FALL PREVIEW-Naselle Football
LEAGUE: Pacific 2B League
The Comets keep 11-man football under the new 2B classification (smaller 1B schools will play 8-man football). The Cen-Pac rivalry with Wahkiakum is gone, but the league is still powerful with Valley, Tacoma Baptist and North Beach all very tough recently and South Bend possessing a lot of returning talent
HEAD COACH: Robin Andrea (3rd year, 4-13)
ASST COACHES: Jeff Eaton
After 11 years at the helm in Astoria, Andrea begins the third year of a rebuilding program as one of the smaller schools in a tough and deep football league.
2005 RECORD: 2-7 (0-5 Cen-Pac League)
LAST PLAYOFFS: 2001-lost at Wahkiakum 49-0
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: ?
LAST PLAYOFF WIN: 1998-beat Chief Leschi 36-12
Only state tournament win came in 1986, a 21-15 victory over Coupeville in a game played at Willapa Valley High School. The Comets have not reached the state playoffs in football since 1998. The deepest playoff run for this traditional basketball power came in 1986 with a 33-6 quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Onalaska
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES: none
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES: Colby Engelson, Caleb Hazen
With injuries and other attrition, only two seniors finished the 2005 season for the Comets.
OFFENSE: triple-option veerDEFENSE: 4-3
RETURNING ALL-STARS:
RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense/4 defense*
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 13
KEY RETURNEES: Kyle Burkhalter (Jr., QB/DB), Nick Hines (So., WR/CB), Bo Keightley (Sr., OL/DL), Mike Shirley (SO., C/LB), Tony Ruch (Sr., FB/DL), Jeremy Ray (Sr., TE/SS), Kevin Maki (Jr., OL/DL)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Austin Burkhalter (Fr., RB/DB), Colton Gilbert (Fr., FB/LB), Alan Erickson (Fr., RB/LB), Thomas Rose (So., OL/DL)
The Comets continue to improve on the gridiron under Robin Andrea, a coach whose lengthy resume includes stints at the Division I college level in Utah and at the 4A Washington and 3A Oregon levels. Andrea will continue to run the veer option, but with talented junior Kyle Burkhalter calling the signals and speedy Nick Hines on the outside, expect the Comets to throw the ball more than usual this year. Keeping Burkhalter on his feet and in the lineup will be critical to any success Naselle has this season.
Naselle will take a hit at the beginning of the year, due to the disciplinary suspension of multiple returning starters, including all-leaguers Jason Gradt and Brad Erickson, for the first three weeks of the season. But the program continues to build with another talented class of freshmen, including Burkhalter's younger brother Austin, superfast frosh Colton Gilbert (4.66 40, fastest on the team and superb for a frosh) and Alan Erickson. The Comets line will be bolstered with the addition of sophomore Thomas Rose, a 5-9, 230 pound transfer from Wahkiakum.
There should be measurable improvement in Naselle's performance, although it may not be reflected in the standings, with powerhouse B teams like Valley and Tacoma Baptist and strong competition expected from South Bend and Raymond. Northwest Christian inaugurates its football program this season and North Beach lost a ton of talent and is struggling with numbers, so Naselle has an opportunity to pick up a couple of wins in league along with winnable matchups against Vancouver Christian, Christian Faith and the Astoria J.V. team on the non-league slate. The Fishermen junior varsity visits for a Thursday night matchup in week two that should have the Pentilla Field stands packed!
The Comets keep 11-man football under the new 2B classification (smaller 1B schools will play 8-man football). The Cen-Pac rivalry with Wahkiakum is gone, but the league is still powerful with Valley, Tacoma Baptist and North Beach all very tough recently and South Bend possessing a lot of returning talent
HEAD COACH: Robin Andrea (3rd year, 4-13)
ASST COACHES: Jeff Eaton
After 11 years at the helm in Astoria, Andrea begins the third year of a rebuilding program as one of the smaller schools in a tough and deep football league.
2005 RECORD: 2-7 (0-5 Cen-Pac League)
LAST PLAYOFFS: 2001-lost at Wahkiakum 49-0
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: ?
LAST PLAYOFF WIN: 1998-beat Chief Leschi 36-12
Only state tournament win came in 1986, a 21-15 victory over Coupeville in a game played at Willapa Valley High School. The Comets have not reached the state playoffs in football since 1998. The deepest playoff run for this traditional basketball power came in 1986 with a 33-6 quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Onalaska
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES: none
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES: Colby Engelson, Caleb Hazen
With injuries and other attrition, only two seniors finished the 2005 season for the Comets.
OFFENSE: triple-option veerDEFENSE: 4-3
RETURNING ALL-STARS:
RETURNING STARTERS: 6 offense/4 defense*
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 13
KEY RETURNEES: Kyle Burkhalter (Jr., QB/DB), Nick Hines (So., WR/CB), Bo Keightley (Sr., OL/DL), Mike Shirley (SO., C/LB), Tony Ruch (Sr., FB/DL), Jeremy Ray (Sr., TE/SS), Kevin Maki (Jr., OL/DL)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Austin Burkhalter (Fr., RB/DB), Colton Gilbert (Fr., FB/LB), Alan Erickson (Fr., RB/LB), Thomas Rose (So., OL/DL)
The Comets continue to improve on the gridiron under Robin Andrea, a coach whose lengthy resume includes stints at the Division I college level in Utah and at the 4A Washington and 3A Oregon levels. Andrea will continue to run the veer option, but with talented junior Kyle Burkhalter calling the signals and speedy Nick Hines on the outside, expect the Comets to throw the ball more than usual this year. Keeping Burkhalter on his feet and in the lineup will be critical to any success Naselle has this season.
Naselle will take a hit at the beginning of the year, due to the disciplinary suspension of multiple returning starters, including all-leaguers Jason Gradt and Brad Erickson, for the first three weeks of the season. But the program continues to build with another talented class of freshmen, including Burkhalter's younger brother Austin, superfast frosh Colton Gilbert (4.66 40, fastest on the team and superb for a frosh) and Alan Erickson. The Comets line will be bolstered with the addition of sophomore Thomas Rose, a 5-9, 230 pound transfer from Wahkiakum.
There should be measurable improvement in Naselle's performance, although it may not be reflected in the standings, with powerhouse B teams like Valley and Tacoma Baptist and strong competition expected from South Bend and Raymond. Northwest Christian inaugurates its football program this season and North Beach lost a ton of talent and is struggling with numbers, so Naselle has an opportunity to pick up a couple of wins in league along with winnable matchups against Vancouver Christian, Christian Faith and the Astoria J.V. team on the non-league slate. The Fishermen junior varsity visits for a Thursday night matchup in week two that should have the Pentilla Field stands packed!
posted by Matt Richert at 9:55 AM
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