Nikiski's hopes rest on staying healthy

Nikiski head football coach Ned Clooten doesn't have time to worry about losing 2004 graduates and all-state players Billy Anderson and Jeremiah Taylor.

NIKISKI BULLDOGS

COLORS: Black and silver

2003 REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 6-2 overall (5-1 Great Land Conference)

HEAD COACH: Ned Clooten (second year)

ASSISTANTS: Lee Chadwick, Ward Romans, Bill Thompson, Tim Johnson, Dennis Leckwee

CAPTAINS: Travis McGahan, John Schwenke

2004 VARSITY SCHEDULE

Aug. 14 VALDEZ 1 p.m.

Aug. 20 SITKA 6 p.m.

Aug. 27 at ACS 5 p.m.

Sept. 3 EIELSON 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 KENAI 2 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Soldotna 2 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Houston 2 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Seward 2 p.m.

Home games in CAPS

Clooten, with just 17 players on varsity entering the second week of practice, must spend all his time worrying about losing players with high school eligibility left.

"The kids we have are quality players," Clooten said. "I'm excited about the kids we will have.

"I just know I'll always be fearful of injuries. We don't have many backups right now."

Taylor and Anderson both had outstanding seasons in 2003, helping the Bulldogs to second in the Great Land Conference and a first-round loss in the playoffs. Anderson was the second-leading rusher on the peninsula at 904 yards in the regular season. He also was the second-leading scorer on the peninsula with 78 points.

Taylor was the leading scorer on the peninsula with 81 points. He was the second-leading receiver on the peninsula with 20 catches for 320 yards.

Clooten said he does not have players that will step in and fill the shoes of either of those athletes. He does think improved line play will help make up for the loss of the pair.

"We're really encouraged about our line play," Clooten said. "Last year, it seemed like we were always outsized and overmanned.

"I don't think that will happen as much this year."

The line will be led by senior John Schwenke, who was the small-schools lineman of the year in 2003. Other linemen will be seniors Reece Parrish, Michael O'Brien and Joe Keith.

The line will try and protect the attack directed by senior quarterback Travis McGahan. McGahan, who has been starting at quarterback since his sophomore season, had his season cut short by injury in 2003 and passed for 243 yards and seven touchdowns.

"He's at a point now where he understands the offense so well he can do pre-snap reads," Clooten said. "That's not a very common thing to find in high school."

McGahan will be handing the ball off to junior Justin Tumbaga and senior Jared Mazurek. Mazurek rushed for 208 yards in 2003.

The targets of McGahan's passes will be junior Israel Blatchford and senior David Holloway.

The Bulldogs' defense will feature the same cast of characters in different roles.

"We're very much an iron-man team," Clooten said. "The kids understand that they have to be conditioned to go both ways.

"Welcome to small-schools football."

Defensive coordinator Lee Chadwick said he is not worried about players being conditioned enough to play both ways. His big concern is the same as Clooten's injuries.

"We should be a tough defense, if we stay healthy," Chadwick said.

Chadwick thinks the same group of linemen that have Clooten pleased on offense should do a solid job of anchoring the defense.

The linebackers will be junior Zech Hemphill, McGahan, Holloway and Tumbaga.

Chadwick said the group is a bit undersized, but he thinks they will hold up due to solid line play in front of them.

Chadwick also is excited about the secondary, which will be led by Mazurek. This will be Mazurek's third year of playing cornerback for the varsity.

Others in the secondary will be Blatchford and senior Ben Kellie, who hasn't played a lot of football in high school but has shown a knack for covering receivers.

"I don't think we'll be as explosive offensively, but we should be able to get it done on defense," Chadwick said.

Nikiski's hopes rest on staying healthy

By JEFF HELMINIAK

Peninsula Clarion

Nikiski head football coach Ned Clooten doesn't have time to worry about losing 2004 graduates and all-state players Billy Anderson and Jeremiah Taylor.

NIKISKI BULLDOGS

COLORS: Black and silver

2003 REGULAR SEASON RECORD: 6-2 overall (5-1 Great Land Conference)

HEAD COACH: Ned Clooten (second year)

ASSISTANTS: Lee Chadwick, Ward Romans, Bill Thompson, Tim Johnson, Dennis Leckwee

CAPTAINS: Travis McGahan, John Schwenke

2004 VARSITY SCHEDULE

Aug. 14 VALDEZ 1 p.m.

Aug. 20 SITKA 6 p.m.

Aug. 27 at ACS 5 p.m.

Sept. 3 EIELSON 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 KENAI 2 p.m.

Sept. 18 at Soldotna 2 p.m.

Sept. 25 at Houston 2 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Seward 2 p.m.

Home games in CAPS

Clooten, with just 17 players on varsity entering the second week of practice, must spend all his time worrying about losing players with high school eligibility left.

"The kids we have are quality players," Clooten said. "I'm excited about the kids we will have.

"I just know I'll always be fearful of injuries. We don't have many backups right now."

Taylor and Anderson both had outstanding seasons in 2003, helping the Bulldogs to second in the Great Land Conference and a first-round loss in the playoffs. Anderson was the second-leading rusher on the peninsula at 904 yards in the regular season. He also was the second-leading scorer on the peninsula with 78 points.

Taylor was the leading scorer on the peninsula with 81 points. He was the second-leading receiver on the peninsula with 20 catches for 320 yards.

Clooten said he does not have players that will step in and fill the shoes of either of those athletes. He does think improved line play will help make up for the loss of the pair.

"We're really encouraged about our line play," Clooten said. "Last year, it seemed like we were always outsized and overmanned.

"I don't think that will happen as much this year."

The line will be led by senior John Schwenke, who was the small-schools lineman of the year in 2003. Other linemen will be seniors Reece Parrish, Michael O'Brien and Joe Keith.

The line will try and protect the attack directed by senior quarterback Travis McGahan. McGahan, who has been starting at quarterback since his sophomore season, had his season cut short by injury in 2003 and passed for 243 yards and seven touchdowns.

"He's at a point now where he understands the offense so well he can do pre-snap reads," Clooten said. "That's not a very common thing to find in high school."

McGahan will be handing the ball off to junior Justin Tumbaga and senior Jared Mazurek. Mazurek rushed for 208 yards in 2003.

The targets of McGahan's passes will be junior Israel Blatchford and senior David Holloway.

The Bulldogs' defense will feature the same cast of characters in different roles.

"We're very much an iron-man team," Clooten said. "The kids understand that they have to be conditioned to go both ways.

"Welcome to small-schools football."

Defensive coordinator Lee Chadwick said he is not worried about players being conditioned enough to play both ways. His big concern is the same as Clooten's injuries.

"We should be a tough defense, if we stay healthy," Chadwick said.

Chadwick thinks the same group of linemen that have Clooten pleased on offense should do a solid job of anchoring the defense.

The linebackers will be junior Zech Hemphill, McGahan, Holloway and Tumbaga.

Chadwick said the group is a bit undersized, but he thinks they will hold up due to solid line play in front of them.

Chadwick also is excited about the secondary, which will be led by Mazurek. This will be Mazurek's third year of playing cornerback for the varsity.

Others in the secondary will be Blatchford and senior Ben Kellie, who hasn't played a lot of football in high school but has shown a knack for covering receivers.

"I don't think we'll be as explosive offensively, but we should be able to get it done on defense," Chadwick said.