COWAPA FOOTBALL PREVIEW-Tillamook
HEAD COACH: Dave Ackerman (3rd year current, 4th overall at Tillamook)
Veteran coach returns for third year of current tenure. Ackerman teams play with class and are well-coached as the Cheesemakers surprise playoff appearance in 2004 attests, his second playoff team after a 1977 championship appearance.
2005 RECORD: 5-5 (2-3 Cowapa League 4th place)
LAST PLAYOFFS: 2004-lost 31-15 at Siuslaw after 3rd place finish
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 1998 (Valco League)-beat Burns 9-8 then lost to Scappoose 40-27 in quarterfinals
LAST PLAYOFF WIN:1999-beat Bandon 27-6, lost in 2nd round 13-7 at Sherwood
The Cheesemakers will have a hard time matching last year's 5-5 record after 1-4 start to the season.
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES: none
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES: Maciah Schneider (FB/all-Cowapa LB), Jaime Valencia (all-Cowapa OL/DL), Charly Lusby (all-Cowapa OL), Scott Parker (aLL-Cowapa DB), Zach Munoz (RB), Kyle McMullen (QB)
Although nobody suffered as big a graduation his as Banks, the losses were significant for the Cheesemakers, who graduated their starting offensive backfield along with key players from other units. Two-way starter Maciah Schneider, a 3-year standout, has the biggest shoes to fill as Munoz benefitted from his crushing lead blocks.
RETURNING ALL-STARS:Chris Barksdale (all-Cowapa DE, 6-3, 220, Sr.), Curtis Fetzer (HM all-Cowapa P, 5-9, 165, Sr. LB/RB-started at SS in '05)
RETURNING STARTERS: 3 offense, 2 defense, 4 total players
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 16
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Jarrett "Bubba" Owens (OL/DL, 6-2, 265, Jr.), Blake Miller (TE/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.), Blaise Bennett (RB/DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Treve Widmer (Tillamook Adventist School Sr., WR/DB)
The Mooks completed a brutal preseason schedule with just one win, a 26-7 victory at home over Estacada. Seven turnovers cost them in a 35-21 loss to Sweet Home. The other three games were against playoff teams from Hidden Valley, Central and Siuslaw.
The Cheesemakers have suffered a rash of injuries, which have seen the aptly named Blaise Bennett miss three games and backfield mate Juan Delatorre miss most of the last two. Injuries on the line may cost Tillamook a pair of starters for tonight's season opener at Scappoose.
The good news is Bennett is back in the lineup. The defending state 200 meter champ, Bennett, who backed up Zach Munoz in '05, rushed for over 100 yards in the loss to Siuslaw and gives the Cheesmakers a legitimate gamebreaker.
The Mooks came out firing the first two weeks as it seems that everybody in the league is showing off a spread offense. New quarterback Jake Pugh (6-2, 180, Sr.) attempted 41 passes in losses to Hidden Valley (38-0) and Central (in overtime, 28-27), but the Mooks are looking for a better balance with their traditional 2-tight end I-formation set. Pugh has also had success running the football, as his his 7.2 yards per carry attests (32-231). Delatorre leads the Mooks banged up backfield with 242 yards on 40 carries but is out with a hand injury. Jeremy Coon has had the most touches with 57 carries for 220 yards.
Owens is a force on the wrestling mat, where he will contend for a heavyweight championship next year. The second-year starter is still just a junior and an emerging talent on the Mooks offensive line.
OUTLOOK: On the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Don't ever overlook this team, particularly when playing at Tillamook. The Mooks open with Scappoose and gave the Indians a scare last year, losing 20-14. Bennett is a threat to go the distance any time he touches the ball and that will always give Tillamook a puncher's chance if their defense holds.
COACH ACKERMAN SAYS: "The kids have improved every week. We had a very tough preseason schedule. We have improved every game and we've got to keep doing that. In games where we've been competitive, we've kept turnovers down.
Veteran coach returns for third year of current tenure. Ackerman teams play with class and are well-coached as the Cheesemakers surprise playoff appearance in 2004 attests, his second playoff team after a 1977 championship appearance.
2005 RECORD: 5-5 (2-3 Cowapa League 4th place)
LAST PLAYOFFS: 2004-lost 31-15 at Siuslaw after 3rd place finish
LAST LEAGUE TITLE: 1998 (Valco League)-beat Burns 9-8 then lost to Scappoose 40-27 in quarterfinals
LAST PLAYOFF WIN:1999-beat Bandon 27-6, lost in 2nd round 13-7 at Sherwood
The Cheesemakers will have a hard time matching last year's 5-5 record after 1-4 start to the season.
CURRENT COLLEGE/PRO ATHLETES: none
KEY GRAUDUATES/LOSSES: Maciah Schneider (FB/all-Cowapa LB), Jaime Valencia (all-Cowapa OL/DL), Charly Lusby (all-Cowapa OL), Scott Parker (aLL-Cowapa DB), Zach Munoz (RB), Kyle McMullen (QB)
Although nobody suffered as big a graduation his as Banks, the losses were significant for the Cheesemakers, who graduated their starting offensive backfield along with key players from other units. Two-way starter Maciah Schneider, a 3-year standout, has the biggest shoes to fill as Munoz benefitted from his crushing lead blocks.
RETURNING ALL-STARS:Chris Barksdale (all-Cowapa DE, 6-3, 220, Sr.), Curtis Fetzer (HM all-Cowapa P, 5-9, 165, Sr. LB/RB-started at SS in '05)
RETURNING STARTERS: 3 offense, 2 defense, 4 total players
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 16
OTHER KEY RETURNEES: Jarrett "Bubba" Owens (OL/DL, 6-2, 265, Jr.), Blake Miller (TE/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.), Blaise Bennett (RB/DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.)
KEY NEWCOMERS: Treve Widmer (Tillamook Adventist School Sr., WR/DB)
The Mooks completed a brutal preseason schedule with just one win, a 26-7 victory at home over Estacada. Seven turnovers cost them in a 35-21 loss to Sweet Home. The other three games were against playoff teams from Hidden Valley, Central and Siuslaw.
The Cheesemakers have suffered a rash of injuries, which have seen the aptly named Blaise Bennett miss three games and backfield mate Juan Delatorre miss most of the last two. Injuries on the line may cost Tillamook a pair of starters for tonight's season opener at Scappoose.
The good news is Bennett is back in the lineup. The defending state 200 meter champ, Bennett, who backed up Zach Munoz in '05, rushed for over 100 yards in the loss to Siuslaw and gives the Cheesmakers a legitimate gamebreaker.
The Mooks came out firing the first two weeks as it seems that everybody in the league is showing off a spread offense. New quarterback Jake Pugh (6-2, 180, Sr.) attempted 41 passes in losses to Hidden Valley (38-0) and Central (in overtime, 28-27), but the Mooks are looking for a better balance with their traditional 2-tight end I-formation set. Pugh has also had success running the football, as his his 7.2 yards per carry attests (32-231). Delatorre leads the Mooks banged up backfield with 242 yards on 40 carries but is out with a hand injury. Jeremy Coon has had the most touches with 57 carries for 220 yards.
Owens is a force on the wrestling mat, where he will contend for a heavyweight championship next year. The second-year starter is still just a junior and an emerging talent on the Mooks offensive line.
OUTLOOK: On the outside looking in when it comes to the playoffs. Don't ever overlook this team, particularly when playing at Tillamook. The Mooks open with Scappoose and gave the Indians a scare last year, losing 20-14. Bennett is a threat to go the distance any time he touches the ball and that will always give Tillamook a puncher's chance if their defense holds.
COACH ACKERMAN SAYS: "The kids have improved every week. We had a very tough preseason schedule. We have improved every game and we've got to keep doing that. In games where we've been competitive, we've kept turnovers down.
posted by Matt Richert at 9:41 AM
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