24 • SEPTEMBER 2013
COVER STORY
The Current
2013 Football PREVIEW By Mike Vlahovich
CURRENT CONTRIBUTOR
CURRENT PHOTO BY MIKE VLAHOVICH
Questionable due to an injury this summer, quarterback Adam Chamberlain (left) was nevertheless ready to work on the first day of football practice Aug. 21. CURRENT PHOTO BY MIKE VLAHOVICH
Jeff Beaty, who quarterbacked U-Hi to the State 3A semifinals last year, is back for his senior season.
Young U-Hi roster developing taste for encore University caught lightning in a bottle last year, finishing among the top four 3A teams in state. What can the Titans expect for an encore? “I don’t know,” coach Rob Bartlett said. “What we’ve been preaching from spring ball is to continue the tradition. It’s a new group of kids, but they’ve kind of got that taste.” In order to repeat, callow replacements must grow up in a hurry. The most veteran part of this team is its intact coaching staff. The roster is senior-thin, and Bartlett said sophomores must grow up quickly and play big roles if the Titans are to reach the postseason again. Most of U-Hi’s 2012 offensive statistical leaders graduated. Compounding things, multi-purpose contributor Garrett Schmerer didn’t turn out for the 2013 season. That said, quarterback Jeff Beaty, thrust into the position by necessity, had a tremendous rookie year and is one year older and comfortable in the offense. “We have our returning quarterback,”
EDITOR’S NOTE
This is the first installment of monthly features planned about prep athletes in the greater Spokane Valley area during the 2013-2014 school year. Check out future issues of The Current for coverage of all the various boys and girls sports. Bartlett said. “That’s not something we had last year. We’re secure with Jeff. We are going to hang a lot of what we do around Jeff.” Trevor Martin returns at wideout, and four of five Titans starting offensive linemen — state wrestling placer Tate Orndorff, Kendle Barnard, Austin Ruiz and Kyle Bush — provide vital experience at positions where a team can hang its hat. Michael Prothero and sophomore Bryce Williamson are vying as running back/receiver replacements. Expect several players to go both ways until five or six sophomores, beneficiaries of strength and conditioning, can be called upon to provide depth as the season goes on, Barlett estimated. “We’ve got to get some of that green rubbed off them and plug them in as soon as we can,” Bartlett emphasized. Followers with a keen eye will notice adjustments in the offense. “On the surface, it is pretty similar,” Bartlett said, “but it’s going to change quite a bit.” U-Hi faces Mead at Albi Stadium in the season opener. The Titans have but three home games — defending champion Gonzaga Prep, 3A contender Shadle Park and “Greasy Pig” rival Central Valley — and play a lot of early games at Joe Albi Stadium.
made a lot of saving type tackles,” Giampietri continued. “He’s as good a two-way player as there is in town.” Fortunately, all but the center returns on the offensive line. Veterans include the whole right side — tight end Beau Byus, first-team All-GSL tackle J.D. Boden and guard Shayne Riordan. Hunter Wardian started the last seven games at left tackle following injury to a senior starter, and guard Zach Millard was All-GSL on defense. “We have to rely on the offensive line,” Giampietri said. “We should be able to run the football. That’s kind of the idea.” Giampietri said junior running back Spencer Miller had a good summer’s training, running a 4.6 40, and Jackson Axtell and Hayden Wolrehammer add depth. P.J. Bowden, J.P. Benson and Tucker Stout are in the mix as receivers. “It looks like we have people who can catch it and run decently, so I think we’re OK,” Giampietri said. Such depth comes in handy since the bulk of them also play defensive positions. The Bears, he said, can stack up “really well” in the GSL. A healthy Chamberlain is vital if CV is to challenge, as usual, for the postseason.
A healthy Talented receiving Chamberlain key corps sets pace for 2013 Bears for East Valley Central Valley football coach Rick Giampietri didn’t need to hear this bit of news. Do-all athlete Adam Chamberlain, the returning Bears quarterback, strained an Achilles tendon playing basketball this summer, was put in a protective boot and there was uncertainty of his football status. But the boot came off and there he was, much to Giampietri’s relief, the first day of practice on Aug. 21 as if nothing had happened. Giampietri had said he hoped he’d be ready for CV’s season opener Sept. 6 at home against Ferris, a pre-season Greater Spokane League favorite. “Things took off when we got him in the lineup last year,” Giampietri said of Chamberlain, who became eligible the last half of the season. “He’s one of the better athletes in town (and) just makes things happen — by accident if nothing else — with his legs as much as anything.” The Bears won five of six games with him behind center, including an upset victory over league champion and then unbeaten Gonzaga Prep. “He’s as valuable in the secondary and
Two of the finest all-around athletes in Spokane are the cornerstones of East Valley’s football team that last year was part of a rare four-way tie for first place in the Great Northern League. Multi-sport standouts JT Phelan and Gage Burland are dangerous receivers and defenders on a Knights team hoping to return to the state playoffs. This year, two GNL teams advance directly to the State 2A round of 16. “They are the two best we’ve had,” said coach Adam Fisher, in his 14th year as coach at EV. “They’d start for any school in Spokane.” Phelan was co-offensive player of the year in the GNL, pressed into service as quarterback for two games following an injury to the starter, as well as all-league at defensive back. Burland was first-team all-league at receiver. They’re the targets of a new quarterback, likely junior Colton Ramm (“he’s one of the strongest players on the team,” Fisher said), when the season begin Sept. 6 at home
See GRIDIRON, page 25