 |
Search Sponsored
|
|
| 11/7/2009 11:36:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article
Comment on this article |  |
|
Naselle's Logan Scrabeck scores an apparent touchdown at Warrenton, only to have it called back on a penalty. He would later score on a six-yard run in Naselle's 34-6 victory.
Photo by Greg Nelson |
|
Comets tale of state football prowess on rise
By KEVIN HEIMBIGNER
Observer staff writer
NASELLE - Last year at this time the Comets football team was 6-4 and had earned their second straight berth in the state playoffs for the first time ever by eking out three league wins by six points or less. They were set to play Seattle Lutheran, a team they had lost to 22-19 earlier in the season. Naselle's coaches and players were happy to play, let alone win in the state playoffs.
And yet they avenged that loss and a league loss to Valley in the opening two rounds to advance to the semi-finals in the Tacoma Dome. Although they lost to eventual state champ Napavine 18-13 in that game, the Comets had their best season in the playoff era.
Now coming off a 9-1 season, their best in over four decades, Naselle is poised to make a run at the finals. By clinching second place in the Pacific 2B League they are assured of playing all their state contests on this side of the mountains. They are winners of 14 of their last 16 games.
That's the good news. The bad news is that they drew fourth-ranked Tacoma Baptist (10-0) in the first round and if they should win it is likely they will play county nemesis Valley, a winner of nine straight, a week later. The Vikings defeated Naselle in week five 21-6, but the Comets were without five starters due to disciplinary actions. Should Naselle get past those two a rematch with Napavine or third-ranked Adna could follow in the Dome.
Naselle will take on Tacoma Baptist at Curtis High School on the Crusader's home field Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. to kick off the 2009 state football playoffs. Those Comets with long memories will recall the Crusaders from the mid-1990s through the turn of the century as being in the Pacific League and showing no mercy on teams. Their coaching staff, now departed, typically ran up scores in the 40s, 50s and higher and their starters routinely passed for touchdowns late in the fourth period against short-handed coast teams.
In 2009 Naselle will not be under-manned and should match up well against the Crusaders. The two teams had four common opponents and very similar scores in each of those games. The Baptists beat Northwest Christian 38-6, Seattle Lutheran 53-8, North Beach 38-0 and South Bend 34-20, while the Comets' scores against the same opponents were 47-14, 57-6, 59-14 and 22-8.
The Crusaders are pass-oriented and rely on quarterback Lowe to trigger their offense and according to Coach Jeff Eaton he is their best runner to boot. They have out-scored opponents 463-95 in a much weaker league than Naselle plays in. Naselle has out-pointed their foes 361-115, more than doubled in total offense (3,215-1,586) and amassed 163 first downs to 90. Eaton said, "I've seen film of two of their games and I believe we can compete with them."
The Comets are a run-oriented team that has relied on the amazing maturation of six sophomores who play in the line with senior stalwart Manny Lopez. Nick Zimmerman, Ryley Queener, Robert Eaton, Seth Scrabeck, Jesse Lopez, and Jesse Kimball are the young men who have driven the Comets smash-mouth offense as blockers, even though they don't yet have licenses to drive a car. They also man the majority of the interior line on defense.
Sparking the defense are linebackers Alan Erickson and freshman Kai Leach. Erickson has led the team in tackles for three years running and Leach was a one-man wrecking crew on kickoff returns. The defensive secondary is anchored by safety Austin Burkhalter who has led the Comets in interceptions the past two seasons. He and corners Logan Scrabeck and Jesus Martinez could be the keys to stopping the Crusaders' passing attack.
Martinez also ran back four kicks for touchdowns this year. Lopez, Marcos Herrera, Leonel Mendoza and Ian Fauver also play important roles on defense. The super-quick duo of Eaton and Nathan Carlson cause havoc when they are on the front line.
Offensively Scrabeck gained 835 rushing yards and Erickson 592 during the season and Carlson added 566 in the six games he played. Burkhalter carried for 307 yards and added 514 more through the air, going 30-74 for 40 percent. Scrabeck (10), Martinez (six) and John Hines (five) were the leading receivers.
Naselle is also coached by Matt Scrabeck, Paul Wirkkala, and Francis Fabela with middle school coaches Lonnie Eaton and Chris Hinkle also contributing. Clyde Glick, who is sitting out the year for health reasons, also has left his mark from last season on the squad. Athletic director is Brian Macy and Wayne Erickson has provided the statistics.
Not so long ago Naselle's football fortunes were bleak at best as they went winless in both 2002 and 2003, won one game in 2004 and notched their lone league victory in 2005 when they were 2-7 for a combined 3-33 four-year mark. In 2006 the tide began to turn when Naselle went 5-5 and 3-4 in the Pacific and it has been uphill since.
Will the road to the Dome and beyond be an easy one for the Comets in 2009? Considering Naselle is ranked tenth in the latest polls and each of the above-mentioned opponents are all ranked ahead of them, the answer is obvious. Is a deep run in the 2B playoffs possible? Seeing how far the Comets have progressed since 2002, the sky is the limit.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
|
|
|
