Great Northern League Deer Park, Lakeside And Riverside Football Programs Will Benefit From The New 2a Category’s More Equitable Realignment Of Numbers

Deer Park’s Doug McGill and Lakeside’s Brian Dunn are new as Great Northern League football coaches.

That the GNL is itself new further complicates things for them.

The league is made up of five former Northeast A League schools, Deer Park and Lakeside among them, and three teams dropping down from the former Frontier League.

Riverside is back among friends after spending two years in the Frontier League.

The new Great Northern League is a product of statewide realignment. A fifth enrollment classification was added this year. GNL schools are in the 2A category.

With three teams advancing to post-season, the new alignment will be a boon for all concerned.

“It’s definitely nice for us,” said Riverside coach Allen Martin, “and it makes more sense for everybody in the league. There was such a discrepancy in size. Now it is more equitable from top to bottom.”

Dunn comes to Lakeside from Naches Valley.

“I know nothing about the schools so I hate to comment,” he said. “I’m still learning here.”

McGill is in his first head coaching assignment after assisting at Rogers High School.

“Being a first-year head coach, I’m not sure what to expect,” he said. “But I’m not the only new coach in the league, so I’ll just take things as they come.”

New system at Lakeside

A Washington State University graduate, Dunn and his family have wanted to move to this area. Lakeside provided the opportunity.

The Eagles feature a new system but are hoping for the same results. They’ve been to the state playoffs three straight years.

“We’re moving more to an option game and will spread the field and try to open things up a bit,” said Dunn.

He greeted an experienced team of 16 seniors and 27 lettermen.

“We have a lot of kids who played quite a bit of football,” said Dunn. “They have a great work ethic and are eager to learn.”

Offensively, sophomore Cody Brown and senior Mike Rowse are vying for quarterback. Returnees Jason Downie and Sean Wheeler return to the backfield, along with juniors Mike Mortlock and Matt Westenfelder.

All-leaguer Jason Christen, his brother Adam, and starter Kary Condosta are at wide receiver. Junior Will Noland is at tight end.

Eight sizable linemen, almost all over 200 pounds, will play either offense or defense. Guards include Joe Mosey and Jason Cummings. Craig Downey is at tackle and defensive end, Kevin Downey at center, and Guy Phillips, sophomore Chad Charbonneau and Matt Wilson are tackle prospects.

Robert Smeltzer is at inside linebacker with Wheeler. All-leaguer Jeremy Sparber moves from line to outside linebacker with Tim Weisser. Veteran Anthony Layton joins the Christen brothers in the secondary.

“They are accepting the change better than I expected,” said Dunn. “We’ll show up to play.”

Welcome back, Riverside

A two-time Northeast A League champion, Riverside found the going tougher in the Frontier League.

“This year, at least we feel we can compete,” said Martin. “In the Frontier you had to play your very best to win.”

The Rams are led by experienced quarterback Danny Leaf and running back Troy Patrick.

“We have to find receivers to throw to and we graduated our whole defensive backfield,” said Martin.

The line, he said, is better than last season. Leading the way is 6-foot-4, 225-pound tight end Matt Miller.

“He has the best hands of anyone I’ve had,” said Martin.

Returner David Lindstrom and newcomers Jeff Westenskow and Josiah Boone are new at receiver.

Junior Travis Zickler and Jeff Putnam are at tackles, and Nathan King, Kirk Taylor and Terry Charbonneau are guards. Center will be junior Matt Weed or senior James Tucker.

Paul Gorman moved from guard, and Jesse Lee and junior Derek Leighton are fullback prospects.

Newcomer B.J. Summers, Zickler and Lee are on the defensive line. Gorman and Leighton play inside linebacker. Juniors Dustin Denning and Nick Spolski are outside linebackers.

Junior veteran Seth Schurtz leads a secondary that includes Jose Ng, Jason Pangrel, senior Chris Zickler, Jared Liberty, Doug Kapelke and Westenskow.

“I’ve never had 27 seniors before,” said Martin. “I’m liking where we’re at right now even if we don’t have a great year.”

Stags solid at skilled spots

It’s been awhile since Deer Park was a football playoff contender. McGill is working for change.

“The kids are excited,” said McGill. Some of the things we’re stressing is improving and being positive with one another.”

The skills positions, he said, are solid. Deer Park has no overpowering linemen and will have to stress angle blocking and misdirection.

Junior quarterback Brad Martin started last year. He’ll throw to receiver-defensive backs Ken Griffey, Nolan Jones and Mikeal Balfour, and receiver-linebackers Luke Reiter, Brett Hall, Willie Davis and junior Ryan Westerman.

Backfield includes veteran tailback-linebacker Josh Kelly and newcomers Gabe Holmes and junior Jesse Fricke. Sophomore Roger Henry is tailback and defensive end.

Line depth is a concern. Jarred Berger, also a linebacker, and junior Erik Eide are at guard. Junior Raif Workman is at center. Allen Schermerhorn, junior, Pat Wise and sophomore Jeremy Lewis are at tackle.

Others who will play are tight endsdefenders Nathan Sebright and Brett Hall, and linemen Scott Larson and sophomore Colby Parkins. Senior Josh Mitchell plays defensive back and freshman Luke Langbehn is kicker.

“I coach with enthusiasm and want them to play with enthusiasm,” said McGill. “It catches on.”

, DataTimes