Today we'll look at the final two teams to be previewed: Marshfield and Marist. Chris Park wrote the Marshfield Pirate preview, while I have written about Marist.
MARSHFIELD:
The Pirates enter 2010 as the second season for Head Coach Justin Ainsworth after taking over following the retirement of long time, and legendary Coach Kent Wigle. The Pirates hope to continue their winning tradition of the 1990’s. In 2009, the Pirates went 6-5 overall and 3-2 in league before losing in the first round of the playoffs to Hermiston 35-56. 2010 could be a growth and rebuilding year for the Pirates, as they lose multi talented QB/DB Kyle Tedder, who is now at Southern Oregon University on a basketball scholarship. Tedder rushed for 1004 yards and passed for 1340 yards.
The offense returns three starters led by 2nd team All-League Senior RB Ryan Scoville who rushed for 360 yards on 43 carries. The speedy running back was also a sprinter during the spring track season. Also returning on offense are junior TE Dalton Milburn and senior tackle Johnny Castro. The running game will also depend on senior Jorgen Mulkey (230 yards on 66 carries. Senior Dallas Milburn will quarterback the Pirates. Scoville is also the leading receiver returning with 297 yards on 20 catches. The big question for the Pirates is, can the offensive line open some holes for a new QB and the running game? Honorable Mention All-League guard Kevin Kight returns to an otherwise young and inexperienced offensive line.
The defense returns six starters: Scoville at corner, junior Ty Cutting and Senior Mikki Post at strong safeties, senior Jacob Browning at tackle and senior linebackers Jorgen Mulkey and Tyler Davidson. Coach Ainsworth is excited about the depth at defensive line, stating “We have 5-6 kids who should get playing time on the D-Line. They are a physical group with above average quickness.”
Overall Marshfield looks to be solid on defense. If they can score some points, they could be in the race for the league title. According to Coach Ainsworth, “The Pirates are going to surprise some people. We have some talented kids who are hungry to take advantage of their opportunities.” KEY GAMES: @ Springfield on 09/17, @ Churchill on 10/15, home versus Marist on 10/22.
Players mentioned 2009 Height/Weight
RB/DB Ryan Scoville Sr 5- 8 160 2nd Team All League
TE Dalton Milburn Jr 6- 6 260
OT Johnny Castro Sr 5-10 265
OG Kevin Kight Sr 6-0 280 HM All League
RB/LB Jorgen Mulkey Sr 5- 9 195
QB Dallas Milburn Sr 6-1 175
DB Ty Cutting Jr 6- 0 175
DB Nick Post Sr 5-11 175
DL Jacob Browning Sr 5-10 225
LB Tyler Davidson Sr 5-11 205
MARIST:
Is it good or bad for the old MWL members that last year Marist beat Marshfield in Coos Bay, 45-18; and then hammered Springfield in Springfield 55-6? More impressively, the win at Marshfield occurred in a game where the Spartan QB got knocked out early. Most teams would have taken a while to get on track with a different QB. Not Marist, as returning RB Logan Silver stepped in at QB and directed the Spartans for the rest of the Marshfield game and the Miller game the next week.
It'll be up to opposing players to decide if they want to work hard enough to catch the Spartans. Here's what they'll have to catch up to.....
I like to start with the flashy players on O, but I'm afraid the Spartan D would clobber me on the sidelines this week. Five Sky Em all leaguers return on D for Marist. If you're a spectator, make sure you spend two or three plays in a row watching the D line, then the LB's and then the DB's. #75, Matt Devereux, is 6' 3", 275 pounds, and the returning 4A Defensive Player of the Year. Lurking nearby will be #64, Logan Mayes, who has already committed to Washington State. Mayes is 6-3, 215 and can switch between down positions and the LB spot. Will Swindling at 6' 0", 215 is a returning all league LB. Kevin Haskin is likely to be at LB and is 6' 0", 190. Those are some big high school LB's. Then moving to the secondary, Brady Chionbian and Matt Beattie were both second team DB's.
On offense, we might see a footrace this year between Marist junior receiver Taylor Walcot, a returning second team receiver; and Marshfield's DB Ryan Scoville. Scoville will have to dive and catch Walcot's heels. Walcot ran an 11.04 100 in the state finals compared to Scoville's 11.18. Josh Paiement was trying to lock up the starting Qb position when I interviewed coach Geske last week. Personally, I hope Paiement (6' 1", 175) does earn the spot over Logan Silver. That would mean that Paiment would have two guys to throw to who have an extra gear, Walcot at receiver and Silver at RB. By the way, after Silver shored up the Qb position for a few games last year, he returned to his running spot and was 1st team all state RB. Devereux is on the O line too, and while its too much fun watching him on D, I love seeing him pull out and lead backs. That's pretty intimidating. Whoever gets the call at Qb, they'll have Chris Bender (6' 0", 215), a 2nd team all leaguer, at center.
So what's the magic at Marist? It's the same magic that Thurston football has had the last few years. I've been around Marist baseball and football enough to know that Marist is about conditioning, repetition, attention to detail and high standards. When I talked to coach Geske, I asked him how he got his players to play so hard until the whistle. (Playing to the whistle is old school, but the teams that play to the whistle win.) Geske said, "We coach it constantly. Coaches pay attention to effort and detail. Every drill, every snap, every day." I watched quite of bit of practice and I believe it. The word 'constantly' keeps coming back to me, and apparently Geske's players, too.
(The heights and weights mentioned above for Marist are for this year)
That's it for all of the MWL teams. I put links to the Mail Tribune's previews of Ashland and Eagle Point at the end of their previews from last week.
Next blog: Opening Game Previews by Chris Park and wild guess league finish by Gary Haliski
Next week: Official League prediction by Gary.
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