Week 5 Preview: Greenleaf not surprised by 'new' Jacks
Friday, October 3, 2008 7:06 PM PDT
By Ben Zimmerman
Printable version
E-mail this articleWhen The Daily News polled the coaches of the Greater St. Helens 2A League prior to the season, most projected a last-place finish for R.A. Long.
One even forgot to rank the Lumberjacks, period.
But for one head coach, the Jacks were more than an afterthought or a courtesy pick to finish fifth out of six.
Mark Greenleaf had a hunch. The Woodland head coach called R.A. Long the league’s “dark horse.” He said on more than one occasion that the Jacks would be improved, surprising and dangerous. In the middle of dog days, sitting on a couch in the Beavers’ locker room, Greenleaf interrupted himself mid-sentence while talking about Mark Morris and called R.A. Long a “contender.”
It’s been more than a month. The Jacks have made Greenleaf look like a prophet. R.A. Long strolls into Woodland tonight with a 3-1 record and a chance to prove that it is no fluke with a win.
“They are surprising everyone,” said Greenleaf. “They are new and improved. They have a new attitude. I can’t predict what they are capable of doing (tonight), but I know what they’ve done so far. They have put some impressive numbers up.”
The knock on the Jacks’ record — and RAL coaches won’t refute it — is that their three victories have come against inferior competition. And while three wins is triple RAL’s combined victory total in 2006 and ’07, the fact remains that R.A. Long has not won a league game in three years.
A win tonight, against the defending league champions, would say more about the state of the program than the gaudy destruction of Fort Vancouver, Washington and Parkrose preceding it.
It could also shape the playoff destinies of both teams. With three postseason berths up for grabs, and Hockinson and Mark Morris in the early frontrunner seats, tonight’s showdown “could very well dictate third place in league,” Greenleaf said.
“This is a major impact game as far as standings in our league go,” he added. “It has playoff connotations. Whoever wins has momentum going in against Hockinson and Morris. It could be a great stepping stone in looking for a league title.”
First-year RAL coach Erik Bertram has coached in big games before, but this is certainly the most important contest of his Lumberjack tenure.
“I’d say it is a defining game,” he said. “Not program-defining, but it is going to be a great test of where we’re at right now. We’ll know a lot more about ourselves after playing the defending league champions. We’re trying to move up in league. This won’t make or break our season or our program, but it will definitely define where we’re at.
“I know that our football IQ needs some work,” Bertram added. “I know that we have kids who will keep battling all game, regardless of score or adversity. I know that we’re starting to gel a little bit as far as our option game goes. I know that we have decent depth. But I also know we’re nowhere near where we can be. It’s time to find out.”
Bertram makes no apologies for the Jacks’ nonleague schedule. It was specifically designed to offer a more manageable run-up to league for a program that had won one of its previous 18 games.
“I don’t think it’s a big secret that we haven’t played any top 10-type teams, other than Astoria,” Bertram said. “But we played two schools that were bigger than us, one our size and one that is the second-ranked team in Oregon. We’ve seen some teams that are fast and had fast skill players. I don’t think the last two teams we played are as disciplined and set in what they do on offense as defense as our league opponents will be. That could hurt us a little (tonight).”
R.A. Long and Woodland have met only five times on the gridiron: a 12-12 tie in 1924, a 48-0 Longview win in 1926, a 19-4 Longview victory in 1927, a 60-8 Beaver romp in 2006 and Woodland’s initially precarious, ultimately decisive 28-10 win last season.
But what the rivalry lacks in history, it makes up for with spice. Woodland’s blowout win in ’06 still irks RAL assistants who remain on staff, and Bertram tends to share their view after reviewing tape of that game.
“I’ve got to be politically correct here, but obviously they had us way, way out-talented (in ’06), and they were not afraid to keep their main guys in until the end of the game,” Bertram said. “They seem to have sort of a kick-you-while-you’re-down mentality. Any assistants I have who were around definitely remember that game. There are always two schools of thought. You get a healthy lead and let young kids play, or you get a healthy lead and set a no-mercy mentality for your program. Both work.
“I don’t know how Woodland will take that,” he added. “It is what it is. It’s not like I’m going out on a limb here. If you put 60 on a team, the next time you play them they might be intimidated, or other teams see that score and become intimidated. I understand coaches who think, ‘Hey, my kids have worked their tail off, so why should I pull my starters? Let them get their work in and enjoy the fruits of their labor.’ ”
In the ’06 game, Woodland scored 48 of its 60 points before halftime, and played a mix of starters and reserves in the second half. One of the Beavers’ two fourth-quarter touchdowns was scored by starting tailback Chris King, and the other was an interception return by a reserve.
Said Greenleaf: “Last year, we went ahead and won only 28-10 at their place. Our junior varsity game last year, we won 38-35 with a last-second pass. As far as two years ago, I can’t even comment on that. They were decimated as far as players, and we rotated our kids accordingly, like anybody else.
“We rotate kids according to game situations,” he added. “A lot of kids got to play in that game. The score ended up how it did. I’m sorry if feelings got hurt, but that’s the way it ended up. A lot of our kids got to play in that game. It ended up that way, so be it. It was never our intention to run up the score.”
Neither coach dwelled on the ’06 meeting in comments made Thursday. The focus fell on the magnitude of the here and now.
Greenleaf expressed a concern with maintaining a balanced offensive attack and containing RAL junior quarterback William Yordy.
Bertram praised Woodland’s athleticism, physicality and execution.
“It looks like the same old Woodland to us,” said Bertram. “Hard-nosed, weight-room kids who are coached well. They buckle down and outplay you. They don’t try to trick you.”
“What R.A. Long has been lacking the last few years is a spark, a winning attitude,” Greenleaf said. “They are having success now, and success breeds success. I think that’s a winning formula.”
Elsewhere in 7 p.m. action tonight:
• Washougal (0-4) at Mark Morris (3-1): The Monarchs’ league title quest begins in earnest tonight against a struggling Panthers squad. Washougal has played an incredibly brutal nonleague schedule and allowed 183 points. The Panthers have been shut out in three straight games.
• Evergreen (2-2) at Kelso (3-1): Kelso has won three in a row and would seize control of the GSHL 4A title race with a win against the talented Plainsmen.
Defense has been a key for Kelso during the winning streak, especially in last week’s 21-7 win over Columbia River.
Evergreen rallied from a 20-3 deficit to beat Camas last week while playing without standouts Kyrell Hudson and James Monk, who missed their second straight games after serving a school suspension, The Vancouver Columbian reported. Head coach Tom Smythe told the newspaper that both would “be on the field (this) week.”
Plainsmen quarterback Marvin Thomas passed for 84 of his 115 yards in the second half and ran for two TDs against Camas.
• Pe Ell (3-1) at Wahkiakum (3-1): With so many teams and so few playoff berths at stake in the Central 2B, almost every league game is like a playoff. Holding serve at home keeps the 11th-ranked Mules (2-1 league) in contention.
The Trojans (2-1) beat Morton 48-12 last week as Eric Pace rushed for 117 yards and returned an interception for a touchdown. Wahkiakum beat Morton, the only common opponent, 40-7.
• Ilwaco (2-2) at Kalama (3-1): The Fishermen follow a long bus ride with an uphill climb at a venue that has been quite unkind. Kalama won’t be in a happy mood following a tough loss to Rainier, Ore. The Chinooks are ranked eighth in the state.
• Castle Rock (3-1) at White Salmon (3-1): White Salmon’s record could be deceiving. The Bruins gave up 30 points in a loss to Ridgefield last week; the Spudders entered that contest winless and averaging seven points per game.
CR might be the hottest team in the area right now, and Chris Tinney is a big reason. The junior has rushed for 619 yards and eight touchdowns on just 72 carries.
• Tenino (2-2) at Toledo (3-1): The Indians blasted previously undefeated Rainier, Wash.. 30-15 in Week 4. With Forks and Montesano pulling away in the Evergreen Division, this game might decide third place.
In the process of bashing Winlock 42-20 last week, Tenino had three backs eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark: Dylan Fant (183 yards), Jason May (173 yards) and Zach Gonia (113).
• Toutle Lake (3-1) at Vancouver Christian (0-4): The Ducks look to keep Central 2B League momentum against VC, which is struggling again this season.
This is a classic trap game, with a huge home showdown against Adna on tap in Week 6 for Toutle.
• Forks (4-0) at Winlock (2-2): No one has come close to containing Forks stud Luke Dixon, who had a 60-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and 130 yards rushing on 19 carries last week in a win against Onalaska.
• Naselle (3-1) at Willapa Valley (4-0): The Comets are finally getting healthy — and not a moment too soon. Willapa Valley is for real, and appears poised to return to its familiar spot on the Pacific 2B League throne.
Both teams are 1-0 in league. The third-ranking Vikings mopped up Ocosta 42-7 last week.
• Warrenton (1-4) at Rainier (4-1): The hard part of Rainier’s season is over. Now comes the important part. Lewis and Clark 3A League play begins tonight. A front-loaded slate awaits the Columbians, who host formerly (and preposterously) state-ranked Warrenton in preparation for the Highway 30 Hootenanny next week.
• Clatskanie (2-3) at Vernonia (0-4): The Tigers need momentum to have a prayer against Rainier in Week 6. Clatskanie will soldier on this season without Trevor Marioni, who suffered a catastrophic knee injury several weeks ago and will miss the senior chapter of his injury-riddled high school career.
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