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Columbia River football: Chieftains boost excitement, bring back familiar offense

The Columbian
Published: August 30, 2017, 11:11pm
2 Photos
Numbers-wise, River has the biggest roster in the 2A Greater St. Helens League.
Numbers-wise, River has the biggest roster in the 2A Greater St. Helens League. Steve Dipaola/for The Columbian Photo Gallery

What’s old isn’t exactly new again with the Columbia River Chieftains.

Rather, it’s familiar.

“It feels good to see the old,” senior Koben Jamison said.

You see, that ‘old’ Jamison speaks of is welcoming the return of the spread offense he and the rest of his senior class were accustomed to under former coach John O’Rourke as freshmen and sophomores.

That’s what second-year coach Christian Swain will instill as part of a two-part multiple-set. He hopes it will cure the up-and-down 2016 offensive season, when River was shutout twice in five losses and didn’t win consecutive games after September.

Swain didn’t go as far as a guarantee, but he did say matter-of-factly the following:

• River will be more explosive offensively.

• River will have more big plays.

• River will be a better passing offense.

“We’ll score a lot more points,” he said.

One more thing: River won’t be massive.

Well, they will be numbers-wise; they’re still the largest of any 2A GSHL team. The Chieftains took 85 to team camp, and cleared 105 over the summer, an increase of nearly 30 from last season. What they won’t be is massive up front, thanks to the graduation of a large offensive line.

The strength lies in team speed and overall athleticism, which hasn’t been a staple at River recently, Swain said.

But don’t sleep on the defense, said Jamison, the reigning 2A Greater St. Helens League defensive player of the year as a junior.

“You want defense to be an unrelenting force,” he said.

He’s one of seven returning defensive starters, and a player who continues to elevate his game, Swain noted. Equally known for his baseball talents, this fall is just Jamison’s fifth year playing football. Swain says the senior is a five-tool player who thrives at a number of positions, defensively and offensively.

“He can do everything,” Swain said.

Which is why wherever Jamison is on the field, you know he’ll do his part.

2016: 5-5, 4-2. Tied for second in 2A GSHL

Best State Finish: Semifinals in 2002

Projected Starters

Returning All-League selections in bold

QB Matt Asplund 6-4 200 Jr.
RB Jarrett Seelbinder 5-9 165 Sr.
WR Kanen Eaton 6-3 175 Jr.
WR Koben Jamison 6-1 195 Sr.
WR Nathan Kunz 5-11 185 Sr.
TE Tristan Hoyer 6-1 215 Jr.
OL Beau Braden 6-4 245 Sr.
OL Jonah Leavitt 6-0 265 Sr.
OL Mitchell Chipman 5-10 215 Sr.
OL Peyton Harrell 6-0 230 Sr.
OL Elijah Hairston 6-3 280 Jr.
* * *
DL Beau Braden 6-4 245 Sr.
DL Tristan Hoyer 6-1 215 Jr.
DL Austin Carter 6-3 225 Sr.
LB Brandon Henegan 5-10 180 Sr.
LB Thomas Karcher 5-11 180 Jr.
LB Rylee Sadler 6-0 190 Jr.
LB Koben Jamison 6-1 195 Sr.
LB AJ Jenkins 5-10 185 Sr.
DB Will Buss 6-3 180 Soph.
DB Kanen Eaton 6-3 175 Jr.
DB Nathan Kunz 5-11 185 Sr.
Coach: Christian Swain (second year)

Schedule

Home games at Columbia River High School

League games in bold
Sept. 1 at Evergreen 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 8 Tumwater 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 at Washougal 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 R.A. Long 7 p.m.
Sept. 29 Skyview 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 at Woodland 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 Hockinson 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 Mark Morris 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 at Ridgefield 7 p.m.

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