Mountain View football preview: Tight-knit corps of receivers lead balanced, deep Thunder

Moen, the projected starting quarterback, also praised his teammates’ love for the game as for what makes them a special receiving group. What Mathieson believes isn’t talked about as much as it should is players’ football intelligence. The coach praised football smarts and book smarts, and when it comes to receiver route adjustments, that’s where the some of the intelligence shines.

Like Moen, Mathieson puts all faith into his receivers.

“They’re the first group that has the freedom to make route adjustments in the middle of a route,” Mathieson said. “I’ve never felt 100 percent comfortable doing that before.”

This is a Mountain View program that has won back-to-back 3A Greater St. Helens League titles, returns the co-league defensive MVP in senior linebacker Andrew Gulliford, and is 15-0 in league games as a Class 3A team dating back to the 2013 season.

League titles are great, but players such as Earnhardt want to get past that first-round state playoff hurdle and pesky Peninsula. That’s the team that’s ended the Thunder’s season in 2016 and ’17.

“It’s a big season,” Earnhardt said. “… I’m tired of losing to them.”

3 THINGS TO KNOW

• Coach Adam Mathieson says receiving corps is the best in his 11-year tenure.

• Program has a 15-game unbeaten streak in the 3A GSHL.

• Linebacker Andrew Gulliford is reigning co-league defensive MVP.

2017 season: 8-3, 5-0 3A GSHL. Reached first round of state playoffs

Best state finish: Semifinals in 2001, ’02

Schedule

Home games at McKenzie Stadium

League games in bold

Aug. 31 Union 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Juanita 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 Battle Ground 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Heritage 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Hudson’s Bay 8 p.m.

Oct. 5 Prairie 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 Evergreen 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Kelso 7 p.m.

Oct. 25 Fort Vancouver 7 p.m.