4A GSHL football preview: Coaches say Camas looks strong again

We asked 21 coaches — three from each program — to rank the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League. The only rule: Can’t vote for your own team.
Pretty much, tell us where you think every other team in the league will finish this season. We got some interesting answers*, but nothing really surprising.
Camas is No. 1.
Duh.
After all, if there was going to be a Camas season with a small drop-off, logic suggested that would have been last year. Instead, Camas ruled, winning each league game by an average score of 53-16.
Now, the Papermakers return co-league offensive player of the year Liam Fitzgerald, who threw for 2,682 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2014.
In the poll, Camas scored 104 points with 14 first-place votes and four second-place votes.
Skyview finished second in the poll, receiving four first-place votes and scoring 86 points. Union got two first-place votes and scored 81 points to finish third.
That would be the Big Three once again in the 4A GSHL (only Union finished second last season, Skview third). Those three teams have finished 1-2-3 in the three years they have been together in the league.
Mountain View and Battle Ground tied in the poll with 58 points apiece.
Interestingly, Battle Ground earned one first-place vote. That coach believes the Tigers have improved on defense and already have an explosive offense.
Mountain View baffled the group. The Thunder picked up a couple second-place votes but also had one vote to finish sixth.
Evergreen and Heritage rounded out the poll. New head coaches at both programs should lead to improvement, but the poll suggests they are not ready to compete with the better teams just yet.
* — Friendly reminder that polls are for fun. And in the grand scheme of things, they mean nothing.
Still gotta play the games, right?

BATTLE GROUND TIGERS

Coach: Larry Peck (6th season)
2014 season: 4-5, 2-4 in 4A GSHL
Key players: Gunner Talkington, jr., qb; Riley Betcher, sr., wr/db; Chase Gunter, sr., wr; Brady Brick, jr., ol/dl; Kyle Cahoon, sr., wr/db; Andrew Johnson, sr., ol/dl; Max Randle, jr., wr/lb; Travis Stewart, sr., ol/dl; Curtis Stradley, jr., rb; Reed Thompson, sr., db.
Team notes: Win or lose, this team is fun to watch, with an all-league QB leading a hurry-up offense. Only, the Tigers are getting sick of that win-or-lose stuff. They need wins. “It’s time now,” coach Larry Peck said, noting the team played a lot of young guys last year. “We should be much stronger. We have more speed than we’ve ever had.”

Schedule

Sept. 5
at Kent-Meridian, 5 p.m.
Sept. 11
Spanaway Lake, 7 p.m.
Sept. 18
at Skyview*, 8 p.m.
Sept. 25
Mountain View*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 1
Heritage*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 9
at Camas*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 16
at Evergreen*, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 23
Union*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 30
Prairie, 7 p.m.

*—4A GSHL game

CAMAS PAPERMAKERS

Coach: Jon Eagle (8th season)

2014 season: 10-1, 6-0 in 4A GSHL.

Key players: Liam Fitzgerald, sr., qb; Jared Bentley, sr., wr/db; Blake Roy, sr., te/lb; Jarin Webb, sr., dl; Trevor Wochnich, sr., ol/lb; Manase Nguamo, sr., dl; Tyler Blackwell, sr., db; Hunter Bruno, sr., wr/db; Caleb Lightbourn, sr., k/p; Jordan Del Moral, sr., rb/db.

Team notes: Because they win by such large margins, because they are so efficient on offense, one might forget that Camas’ defense is pretty amazing as well. No wonder Camas has gone undefeated in the past three regular seasons. Sure, talent graduates, but last year proved new talent emerges. That’s the Camas way.

Schedule

Sept. 4

at Chiawana, 7 p.m.

Sept. 12

at Federal Way, 2 p.m.

Sept. 18

Rogers-Puyallup, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25

at Evergreen*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 2

at Skyview*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9

Battle Ground*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16

Union*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23

at Mtn. View*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 30

Heritage*, 7 p.m.

*—4A GSHL game

EVERGREEN PLAINSMEN

Coach: Terry Hyde (1st season)

2014 season: 2-7, 1-5 in 4A GSHL.

Key players: J.R. Mataia., sr., dl; Marquis Sampson, jr., wr/db; Ray Salanoa, jr., ol/dl; Dustin Nettles, so., wr/db; D.J. Roberts, sr., rb/lb; Nathaniel Trevino, jr., wr/db; Dallas Goodpaster, sr., rb/lb; Cameron Coffler, jr, dl; Alex Borders, jr, qb/db; Payton Monda, jr., qb/db.

Team notes: A fresh start. Terry Hyde is the third coach in the past four seasons. “When they learn to work as a unit, I feel they’ll compete with anybody on our schedule,” he said. Team leaders say there is a better vibe at practice, noting that the program had become too individually based. Now, it’s about all the Plainsmen.

Schedule

Sept. 4

at Eisenhower, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11

Todd Beamer, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 18

at Heritage*, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 25

Camas*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 2

at Union*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 10

Yelm*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16

Battle Ground*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 23

at Skyview*, 8 p.m.

Oct. 30

Mountain View, 7:30 p.m.

*—4A GSHL game

HERITAGE TIMBERWOLVES

Coach: Matt Gracey (first season)

2014: 3-6, 0-6 in 4A GSHL.

Key players: Manuel Gonzalez, sr., ol/dl; White Sosene, jr., ol/dl; Gavin Lee, jr., qb/db; Kalani Umiamaka, sr., rb/db; Lafi Sosene, sr., rb/lb; Garrett Mason, sr., ol/lb; Nick Somboun, sr., wr/db; Tyler VanBuskirk, sr., te/lb; Coley Foley, sr., rb/lb; J’Won Vick, jr., wr/db.

Team notes: A new coach, a new attitude. It is an attitude. Matt Gracey is not happy. Oh, he’s excited about the progress his players have made since he arrived, but he is fed up with the constant reminders that Heritage finished last in 2014. “I’m taking it personally,” he said. The fired-up Timberwolves hope to earn some respect.

Schedule

Sept. 4

at Prairie, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11

at Hudson’s Bay, 5 p.m.

Sept. 18

Evergreen*, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 25

Skyview*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 1

at Battle Ground*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9

at Union*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 16

Mtn. View*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 23

Kelso, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 30

at Camas*, 7 p.m.

*—4A GSHL game

MOUNTAIN VIEW THUNDER

Coach: Adam Mathieson (8th season)

2014 season: 3-6, 3-3 in 4A GSHL.

Key players: Preston Jones, sr., rb; Chris Mitchell, sr., ol; Isaiah Carbajal, jr., dl; Ethan Tonder, jr., ol; Kimball Elliott, sr., lb; Taj Albeck, sr., rb; Anthony Ramirez, sr., db; Colin Biggs, sr., qb; Troy Pacheco, jr., db; Cameron Henderson, jr., db.

Team notes: If those key players look like a recap from last season, well, it’s because so many key players are back. Including the entire offensive line and a running back who led the region in yards. No wonder expectations are high. This team could run at will before AND now it has had another year of weight training to prepare for 2015.

Schedule

Sept. 5

Auburn-x, 4 p.m.

Sept. 11

at Juanita, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18

Union*, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 25

at Battle Ground*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2

Bethel, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 9

Skyview*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 16

at Heritage*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 23

Camas*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 30

at Evergreen*, 7:30 p.m.

x-at Husky Stadium

*—4A GSHL game

SKYVIEW STORM

Coach: Steve Kizer (12th season)

2014 season: 7-4, 4-2 in 4A GSHL.

Key players: Blake Ingram, sr., lb/rb; Brody Barnum, jr., qb; Olive Emmy, sr., db; Jeremiah Wright, jr., wr/ Jimmy Rowe, sr., ol/dl; Skyler Martin, jr., te/dl; Devon Johnston, sr., ol; Josh Seynaeve, sr., lb; Zach Pelster-Mitchell sr., db; Javan Kelly, so., ol/dl.

Team notes: The Storm were one of three teams from the 4A GSHL to win the Week 10 playoff to make it to state last year. That just makes this group hungrier for more. Steve Kizer said this team has the ability to go far. “We want to try to get that league championship trophy back. We’ll have a veteran group of defensive players, and we’ll run the ball.”

Schedule

Sept. 4

Walla Walla, 5 p.m.

Sept. 11

at Woodinville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18

Battle Ground*, 8 p.m.

Sept. 25

at Heritage*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 2

Camas*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9

at Mtn. View*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 16

at Columbia River, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23

Evergreen*, 8 p.m.

Oct. 30

at Union*, 4:30 p.m.

*—4A GSHL game

UNION TITANS

Coach: Gary McGarvie (2nd season)

2014: 9-2, 5-1 in 4A GSHL.

Key players: Jordan Lawson, sr., qb; Rey Green, sr., rb/db; Keithen Shepard, jr., wr/db; Adrian Andrade, jr., rb/lb; Nate Kuratli, sr., wr/db; Abe Smith, jr., rb/lb; Ian O’Brien, sr. rb/lb; Zach Berfanger, sr., ol/dl; R.J. Quirante, sr., rb/lb; Kai Gamble, jr., te/dl.

Team notes: The Titans have always been able to run the ball. Now add in to the mix Division-I recruit Rey Green. Union has finished second to Camas in each of the past two seasons. Is that more motivation? “Our expectations never change,” McGarvie said. “We expect to be in the league-championship hunt like we are every year.”

Schedule

Sept. 4

Federal Way, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11

Curtis, 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 18

at Mtn. View*, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26

at Spanaway Lake, 1 p.m.

Oct. 2

Evergreen*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 9

Heritage*, 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 16

at Camas*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23

at Battle Ground*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30

Skyview*, 4:30 p.m.

*—4A GSHL game