Aug. 31: Columbia River
Sept. 1: Fort Vancouver
Today: Prairie
Sept. 3: Hudson’s Bay
Sept. 4: Mountain View (with Kelso)
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Two seasons ago, the Prairie Falcons were a high-flying bunch.
With a strong-armed quarterback and a bevy of speedy receivers, Prairie liked to get the ball into open space and make things happen.
But try to run between the tackles — or trying to stop an opponent from doing the same — and the Falcons often drew the “finesse” label.
“There was a reason for that,” Prairie coach Terry Hyde said. “Our linemen that year were mostly sophomores in their first year on varsity.”
Two years later, led by senior Tyler Grant, those linemen are bigger, stronger and more experienced.
“Our offensive and defensive line will be a strength for us this season,” Hyde said. “We’re going to surprise some people.”
Grant, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman, is a two-time all-3A Greater St. Helens League selection who is getting looks from college programs.
“I’ve talked to coaches at Oregon State,” Grant said. “I’ve gone down (to Corvallis) quite a bit, and they want film on me every week. And Boise State and Eastern Washington are also looking into me. …
“It’s a good feeling. But I’m not as much focused on that right now as I am about getting ready for the season and having a successful season.”
As a senior, Grant embraces the role of co-captain for the Falcons.
“To me, it means you have to show up to absolutely every football event,” Grant said. “You give it everything you got and put the team before yourself. As a senior, you need to be an example for everyone else.”
If success happens this fall for the Falcons, it will have started in the weight room, where about 20 players were consistent participants in the offseason lifting program.
“But it was the 20 players who will be on the field every game,” Grant said. “We got stronger as a team. Last year, we had one player in the 1,000-pound club (combined lifting of bench, squat and clean lifts). This year, we have about 12.”
In addition to the added strength, commitment and experience, the Falcons will also have depth that will allow most of the linemen to focus on the offensive or defensive side of the ball.
“I think we’re going to be pretty good this year,” Grant said. “We only lost three seniors off last year’s team, so we pretty much have the whole team back. We’ve got a veteran line, and three of us have been starting since our sophomore year.”
Taking notice are the playmakers who benefit from the work of those linemen, like all-league receiver Jason Bracken, the Falcons’ other co-captain.
“I always thought we had the best line in the county, but we just didn’t put it together on the field,” Bracken said. “But this year, it’s going to be amazing.”
Prairie Falcons
Coach: Terry Hyde.
2012 record: 3-6, 2-3 4A GSHL.
Key players: Jason Bracken, sr., wr/lb; Tyler Grant, sr., ol/dl; Scott Keyer, sr., ol/p; Mitch Bessett, sr., ol/dl; Manny Velazquez, sr., ol/dl; Matt Vick, sr., ol/lb; Tyler Duncan, sr., rb/dl; Denzel Hamiel, jr., wr/db; Hayden Perrins, sr., ol/dl; Aaron Jacques, sr., te/dl.
Season outlook: The Falcons expected to be a playoff team in 2012. But a pair of six-point losses late to Columbia River and Kelso ended those hopes. With their strength up front and more experience at quarterback, Hyde expects the Falcons to contend for the league championship in 2013. Bracken, Grant, Keyser and Duncan were first-team all-league picks last season. Prairie gets early tests by facing three 4A GSHL teams in non-league action.
2013 SCHEDULE
Sept. 6 at Skyview
Sept. 13 at B. Ground
Sept. 20 Evergreen
Sept. 26 Mark Morris
Oct. 4 at Mtn. View*
Oct. 11 Hudson’s Bay*
Oct. 18 Col. River*
Oct. 25 Ft. Vancouver*
Nov. 1 at Kelso*
Home games played at District Stadium
