Story Photos
 Alan Erickson dragged two Viking defenders with him as he blasted through the center of their line Saturday during the Comets' quarterfinal win at Tumwater. Bill Wagner / The Daily News
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Comets soaring, with no plans of letting up
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 7:17 PM PST
By Rick S. Alvord
Printable version
E-mail this articleNASELLE — If you want to know what Naselle fullback Alan Erickson is thinking, there are two ways to find out. For starters, you can ask him.
The Comets’ 180-pound junior — a straight-ahead, no-nonsense, booming type of runner — is courteous and confident as calls you “sir” several times in one sentence. Then he proceeds to explain how he has “football in my blood.”
“It’s a family tradition,” he says with a wide grin. “It’s what we Ericksons do.”
The second way to discover what’s churning through his brain is to read the Naselle football team’s online blog (www.penfridaynightsights.blogspot.com).
That’s right, the Comets have gone high-tech. And Erickson is the chief blogger.
At least he has the most to say, in terms of word count.
Here’s what Erickson wrote after Naselle upset previously undefeated Willapa Valley 28-24 on Saturday to reach the Class 2B state semifinals for the first time in school history:
“This is new turf (literally and figuratively) and we don’t feel like stopping here. This Friday we play Napavine, who defeated Adna 41-35 in the quarterfinals, in the controlled conditions of the Tacoma Dome. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. It comes down to this Central League vs. Pacific League matchup to decide the west-side champ, and we want it! GO COMETS!”
Erickson’s writing skills appear to be on par with his football skills.
“I really like doing it. It’s fun to sit down and write about what happens in the games, and share your thoughts with people,” said Erickson, who rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s stunning win at Tumwater Stadium.
“We’re having so much fun in the playoffs. We believe in ourselves and we’re playing solid football,” he added. “And now we’re going to the Dome. Can you believe it? The Comets are going to the Dome. But we’re not happy with just getting there.”
Naselle (8-4) no doubt will be the underdog Friday when it battles District 4 colleague Napavine (10-2) in the west-side semifinals. The Comets weren’t favored in their first-round state matchup against Seattle Lutheran (34-7 win) and weren’t given much of a chance to knock off a Valley squad that had designs on winning it all.
Playing David to all of these state Goliaths doesn’t bother the Comets — or their well-versed fullback, who, when he wasn’t toting the ball 15 times against Valley, was busy blocking for backfield mates Nick Hines (132 yards) and Tony Fletcher (97).
“I don’t think any of us care about that,” said Erickson, who also is an all-state candidate defensively at linebacker. “If you keep winning, nobody cares if you were favored or not.”
Naselle head coach Jeff Eaton said Erickson’s attitude — on and off the field — has helped the team make history.
“Alan is a vocal leader in the locker room and he shows it on the field, too,” Eaton said. “He’s one of a couple kids who’ve taken over that leadership role. Before games, after games, during games ... he’ll talk to anyone who’ll listen.”
For Erickson, a measure of personal pride was established with Saturday’s victory.
One of his three older brothers, Evan, made it to the quarterfinals while playing for the Comets in the late 1980s. The baby brother matched that accomplishment last year when Naselle made it to the quarters before losing to Life Christian.
“Now I’ve gotten to the semifinals, so I’ve made it the farthest,” he said. “But why stop at the semifinals?”
Coincidentally, Erickson’s father was a member of the 1968 and ’69 Naselle teams that were voted mythical state champions, before Washington went to a playoff system.
Wayne Erickson is the team statistician this season.
“That’s why I say Naselle football is in our blood,” Erickson said. “Dad played on some good teams and now I’m on a really good team right here. It’s like we’re all in this together.”
Related articles:
Upstart Comets stun Willapa Valley (Nov. 23)
Football Roundup: Naselle routs Seattle Lutheran (Nov. 16)
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