Interlake Saints
2009: 8-4, 3-3 league, lost to Mark Morris in Class 2A quarterfinals
Coach: Jason Rimkus (1st year)
Returning starters: Offense 4, Defense 3
Key losses: RB/S Brett Kirschner (Montana), OL/LB Evan Spading (Carroll College), WR/DB Anson Frederick, WR Dylan Amell; WR/DB Genki Kawashima
Key returners: QB/DB Matt Malos, Sr.; RB/LB Jacob Marks, Jr.; RB/LB Alex Giseburt, Jr.; RB/DB Jordan Todd, Jr.; OL/DL Colton Faber, Sr.; WR/DB J.T. Capers, Sr.; WR/DB Scotty Gehlhausen, Sr.
Impact newcomers: OL/DL Ernesto Concilla, Jr.; WR/DB Kamana Adriano, Soph.; LB/TE Dominic Jackson, Sr.; OL/DL Sean Foy, Jr.
Player to watch: QB Matt Malos, Sr. For the past two seasons, Malos has been the straw that stirred the drink for the Saints offense. Given the keys to the kingdom by former coach Sheldon Cross (now at WSU), Malos headed up a wide-open passing offense, showing his athleticism by running at any time. Now, the senior quarterback must head up new coach Jason Rimkus’ pro-style offense. How he makes the transition will be a big determinate of Interlake’s success.
Can’t miss game: Interlake at Newport, Sept. 3. These two teams haven’t met since Newport moved to Class 4A in 2008 and though the gap between them stretches two classifications, it will be the first look at the Saints under Rimkus.
Outlook: First-year coach Jason Rimkus has completely overhauled the Interlake program, pointing it in a new direction. How fast the players adjust from a wide-open passing attack to a pro-style offense will have a lot to do with the Saint’s chances of returning to the Class 2A playoffs for the third-straight year.
Schedule
Sept. 3 – at Newport, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 – vs. Roosevelt, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 – at Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 – at Mercer Island, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 – at Mount Si, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – vs. Sammamish, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 – at Lake Washington, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 – vs. Liberty, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 – vs. Juanita, 7 p.m.
Bellevue Wolverines
Last season: 12-2, 6-0 league, Class 3A state champion
Coach: Butch Goncharoff (11th year), 117-11
2009: 12-2 overall, 6-0 league, Class 3A state champion
Returning starters: Offense 2, Defense 1
Key losses: WR/DB Brayden Van Ackeren, QB/DB Joe Joe Conner, OL/DL Julious Moore, TE/LB John Kanongata’a, RB/DB David Nguyen, OL/DL Hank Thayer, OL/DL Jake Hiller, RB/LB Will Fields; RB/DB Freddie Levine, RB/DB Sean Coley; OL/DL Sam Kenney
Key returners: QB/DB Kendrick VanAckeren, Sr.; RB/LB Joey Mangialardi, Sr.; OL/DL Marcus Henry, Sr.; OL/LB Riley Fitting, Sr.; WR/S Michael Foreman, Sr.; TE/LB Elan Richard, Sr.; RB/DB William Bissell, Sr.; WR/DB Evian Richard, Sr.;
Impact newcomers: RB/DB Joey Moore, Jr.QB/DB Tyler Hasty, Jr.; RB/DB Dakota Jones, Soph.; OL/DL Sean Constantine, Soph.
Player to watch: QB/S Kendrick Van Ackeren, Sr. Van Ackeren, a talented safety, steps in as the starting quarterback after Joe Joe Conner’s graduation. Van Ackeren saw plenty of action last season and showed in spurts his athleticism on the field. The senior has big play potential on both sides of the ball and is always a threat with the ball in hand.
Can’t miss game: Sept. 11 vs. Skyline. The teams last met in 2007, a 6-0 Skyline win, which incidentally was the first-ever high school start for Jake Heaps, the Spartan’s record-setting quarterback. While Heaps has graduated, the rivalry has not. This matchup has been clamored for ever since the Spartans moved up to Class 4A. Even without Heaps, Skyline still has Kasen Williams, widely believed to be one of the top wide receivers in the nation. Several Bellevue alums are still bitter about the 2007 loss, and the current squad will look to avenge it at Seattle Memorial Stadium.
Outlook: Replacing 19 starters would seem a daunting task, but several of the new players stepping in have varsity experience under their belts. As coach Butch Goncharoff says, it will take the team time to find their identity and their potential. If Bellevue can get the learning curve under control early, they’ll be a force to deal with come November in search of their eighth state title since 2001.
Schedule
Sept. 4 – at Qwest Field vs. Union, 5:30 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Seattle Memorial Stadium vs. Skyline, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 17 – at Interlake, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 – vs. Lake Sammamish, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 – at Mercer Island, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – at Juanita, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 – at Sammamish, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 – vs. Mount Si, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 – at Liberty, 7 p.m.
Sammamish Totems
Coach: Brian Tucci (2nd year), 3-7
2009: 3-7 overall, 0-6 league
Starters returning: 7 Offense, 6 Defense
Key losses: WR/CB Anthony Do, RB/LB Zack Erickson (Central Washington University), OL/DL Jarret Gifford
Key returners: RB/LB Taylor Ragan, Sr.; QB/S Andrew Engles, Jr.; RB/CB Nick Myers, Jr.; WR/S Austin Lee, Jr.; OL/DL Dane Archer, Sr.; RB/LB Acie Black, Jr.; WR/CB Joey Sullivan, Jr.; OL/DL Chance Griffin, Jr.; OL/DL Shane Kuloloia, Jr.
Impact newcomers: OL/DL Matthew Richard, Sr.; OL/DL Jacob Shenderovich, Jr.; WR/S David Stevens, Jr.; WR/CB Andy Luna, Jr.; RB/LB Sean Smith, Sr.; RB/LB Devante Brown, Sr.; OL/DL Ross Anderson, Sr.
Player to watch: QB Andrew Engles, Jr. Engles gained the respect of teammates last year by playing through pain leading the Totems to two-straight wins to close out the season. Now he’s the undisputed leader of the offense and a captain as a junior. In his second year running the veer offense, watch for Engles to show continued improvement throughout the season.
Can’t miss game: Oct. 8 at Interlake. The Annual Crossroads Cup. If there is one game the Totems want to win, it’s this one. The Saints have owned the Cup in recent years and Sammamish will look to finally bring the trophy back.
Outlook: While still young, Sammamish is relatively experienced given the amount of juniors who received playing time as sophomores. The Totems face off with a bit tougher of a schedule though – starting off with two 4A teams before facing off with two of the conference’s best teams in Liberty and Juanita. Coach Brian Tucci is all about goals and Sammamish certainly seems motivated to keep improving in his second year.
Schedule
Sept. 2 – at Seattle Memorial vs. Ballard, 5 p.m.
Sept. 10 – vs. Garfield, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 – vs. Liberty, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 – vs. Juanita, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 – at Lake Washington, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – at Interlake, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 – vs. Bellevue, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 – vs. Mercer Island, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 – at Mount Si, 7 p.m.
Newport Knights
Coach: Mike Miller (7th year), 32-27
2009: 6-5 overall, 2-3 league, lost in three-way playoff for final league playoff spot
Starters returning: 8 Offense, 7 Defense
Key losses: OL/LB Alex Kairis, QB/LB Ross Quarre
Key returners: RB/S Louie Jachim, Sr.; OL/DL Patrick Taiwo, Sr., WR/S Kevin Martin, Sr.; TE Nick Clifford, Sr.; DB Dan Altchech, Sr.; OL/LB James Burch, Sr.; OL/DL Joe Givens, Sr.; DL Matt Murray, Sr.; RB/DB James Dupar, Sr.; QB/S Isaac Dotson, Soph.; RB Eric Rodan, Soph.
Impact newcomers: QB/DE Lee Stoops, Sr.; RB/DB Jon Luu, Jr.; WR/DB Nick Shankland, Sr.; WR/DB James Ferris, Soph.; OL/LB Spencer Bursek, Jr.; OL/DL Charles Barefield, Sr.; OL/DL Alin Barsan, Jr.; OL/DL Phil Wilgus, Jr.
Player to watch: OL/DL Patrick Taiwo, Sr. The most improved lineman on the Knights, Taiwo performed well in several camps during the summer. A big kid with a mean streak, Newport seniors say they feel bad for whoever matches up on the other side of Taiwo. With interest just starting to heat up on the senior, expect Taiwo to wreck havoc up front on both sides of the ball.
Can’t miss game: Oct. 1 vs. Eastlake. The Wolves knocked Newport out of state playoff contention with a win over the Knights in the three-way playoff to determine the division’s final postseason spot a year ago. The Knights players say they can’t wait to exact revenge on Eastlake this season – and say that loss motivated through the entire offseason.
Outlook: In a complete 180 from last season, coach Mike Miller now has an older, more experienced squad on his hands. By switching to a triple option offensive attack, the Knights will take advantage of the athleticism of sophomore quarterback Isaac Dotson. With the Crest Division of KingCo 4A looking as tough as ever, the Knights will need to bring their best each week if they hope to get over the hump and reach the postseason.
Schedule
Sept. 3 – vs. Interlake, 7 p.m.
Sept. 10 – at Mercer Island, 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 – at Bothell, 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 – vs. Cascade, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1 – vs. Eastlake, 7 p.m.
Oct. 8 – at Skyline, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15 – vs. Redmond, 7 p.m.
Oct. 22 – vs. Issaquah, 7 p.m.
Oct. 29 – crossover game, TBA
