, including SR DT Kevin Schilling (Honorable Mention SSC), JR DE Alec Ralston and SR DT Christian Ostmo. SR OLB TJ Murphy (2nd Team SSC) leads the linebackers and SR FS Lee Dodds and SR CB Talon Heater return as starters in the secondary.
KEY GAME: Home versus Eagle Point on 10/22/10. Coach Hall says, “With our independent status, it all boils down to the Eagle Point game.”
Players mentioned 2009 Height/Weight
QB Jake Scarrminach 6-0 170
RB Jackson Volz
OT Sam Cowan 6-4 265
OG Shea Henthorn
C Christian Ostmo
WR Sam Gesslinger
TE Franklin Lime
DT Kevin Schilling 6-1 230
DE Alec Ralston
OLB TJ Murphy
FS Lee Dodds
CB Talon Hester
Mail Tribune Pre-Season article
Feel free to comment or make additions or corrections. Use the comment feature of the blog or email me at mwlnow@yahoo.com
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment