3A GSHL football preview: Columbia River still the team to beat

A year ago, the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League champion was determined practically before any games were played.

Columbia River was just that good. Columbia River remains the clear favorite, but interesting things have happened since the 2014 season. The Chieftains graduated 26 players from that team that reached the state quarterfinals, and an argument can be made that all of the other teams in the league have improved.

In a four-team league — a three-game league schedule — all it takes is one surprising result to create chaos. Will this be another easy trek for Columbia River? Or will there be some chaos?

Columbia River’s consistency through the years — seven winning seasons in the past eight campaigns —shows the program is accustomed to replacing proven players with players out to prove something.

“Win the league championship and go as far as we can in the playoffs,” said Columbia River coach John O’Rourke.

The players change from year to year, but not the expectations.

Kelso has a proud tradition as well. The Hilanders have a mixture of young talent with some returning standouts.

Kevin Baker has taken over as the new coach at Prairie. He inherits a big offensive line as well as a handful of athletes who earned varsity experience as sophomores last year.

At Fort Vancouver, the Trappers have twice as many players in the program than last year at this time. That’s a good start.

COLUMBIA RIVER CHIEFTAINS

Coach: John O’Rourke (22nd season)

2014: 9-3, 3-0 in 3A GSHL.

Key players: Travon Santiago, sr., rb; Garrett McKee, sr., qb; Blake Duhamel, sr., wr; Dakota Mason, jr., wr/db; Hunter Pearson, jr., lb; Isaiah James, sr., wr/db; Ryder Waite, sr., lb; Demetrius Coleman, sr., wr/db; Mason Schell, jr., ol/dl; Jacob Reitmeir, sr., ol/dl.

Team notes: Notice all those key players? Not a lot of household names, right? That’s not a problem at Columbia River. The Chieftains know how to rebuild after a large senior class graduates. These Chieftains will make names for themselves and help their coach reach a milestone.  John O’Rourke is two away from win No. 150.

Schedule

Sept. 3

at R.A. Long, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11

Mark Morris, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18

Centralia, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25

at Black Hills, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2

at Tumwater, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9

at Fort Vancouver*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16

Skyview, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22

at Prairie, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30

Kelso*, 7 p.m.

*—3A GSHL game

FORT VANCOUVER TRAPPERS

Coach: Cal Szueber (2nd season)

2014 season: 1-8, 0-3 in 3A GSHL.

Key players: Duncan Crawford, sr., ol/dl; Kyron Lowe-Ash, jr., wr/db; Erik Coppinger, so., qb; Cody Loyer-Hiebert, jr., rb/lb; Dmitry Deynega, so., ol/dl; Mitchel Cooper, sr., rb/dl; Thomas Shields, jr., rb/db; Cesar Bonilla, so., rb/lb; Stephen Snyder, sr., lb.

Team notes: This is Szueber’s second stop at Fort Vancouver, and opposing coaches know that when Szueber gets his offense going, it can be tough to stop. Now the Trappers have some numbers to work with, as well. A lot of players want to be part of turning around the program. This might be the year that it starts.

Schedule

Sept. 4

Hudson’s Bay, 8 p.m.

Sept. 11

The Dalles, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18

at White Salmon, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25

Prairie*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2

at Kelso*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9

Columbia River*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16

King’s Way Chr., 5 p.m.

Oct. 23

Washougal, 5 p.m.

Oct. 30

at Woodland, 7 p.m.

*—3A GSHL game

KELSO HILANDERS

Coach: Steve Amrine (3rd season)

2014 season: 4-6, 2-1 in 3A GSHL.

Key players: Brandon Williams, sr., wr/db; Jared Bowlby, sr., wr/db; Sonny Chhim, jr., wr/db; Maze Holmes, sr., ol/dl; Nick Moore, jr., ol/dl; Colton Johnson, jr., ol/dl; Jerson Flores, sr., rb/db; A.J. Hoggatt, so., qb/lb; Cody DeRosier, sr., te/dl.

Team notes: Quality offensive line play and good team speed is a fine combination to start a new season. This is a young team, but with enough experience to threaten for a league title. The Hilanders lost to Columbia River last year but did score 35 points against the Cheiftains. The Hilanders expect to make the playoffs again.

Schedule

Sept. 4

at Mark Morris, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11

R.A. Long, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18

at Prairie*, 7 p.m.

Sept. 25

Centralia, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2

Fort Vancouver*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 9

at W.F. West, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16

Black Hills, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23

at Heritage, 5 p.m.

Oct. 30

at Columbia River*, 7 p.m.

*—3A GSHL game

PRAIRIE FALCONS

Coach: Kevin Baker (first season)

2014 season: 2-7, 1-2 in 3A GSHL.

Key players: Kevin Aguirre, jr., qb; Eric Creamer sr., db; Logan Jacques, jr., ol; Damien Ayala, sr., dl; Wyatt Close, jr., ol;
Jaelen Stephen, jr., db/wr; Koty Kyte, sr., db/wr.

Team notes: Kevin Baker, back in charge of a program for the first time since 2002, did not want to go into specifics on his philosophy, but it’s no secret he likes to run the ball. “My goal is to keep the ball and not let the other guys get the ball. We’re working on efficiency and discipline,” Baker said.

The Falcons have a strong mix of young and experienced talent.

Schedule

Sept. 4

Heritage, 7 p.m.

Sept. 11

at Hockinson, 7 p.m.

Sept. 18

Kelso*, 7:30 p.m.a

Sept. 25

at Fort Vancouver*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 2

Mark Morris, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 9

at R.A. Long, 7 p.m.

Oct. 16

W.F. West, 7 p.m.

Oct. 22

Columbia River*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 30

at Battle Ground, 7 p.m.

*—3A GSHL game