Toutle Lake Jeff Capmbell

 
EDWALL, Washington - 2008 Central League Preview and Projection
2007 Finish Overall League
1. Toutle Lake 11-3 6-2
2. Adna 10-1 8-0
3. Napavine 6-4 5-3
4. Wahkiakum 5-4 5-3
5. Mossyrock 5-5 5-3
6. Pe Ell 5-5 4-4
7. Morton 4-6 2-6
8. Vancouver Chr 1-9 0-8
9. White Pass 1-9 1-7
2008 Predicted Finish
1. Toutle Lake
2. Adna
3. Mossyrock
4. Wahkiakum
5. Napavine
6. Pe Ell
7. White Pass
8. Morton
9. Vancouver Christian


Wow, talk about the toughest league in the state to predict. The favorite has to be Toutle Lake. They came off a great 2007 season that saw the Ducks make it all the way to the title game after finishing second in their league. They return the most contributors in the league as well. QB Cody O’Conner returns to lead the Ducks from under center. Toutle Lake’s offensive and defensive lines will be their biggest asset as both sides of the ball will be experienced. Senior Jeff Campbell will be a beast running behind that experienced line. Combine Campbell with Senior Boomer Nash and the Ducks have a one-two punch in the backfield. The ducks will use their size and experience to control the line of scrimmage as well as control the pace of the game. To win the Central you’re going to have to beat Toutle Lake.

This is where the Central League gets a little tight. Every league game in the Central is going to be a dog fight. Those that survive will win a state playoff birth, those that don’t either fell victim to injury, didn’t bring it, or didn’t get any luck. Adna, Napavine, Mossyrock, Wahkiakum, and Pe Ell will all be fighting to make the playoffs. Pending WIAA league allocations, two possibly three teams could be staying home. I pick the Adna Pirates to finish second in the Central. The Pirates graduated a lot of starters but they bring back some studs. Junior QB Kyle Grosshan's is going to fill in nicely for the graduated Robbie Elliot. Grosshans is a threat to either run or pass. Once he gets some game experience under his belt he should be very solid gamer for the Adna Pirates. Running back Jared Rogers is a name everyone in the central already knows, soon everyone in the state will know his name as well. Rogers is one of those backs that can take it to the house at any given moment. Look for Rogers to generate many big plays this season. Anthony Tatum will assist the Pirates from the slot position and get some touches from the backfield as well. Tatum is equally dangerous in kickoff and punt return situations. Although the Pirates will be inexperienced on both the offensive and defensive lines, look for the Pirates to improve each week. Defensively linebacker Anthony Tatum and free safety Jared Rogers will keep any team executing a big play.

Mossyrock, Napavine, Wahkiakum and Pe Ell, will all be in a dog fight. Mossyrock returns an outstanding QB in junior Nic Gressett. Gressett has the opportunity to throw to one of the best receivers in the state in wide receiver Scott Wedman. Wedman broke the Mossyrock school record for catches last season as a sophomore with 34 receptions. Senior running back Jeremy Harper will make opponents respect the run game. Harper is an outstanding tailback and should have a great senior season. The offensive and defensive lines for the Vikings will be anchored by Christian Brown and Brendan Palmer. Mossyrock is very solid at the skill position; the only issue that could hamper the Vikings would be their depth. The Wahkiakum Mules are the Wahkiakum Mules. Eric Hansen could win football games with a paper clip and a stick of gum, the same stuff MacGyver gets out of sticky situation with. The biggest loss to the Mules this season is junior running back Joel Nicolazzi who broke his ankle during football camp this summer and will miss the entire season with pins in his foot. The Mules return a very experienced line and probably the most experience Hansen has had since 2004. Senior QB Joel Fudge will call the shots and should have a great season from the QB and DB positions. Two Time Central All-League Player Ty Bain will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. The Mules will need to stay healthy, after the starters the depth gets into sophomores and freshman.

Napavine is a team that can cause anyone in the central trouble. The Tigers are huge on the front line averaging close to 300lbs. Junior Damon Garnas and senior Cody Burrese will anchor both the offensive and defensive lines. The Tigers will need to get big plays from Senior Connor Craft, as well as find ways to get the ball into the hands of play maker Micah Brown. The Napavine Tigers will benefit the most by buying into Coach Josh Fay’s game plans week in and week out.

Pe Ell is a team nobody should take lightly in the central league. Pe Ell snuck up and beat Napavine last season, which cost the Tigers an outright berth to the state playoffs. Eric Pace is a big yardage running back. Pe Ell is a quick team with a solid Quarterback. The Trojans have a brutal schedule having to play many of the top teams in the league back-to-back-to-back. The Trojans will have to prove they belong and get big wins to advance beyond league play.