New faces lead the way for Timberwolf football
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The Goldendale Timberwolves launch Coach Donnie Strother's second season as head coach with key spots to fill in the backfield and a few changes in the coaching staff.
The 2008 Timberwolves finished with a 4-5 record behind a balanced offense led by quarterback Austin Ross and running back Kyle Cairns. The team rushed for 177 yards per game and threw for 127 yards per game. Both Ross and Cairns graduated, leaving the positions open for competition.
José Briseno and Ty Cronin are leading candidates at quarterback, Briseno gaining some field time last year in relief of Ross. Torey Spaulding-Jimenez had a good year running the ball last year as a sophomore, but has plenty of competition at running back. Among those competing for a spot is Klickitat senior, Seth Davis, who was a strong, up-back for Lyle-Wishram's eight-man team last year.
The newest face among the coaches is Rich Bartkowski. Bartkowski is a familiar face to many of the players from his recent years coaching youth league football. Bartkowski will coach receivers and defensive backs.
New at defensive coordinator is an experienced hand in Doyle Payne. Payne stepped down from a long, successful career coaching football in Oregon and Washington, most recently as head coach at Goldendale in 2007. He said he was willing to help when he retired, but probably didn't expect to be back in the game at this level. The Timberwolves gave him the call when former defensive coordinator, Takashi Atkins took a job coaching at Simon Fraser University. Payne will have line and defensive back responsibilities.
The other new coach is Brad Bellamy, who has been a volunteer coach up until this year. Bellamy will continue to coach running backs. Rounding out the staff is volunteer coach Mike Lindhe, who coaches offensive and defensive linemen.
The schedule is essentially the same as last year, with home and away games flipped and one game added where last year had a bye week. On Oct. 3, the Timberwolves will entertain the Napavine Tigers, a class 2B team from south of Chehalis. The Tigers aren't just any 2B team They are the defending state champions, having defeated Asotin 28-24 last year. It was the first 2B title for Napavine.
Goldendale will look to carry their momentum deeper into the season this year. In 2008, the Wolves opened league play with blow-outs over Mabton and Cle Elum. Their next three games came after the bye and were all losses, primarily due to their inability to stop the run. Naches Valley rolled up 339 yards against Goldendale and Granger gained 311 the following week.
A tough loss to Zillah in Goldendale meant Goldendale was destined to travel to Royal City for the second straight year to open the playoffs against a perennial championship contender. The Knights have been 1A champs four times since 2000. The Timberwolves will need to find another win or two to find an easier team in the first round this year.
Cougars add speed and more speed
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Nobody is going to run away from Lyle-Wishram in eight man football this year. Coach Don Smith is looking at a backfield that features one of the best sprinters and one of the best hurdlers in 2B track last spring.
The hurdler, of course is junior, Henry Matai, a powerhouse runner who showed great speed in long scoring runs from scrimmage and on kick returns last year. The sprinter is Cody Carlson, somewhat of a surprise on the roster.
Carlson turned in the sixth best time in the state for a 2B runner in the 100 meters, with a 11.34 last year, and he finished second at State in the 200 meters. Toss in Alan Matai, who everyone agrees is super quick, and Keale Wiseman, who showed some flash in baseball, and all the Cougars will need are a few people who can block.
It is the one place that the team might be weaker than last year, but they are working to fill holes on the line with new faces, including Trey Kitchens, Daniel Phipps and Jonathan Marshall. Two strong players return on the line with Nolan Smith and Dillon Huffman. They will also lead the way on the defensive line. Coach Smith believes his defense will be fine with the speedsters in the backfield and Henry Matai and Kitchens at linebacker.
The schedule is a little softer than last year with the absence of Lowell, Ore., but there is no soft touch in league play with teams like Tri-Cities Prep, Touchet, Colton and state champs, LaCrosse-Washtucna. Added this year is the unknown Sunnyside Christian, who has some great athletes. Whether or not they have a football team will become known in Lyle on Sept. 18.
The season gets started on Sept. 3, in Dufur. Expect the Cougars to be fired up for this game after letting the Rangers pull out a last minute victory in Lyle 24-22, last year.
The final game of the season against LaCrosse-Washtucna in Lyle on Nov. 6, should be before a packed house. The Cougars are ineligible for post season play, so the game against the defending champion is Lyle-Wishram's championship game.
World Cup gravity sports returns to Loops
A year ago the International Gravity Sports Association (IGSA) held its championship event at the Maryhill Loops. Over the weeks that followed the event, there was a lot of debate about whether the group would be welcomed to use the fairgrounds as their campground for another year, due to some vandalism that occurred. Members of the IGSA went to great lengths to repair their tarnished reputation (even donating to Goldendale's skate park, even though the city is not in charge of the fairgrounds) and they will be back racing at the Loops and staying at the fairgrounds again.
This time, the event is just one of the world cup events, much the same as in 2007. The cup events are held around the world with one site selected for the championship. There were 153 riders who made single run, time trials last year. The top 96 advanced to bracket racing with six racers per race, with the top half advancing from each race. The last man standing in the skateboard division was Scott "Scoot" Smith, a rider from British Columbia.
This year's event probably won't draw the same number of participants, but there will be a good turnout because the course is so unique. It isn't one of the most challenging courses, but it is one of the longest and it is in excellent condition due to the climate and lack of use. There is also a $6,000 purse for the event.
The course will be open for practice runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a break for lunch. The first time trials will be on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with practice runs in the afternoon.
The second qualifying run will be Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Last chance qualifying races will be held in the afternoon. King of the Hill races for skate boards and street luges run from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The final races are held on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. and running to 5 p.m. Awards will be presented immediately following the final race.
There are six classifications for the races: downhill skateboards, junior downhill skateboards, women's downhill skateboards, in-line skates, street luge and classic luge.
There will be an autograph session from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds on Friday night. An athlete party with live music will be held on Saturday night from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the fairgrounds.
|
