PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Eagles, Decatur, Beamer and TJ seek to advance further
Published 12:08 pm Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Federal Way Eagles
Coach: John Meagher
Last year’s record: 10-3 (third in SPSL South)
Top returners: Sr. Chico McClatcher, RB/DB (5-8, 165); Sr. Jared Pulu, OL/LB (6-4, 225); Sr. David Tiumalu (6-0, 250); Jr. Eric Auelua, RB/LB (5-10,190), Sr. Robert Savusa, OL/DL (6-2, 265); Sr. Charlie Taumoepeau, WR/LB (6-3, 215); Sr. Damani Thomas, DB (5-11, 170); Jr. Andrzej Hughes-Murray, FB/LB (6-2,230)
Key newcomers: Jr. D’Jimon Jones, QB (6-2,170), Jr. Bobi Sims (6-1, 170)
Todd Beamer Titans
Coach: Darren McKay
Last year’s record: 4-6 (seventh in SPSL South)
Top returners: Sr. Brody Martinez, RB/DB, (5-10, 196); Sr. Gabe Mojarro, OL/DL, (6-1, 212); Sr. J.J. Silao, OL/DL, (6-0, 290); Sr. Christian Stafford, WR, (6-3, 185); Sr. Taylor Davis, QB, (6-1, 170)
Key newcomers: None listed
Thomas Jefferson Raiders
Coach: Jeff Zenisek
Last year’s record: 5-5 (fourth in SPSL North)
Top returners: Sr. Zach Grayson, RB (6-1, 205); Sr. Jake Kauhane, OL/DL (6-3, 295); Sr. Kenny Turner, DL (6-1, 220)
Key newcomers: None listed
Decatur Gators
Coach: Levi Suiaunoa
Last year’s record: 1-9 (sixth in SPSL 3A)
Top returners: Sr. Isaiah Hatch, QB (5-9, 170); Sr. Isaiah Diggs RB/DB (5-6, 165); Sr. Keandre Blackshire (5-11, 175)
Key newcomers: None listed
Federal Way ended the season as the class of the SPSL. After playing their way to the Class 4A semifinals last year, the team is looking to go further.
The Eagles had an up and down season last year. The high points were very high and included playoff wins over the favored Skyline Spartans and the Richland Bombers.
The lows were as brutal as the high points were good. In the three losses Federal Way had last year, they were beaten by a combined score of 111-35. Twenty-one of those points came against Graham-Kapowsin in a game where they trailed 32-7 after three quarters.
“All three of our losses last year were rough losses,” said Federal Way head coach John Meagher. “This year we’re trying to make sure we don’t let things slip away too quickly and putting our kids in a position to be successful.”
When it comes to playmakers, Chico McClatcher may be the best in the state. The speedy 5-foot-8 running back will be tough to contain once again. Last year, McClatcher had over 2,600 all-purpose yards and 26 touchdowns. He has been named a team captain for his senior year.
“We have high expectations for him,” Meagher said. “He’s gotten better every year. We expect more of the same.”
Up front Jared Pulu, David Tiumalu and Robert Savusa will lead the way for McClatcher. All were varsity starters last season. Tiumalu, the starting center and linebacker, was named first-team all-SPSL South last season.
Joining Tiumalu and Pulu at the linebacker positions will be Chris Tuiasosopo, Charlie Taumoepeau and Andrzej Hughes-Murray. Each of these players played significant time last year as well and will provide a boost to the defense.
One key player from last year’s team that must be replaced is Keenan Curran who played quarterback and safety for the Eagles last year.
“It’s hard to replace a Keenan Curran physically or emotionally,” Meagher said. “Keenan was such an on and off the field leader. We’re going to miss him a lot.”
The task of replicating the success of Curran as a quarterback falls in the hands of D’Jimon Jones. Jones saw playing time in multiple games last year where he would throw four touchdown passes.
Another newcomer to watch out for is wide receiver, Bobby Sims. Sims transferred to Federal Way this year from O’Dea where he was voted all-Metro Mountain second-team.
A big change for the Federal Way schools this year is that they are all in the same division. After reclassification this year, the SPSL was left with 17 teams. The Federal Way schools will reside in the SPSL Northwest, along with Mt. Rainier High School.
“I love it,” Meagher said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve played all of them in the same season. It matches our geography and it makes it so we can create some city rivalries. It’s just fun playing your cross-town rivals.”
Federal Way will open the season at 6 p.m. Sept. 6 against the Union Titans at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.
Todd Beamer Titans
The Titans are looking to take the next step this season as head coach Darren McKay enters his third year. The team is eyeing their second ever playoff berth this season.
Beamer finished last year at 4-6 but ended the year with two consecutive wins. They will be looking to build on that finish as they return nine starters on offense and seven on defense.
“The second year we were much more competitive,” said McKay. “We upset a couple teams that we weren’t supposed to and did some things we weren’t expected to do. We feel good about where we are now in comparison to the first two years.”
Beamer moves into the newly formed SPSL Northwest division along with the other Federal Way schools and Mt. Rainier High School. McKay says he looks forward to finally being able to play against the rest of the district schools as Beamer never has been able to.
The big playmaker for the Titans will be the senior running back, Brody Martinez. Martinez ran for 1,300 yards last year and was named to the all-SPSL first team.
Martinez will be running behind the experienced duo of seniors Gabe Majarro and J.J. Silao. The two linemen will be pivotal in establishing the Titans power running attack.
The Titans are also looking to utilize the size of Christian Stafford as a change of pace in the passing attack. The 6-foot-3 receiver will cause headaches.
Beamer begins their season at 7 p.m., Sept. 5 at Federal Way Memorial Stadium against the Rogers Rams.
Decatur Golden Gators
Decatur has seen some rough years recently. During the four years the Gators spent in 3A, they were not able to manage more than four wins. Now the Gators return to 4A with a young team and a new coach.
Levi Suiaunoa takes over the head coach role from Leon Hatch, who coached the team from 2007 through last year. Suiaunoa spent the last five years as an assistant coach at Eastern Oregon University. He was the defensive coordinator most recently.
“It’s taken some adjustment,” Suiaunoa said. “I’m realizing that I’m dealing with high school kids again. You don’t get a product that’s already been coached up. You have to teach the kids the game of football.”
The Gators will come into the season with only 10 seniors on their roster. They are also light on starters from last year with two returning on each side of the ball.
With so few starters returning, they will look towards their quarterback, Isaiah Hatch and their running back, Isaiah Diggs, to lead the way on offense. Defensive back Keandre Blackshire will lead the team defensively.
Suiaunoa says that the team’s offensive and defensive philosophy will play towards the players strengths. Regardless of what the team runs, he would like to make sure the team is always playing hard.
“I’d like the other teams to say that we’re a hard-nosed, tough football team that played to the last whistle,” Suiaunoa said. “We’ll let our effort and our hard work sort things out. We just have to worry about us. That’s what this team will be.”
Decatur begins their season at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at Federal Way Memorial Stadium against the Spanaway Lake Sentinels.
Jefferson Raiders
The Raiders were a playoff team last year and have been one two of the last three. There is a good chance that this year could be their second consecutive trip.
After last season, head coach Dean Peck stepped down after six years with the team. Stepping into the role as the new head coach is Jeff Zenisek.
Zenisek was the head coach at Tenino the last four years. Last year he led the team to a division title and playoff victory.
“We’ve got some weapons,” Zenisek said. “The cupboard is full. We have some really good athletes and good speed. We have a lot of good kids with really good work ethic.”
Jefferson is going to have some adjustments to make with only three starters returning on offense. The defense has much less turnover with eight returning starters from last year.
The big name returning to the team this year is running back Zach Grayson. Grayson was the top rusher in the SPSL North last year and was named to the all-SPSL North first team. Last season he ran for 200 yards in a single game twice.
Jake Kauhane and Kenny Turner will be other names to watch out for. Kauhane was an honorable mention on last year’s all-SPSL team.
Zenisek says that the starters for each position have not been set yet. He plans to get things figured out during the scrimmage on Aug. 30.
Jefferson opens their season at 7 p.m. Sept. 5 against the Puyallup Vikings at Sparks Stadium.
