Prep Football • The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash. Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011• 5
Young Mossyrock Hoping to Learn a Lot in 2011 FEW SENIORS: Vikings Have Just Three Seniors on Roster, But Plenty of Speed
mossyrock Vikings Central 2B League
By Aaron VanTuyl
Coach: Curt Spahn (first)
avantuyl@chronline.com
The Vikings have a new coach and a new quarterback in one of the toughest leagues in the state, with a grand total of three seniors on the roster. Needless to say, they’re optimistically treating the season as an educational experience. “We’re really prepared for the year to be a learning year,” said Mossyrock coach Curt Spahn, who takes over for Rusty Nelson. “Really, the entire team’s going to be back next year, so with what we’re trying to do, I think it’s just going to be a running year for us. We hope this team’s looking to try to work a spot into the playoffs.” Sophomore Shaun Stephens (6-2, 170 lbs.) will take the snaps, with Kyler Hazen at running back and Cody Shriver at slot receiver. Brandon Richardson, a senior, will play wide receiver and has speed to burn after finishing third in the 100 meters at the State 2B Track & Field Championships in May. Senior Colby Jensen (6-2, 190 lbs.) will take over at tight end. “We’re kind of sticking with a lot of the same stuff that Rusty (Nelson) ran,” Spahn said. “A lot of offset-I, and we’re introducing some read stuff out of the shotgun.” So far, according to Spahn, the learning is going well. “I think we’re ahead of schedule
2010 Record: 5-5 Date Sept. 2 Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 23 Sept. 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 27 Nov. 5
Opponent at MWP (Randle) Winlock Pe Ell at Toutle Lake Wahkiakum at Napavine North Beach Adna Pacific Crossover
Time 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. TBD
with what we’re trying to do,” he said. The team’s defensive strength is its speed on the corners, with Shriver and Richardson at outside linebacker and Chase Nichols at middle linebacker. Riley Spahn heads up the line, though two of his fellow linemen will miss the first few games with injuries. “We’re just trying to get by for a couple weeks, until we get our starters back,” Spahn said. Mossyrock starts its season off tomorrow when it heads to Randle to take Pete Caster / pcaster@chronline.com on East Lewis County rival Morton- Mossyrock’s Brandon Richardson runs onto the field before the Vikings’ home opener last season White Pass. against Morton-White Pass. Richardson is one of just three seniors on the Mossyrock roster.
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