Looking at the past present and future of high school football in the Evergreen State.
Staff Report
MaxPreps.com
Best Player: Jake Heaps, Jr., QB, Skyline
Heaps entered his sophomore season as an unknown at the controls of Skyline’s high-octane offense. He enters his junior season with a state championship and All-State honors under his belt after throwing for over 3,000 yards and 31 touchdowns last fall. Although not the same type of physical specimen, Heaps’ accomplishments could rival that of another Jake – current University of Washington signal caller Jake Locker – by the time his career is said and done with. Returning State Leaders – Passing: Jordan Durbin, Prosser, 219-321, 3,744 yards, 58 TDs; Rushing: Tony Heard, Edmonds-Woodway, 260-2,238 yards, 31 TDs.
Best All-Time Player: Mel Hein, Burlington
Hein was one of the first great centers and linebackers in the NFL. His career spanned from 1931 to 1945 and he was the league MVP in 1938. He is also a member of the 1930s All-Decade Team and the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
2008 Must See: Les Schwab Best of the West
Bellevue and Skyline – arguably the state’s top two teams – will head into hostile territory Sept. 6 for the Les Schwab Best of the West at PGE Park in Portland, Ore. Bellevue will face Central Catholic, while Skyline will battle defending Oregon 6A champ Sheldon. Truly a must-see event for Northwest high school football fans.
On The Throne: Skyline
The Spartans are the defending 3A state champions and are 53-9 since 2003, but there are some question marks heading into 2008. First, Skyline is making the jump from 3A to 4A. That may not be a bad thing considering they won’t have to go through former league rival Bellevue to repeat. More importantly will be how the program responds to the loss of head coach Steve Gervais, who was 244-87 in 31 years as a head coach and won six state titles. Gervais was hired in March by the University of Washington to coach running backs.
Best Rivalry: Puyallup vs. Rogers
The schools share a home field and are located less than five miles from each other. Puyallup has been the bully in the series over the years with NFL products like Todd Elstrom, Billy Joe Hobert, Brock and Damon Huard and Dane Looker leading the way, but Rogers beat down the Vikings (35-17) last fall for its first win since 1999.
Future Star(s): Larry Dixon, Jr., RB, Olympic/Kasen Williams, So., WR, Skyline
Dixon came out of nowhere to rush for 1,634 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore. With his 5-foot-10, 210-pound frame, he has drawn comparisons to former Washington prepster and current Carolina Panther Jonathan Stewart. Williams came on strong for 3A champion Skyline in the state playoffs, posting a pair of 100-yard receiving games in the postseason as a freshman.
Fun Fact
Prosser and head coach Tom Moore consistently put together one of the top offensive units in the state, averaging 42 or more points per game in each of the last four seasons. The Mustangs averaged 52.1 points per game in 2007, 56.1 in 2006, 48.9 in 2005, 42.3 in 2004. From 2003 to 2007, Prosser posted 40 points or more in 42 of 67 games, topping 50 points in 27 of those games and 60 points in 16.
MaxPreps Preseason All-State Team
WR – Gino Simone, Skyline
WR – Kirby Moore, Prosser
WR – Mike Reeve, Rainier Beach
TE – Travis Long, Gonzaga Prep
OL – Nate Meek, Prosser
OL – Grant Enger, O’Dea
OL – Kyle Hofman, Orcas Island
OL – Hunter Blackmore, Kentwood
OL – Danny Kistler, O’Dea
QB – Jake Heaps, Skyline
QB – Jordan Durbin, Prosser
RB – Tony Heard, Edmonds Woodway
RB – Andre Barrington, Federal Way
RB – Ronald Baines, Mount Tahoma
ATH – Kyrell Hudson, Evergreen
K – Kevin Flavin, Oak Harbor
DL – Geoff Meinken, Lynnwood
DL – Deandre Coleman, Garfield
DL – ‘Alo’ofa Ta’a, Rainier Beach
DL – Chris Mastin, Lewis and Clark
LB – Allen Mooney, O’Dea
LB – Marcel Seely, Kamiak
LB – Paul Ena, Inglemoor
LB – Andru Pulu, Federal Way
LB – Turner Lee, Eastlake
DB –Nolan Washington, Kennedy
DB – Casey Locker, Ferndale
DB – Desmond Trufant, Wilson
DB – Jamal Atofau, Bellevue
P – Jake Frauenholtz, Everett
