High Schools -- Scouting Report

Ballard Beavers Coach - Dan Scheller, first year. 1997 record - 2-6 league, 2-7 overall. Returning starters (5 offense, 3 defense) - QB Mark Cross, 6-1, 202, sr.; RB/CB Jordan Moffett, 5-10, 190, sr.; C/LB Tyler Banks, 6-1, 205, sr.; RB/CB Jamell Dillon, 5-10, 190, sr.; OT Tavis Post, 6-0, 230, sr. Impact newcomers - RB/OLB Anders Hammersborg, 5-9, 170, sr.; C/DT Ben Rowland, 6-4, 265, sr. (transfer from South Carolina). Outlook - A feisty group of seniors leads the Beavers, who last season broke a 13-game losing streak by upsetting Blanchet. Cross was Ballard's defensive leader as a linebacker until the middle of last year, when he took over as the full-time quarterback. He and the other seniors hope to win a few more games before the Beavers, now stationed at Lincoln High School, return to the renovated Ballard High School next year.

Blanchet Braves Coach - George Monica, 11th season (47-41). 1997 record - 3-5 league, 4-5 overall. Returning starters (2 offense, 3 defense) - HB/DB Billy Condon, 5-8, 170, sr.; OL Tony Monica, 6-3, 275, sr.; LB Dave Wellnitz, 5-8, 175, sr.; S Kyle Larsen, 6-1, 175, sr. Impact newcomers - QB Matt Miller, 6-0, 170, jr.; RB Renaldo Diederichs, 6-0, 200, so.; WR/S Clay Ramsey, 6-2, 185, sr.; TE/LB Keith Duncan, 6-3, 190, sr.; OL/DL Andy Rieck, 6-0, 205, sr.; OL Joe DeFrancisco, 5-9, 200, sr.; C Paul Johnson, 6-1, 200, jr. Outlook - After consecutive eight-win seasons, the Braves last year dropped below .500, due in part to missed field goals near the end of three games. The versatile Condon leads the offense, but Diederichs is the back who has league coaches buzzing. Together, they could make a dangerous speed-power combination. Blanchet may not win the league title, but it should be a playoff contender again.

Chief Sealth Seahawks Coach - David Pandt, second year (2-7). 1997 record - 2-6 league, 2-7 overall. Returning starters (6 offense, 4 defense) - FB/LB Chika Agha, 6-0, 240, jr.; HB Daniel Flowers, 5-11, 190, sr.; SE Ryan Elliott, 6-2, 180, jr.; C/LB Iosia Esera, 5-8, 210, sr.; OT/DT Lauifi Tauiliili, 6-1, 285, jr.; OT Johnathan Atherton, 5-9, 265, sr.; LB Nick Russ, 6-2, 180, sr. Impact newcomers - HB/DB Thomas Zuber, 5-10, 190, sr.; HB/DB Anterio Broome, 5-7, 170, sr. Outlook - Low turnout plagues the Seahawks annually, and this year is no exception. Russ, a second-team all-Metro LB last year, will also play QB, as his older brother, Romaine Smith, did three years ago. He'll run the option, which coaches adopted late last season. Tauiliili carries on Sealth's tradition of big linemen. With about 20 players suiting up each week, the Seahawks can't afford injuries.

Eastside Catholic Crusaders Coach - Chuck Tarbox, seventh year (46-15). 1997 record - 6-2 league, 7-3 overall (lost to Ferndale 62-6 in first round of state playoffs). Returning starters (8 offense, 8 defense) - TE/DE Ryan Clifford (played OT last two years), 6-0, 218, sr.; RB/S Deryck Christensen (missed last year after starting in 1996), 6-0, 185, sr.; RB Matt Rosauer, 5-10, 168, sr.; RB/S Matt Steele, 5-10, 185, sr.; OG/LB Joe Sabey, 5-11, 225, sr.; OT/DT Jarrod Reed, 6-7, 290, sr.; C/DE Wil Jones, 5-10, 205, sr.; DT Darrell Peko, 6-0, 310, sr.; WR/LB Casey Schmiett, 6-3, 188, jr. Impact newcomers - QB Conor Black, 5-9, 170, jr.; OG Bruce Harmenies, 6-0, 215, jr.; OT Kris Kraft, 6-4, 225, sr.; S Noah Barry, 5-11, 175, sr. Outlook - The Crusaders beat Rainier Beach last year in a mini-playoff to win the Metro League's second playoff berth. A return to the postseason seems likely. Tarbox, who says he's retiring after this season, claims Black could become his best quarterback ever. Christensen, who missed last year with injury and eligibility problems, should help replace the versatile Mark Brandeberry and Evan Hecker. If any Metro team can beat O'Dea, Eastside Catholic - which came within a touchdown of the Irish last season - could be it.

Nathan Hale Raiders Coach - Ron Cunningham, fourth year (4-23). 1997 record - 2-6 league, 2-7 overall. Returning starters (3 offense, 4 defense) - QB/S Lorenzo Durant, 6-2, 175, sr.; TE/S Joey Stewart, 5-11, 185, sr.; WB/CB Maxzell Blanchard, 5-11, 170, sr.; OLB Seneca Alexander, 5-9, 175, jr. Impact newcomers - TE/LB Druhva Nikkelson, 6-2, 185, sr.; OT/DE Aaron Houtman, 6-2, 190, jr. Outlook - This could be a long season for the Raiders, who lost 15 seniors from a club that went 2-7. They will miss TE/DE Marvin Smith, and are especially inexperienced up front. Durant is explosive at quarterback, and Cunningham's reputation among league coaches is excellent. But with freshmen and sophomores making up three-quarters of the roster, Cunningham admits he and the Raiders "will take our lumps."

Ingraham Rams Coach - Randy Jacob, fourth year (6-21). 1997 record - 0-8 league, 0-9 overall. Returning starters (9 offense, 9 defense) - QB/DB Fred Rea, 5-11, 180, sr.; RB/DB David Vercell Jones, 5-11, 205, sr.; RB/LB Tony Jones Jr., 6-0, 205, jr.; TE/S Jeremy Robinson, 6-3, 215, sr.; OG/ILB William Hunt, 6-3, 215, sr.; OG/DL Jamar Hall, 6-1, 230, sr.; OL/DL Jonathan Wicks, 6-3, 210, sr.; C/DL Jewis Bagaoisan, 6-1, 200, sr.; RB/DB James Wilson, 6-3, 210, jr. Impact newcomers - RB/LB Greg Potter, 5-10, 185, jr.; OL/LB Tyler Selland, 6-1, 200, fr. Outlook - The Rams hope to erase the memory of 1997, when they didn't win a game and had to forfeit their homecoming game against Ballard after Ingraham students vandalized Ballard's temporary home at Lincoln High School. They have David Vercell Jones and several experienced linemen, so the ground game could improve. Their depth is also a little better than at other public schools. Still, more than two or three wins would be a huge accomplishment.

Lakeside Lions Coach - Bill McMahon, 19th season (87-73). 1997 record - 5-3 league, 6-3 overall. Returning starters (5 offense, 7 defense) - FB/LB Dale Sherrow, 5-10, 180, sr. (will play QB this year); OL/LB Matt Maxwell, 6-3, 220, sr; OL/DL Andrew Cramer, 6-3, 205, jr.; OL/DL Mike Ebell, 6-2, 180, sr.; OL/LB Adam Childs, 6-0, 180, sr.; DB Adam Lazowska, 5-11, 165, jr.; DB Bryan Hale, 5-10, 161, jr. Impact newcomers - Tyler Peterson, RB/DB, 5-11, 155, jr.; Beau Lewis, RB/LB, 6-0, 185, jr.; Tom Wilson, RB/LB, 5-7, 150, so.; Jon Overman, SE/DB, 6-3, 188, jr; Jeff Jorve, TE/DL, 5-9, 175, jr. Outlook - The Lions were the surprise team of 1997, finishing in the first division even though only 12 players showed up on the first day of practice. Although they lost most of their skill players on offense, they were a team without stars and return four of five offensive linemen. They also had a 35-man turnout, far better than usual.

O'Dea Fighting Irish Coach - Monte Kohler, 14th year (123-17). 1997 record - 8-0 league, 10-1 overall (lost to Newport 27-18 in state quarterfinals). Returning starters (5 offense, 5 defense) - QB Joe Brazier, 6-1, 190, sr.; FB Tim Reese, 6-2, 230, sr.; G/DE Pat Lavin, 6-3, 230, sr.; WR Nate Burleson, 6-1, 165, sr.; FS Rigael Drake, 6-0, 185, sr.; CB Isaac Manning, 5-10, 170, sr.; DT Paul Knight, 5-11, 235, sr.; DE Mike Walsh, 5-11, 200, sr.; K Nick Gonzales, 5-6, 145, sr. Impact newcomers - TE Nick Solero, 6-2, 200, sr.; WR Brendan Fenton, 5-7, 150, sr.; OT Nick Andrews, 6-1, 220, sr.; LB James Whitescarver, 5-10, 175, sr.; DB Anthony Slagle, 5-9, 160, sr. Outlook - O'Dea has all the ingredients for a 10th Metro League title in 12 years. Brazier and Burleson give the Irish the best passing game they've had under Kohler, and Reese and Drake (who will also play running back) anchor the ground game, which is always O'Dea's main focus. They should keep O'Dea moving, despite the loss of star RB Mario Sweet. The defense, even without LB Carlos Pierre-Antoine (now at Notre Dame), is probably the league's best, with three returning linemen and an all-league secondary of Drake and Manning.

Seattle Prep Panthers Coach - Rollie Robbins, 10th year (53-31). 1997 record - 6-2 league, 7-2 overall. Returning starters (1 offense, 1 defense) - RB/LB Gary Carson, 5-10, 170, sr. Impact newcomers - QB Mike Pontius, 5-11, 190, sr.; FB/CB Michael Stein, 5-8, 150, jr.; SE/DB Brian Sweeny, 5-10, 140, sr.; SE/DB Robert Hendricks, 5-10, 175, sr.; WB/CB Stephen DeShazo, 5-11, 170, jr.; TE/DE Owen Strecker, 5-11, 190, sr.; C/DT Brian Sye, 6-2, 250, sr.; OT/LB Michael Schau, 6-0, 180, sr.; OT/DT Tyler Lange, 6-0, 200, sr.; OL/DT Sean Dwyer, 6-1, 230, jr.; OL/DE John Huberty, 5-10, 180, jr. Outlook - Plenty of fresh faces dot the Panthers' roster, so Robbins doesn't expect his team to contend for the playoffs, as it did last year. The coach likes Stein, an undersized but quick fullback, and Sye, who provides size up front. Several league coaches have picked Prep as one of the Metro's favorites, but that may be based on reputation. The junior class' development could dictate Prep's success.

Rainier Beach Vikings Coach - Mark Haley, seventh year (39-17). 1997 record - 6-2 league, 6-3 overall. Returning starters (6 offense, 7 defense) - LB/T Asora Tuiaana, 6-4, 260, sr.; C Marc Vaeena, 6-0, 235, sr.; G Marcus Harrell, 5-10, 220, jr.; G Lorenzo Morrow, 5-11, 185, sr.; WR/OLB/DB Carlos Clark, 5-8, 160, sr.; WR/LB Paul Dervin, 6-0, 175, jr.; LB Curtis Roberts, 5-9, 175, sr.; DE Thomas Riggins, 6-0, 185, sr.; LB Russell Amos, 5-9, 170, sr.; DB Laprell Nelson, 5-8, 165, sr. Impact newcomers - QB/DB Lamar Conley, 5-7, 145; RB/DB Jeff Poke, 6-0, 170, jr.; WR/DB Genova Clinton, 5-8, 160, jr.; C/DT Brian Grant, 6-0, 333, sr. Outlook - Haley and his coaching staff have made Beach the Metro's strongest public-school program. Although last year's Vikings didn't duplicate the state semifinal appearance of 1996, they just missed another trip to the state playoffs. The offensive line and defense should support Beach, and team speed is good, as usual, but the big question is at quarterback. If anyone can adequately replace QBs Martez Johnson and Jerode Ramsey, the Vikings could contend for the league title. The most likely candidate is Lamar Conley, younger brother of former Beach stars Antonio and Anthony Conley.

West Seattle Indians Coach - Tom Burggraff, seventh year (9-45). Last year - 4-4 league, 4-5 overall. Returning starters (5 offense, 6 defense) - RB/LB B.J. Frost, 6-1, 195, jr.; RB Tarrier Norman, 6-1, 195, sr.; OL/DL Everett Coleman, 5-11, 230, jr.; OL Adam Stalker, 5-11, 230, sr; WR/DB Jake Tomaselli, 6-3, 185 sr.; DL Avery Despi, 5-7, 260, sr.; LB Eli Armitstead, 5-11, 200, sr.; LB Tim Preston, 6-0, 190, jr. Impact newcomers - QB Blake Webb, 5-11, 165, sr.; WR/DB Kelly Wyman, 5-10, 185, jr. Outlook - The Indians hope to keep the offensive fireworks going. They must replace QB Mark Denniston and WR Nick Thorburn, so more emphasis may be placed on the running game. Whether the defense can stop anyone remains to be seen. Seven of last year's top 10 tacklers return, including Frost and Coleman, who stood out last season as sophomores. The Indians have won seven games the last two years, a vast improvement from their 2-34 record the previous four years.