Wallace Vows To Revive The Run
Wallace won’t wear “throwback” uniforms this season, but the Miners will go back to an old standby, the running game, during the 1995 season.
“We’re a running team,” fourth-year Wallace coach Dave Rounds said. “We’re going back to the old style.
“We’re not fooling anybody with a short-passing game and run.”
The Wallace senior backfield tandem of Brian St. Peter at tailback and Mike LaBau at fullback will be the offensive mainstays. St. Peter and LaBau carried for 311 of the team’s total 314 yards in last week’s season-opening 30-12 victory over Potlatch. Rounds likes those totals, especially with a new offensive line. “There’s a lot of juniors on the offensive line,” he said. “They really came through in the first game.”
Senior Nick Rounds shores the lines. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive end/left guard was named Wallace’s defensive player of the year in 1994 after a 7-2 season. Senior Ryan Nipp is another veteran lineman. Junior Colby Mattila is the center, with senior Zeke England at right guard and junior Scott Thomas at tackle.
The Miners move senior Mike Heyn from the blocking receiver position to quarterback.
Wallace, an A-3 Independent, plays host to A-2 Kellogg on Friday night.
Lapwai spoiled the Wildcats’ season-opener 22-14 last week, and will be an A-3 District II team to contend with, Rounds said. Timberline is another District II favorite. In addition to Kellogg, Wallace plays Intermountain League teams St. Maries, Bonners Ferry and Priest River.
xxxx A-3 INDEPENDENT Wallace Miners 1994 record: 7-2 Coach: Dave Rounds Years coaching: 4 Coach’s record: 17-11 Top returners: Brian St. Peter, senior, 5-foot-7, 168 pounds, tailback-linebacker; Mike LaBau, sr., 5-9, 175, fullback-lb; Robert Chavez, sr., 5-5 130, wr-cb; John Heyn, sr., 5-8, 158, quarterback-cb; Nick Rounds, sr., 6-1, 180, defensive end; Ryan Nipp, sr., 6-2, 216, tackle. Key newcomers: Colby Mattila, junior, 5-9, 170, center-left guard; Zeke England, sr., 5-9, 205, right guard; Scott Thomas, jr., 6-foot, 195, t. Quick kicks: The explosiveness of the Miners’ running backs is no secret. St. Peter ran for 900 yards in 1994. He rushed for 123 yards in last week’s win over Potlatch. LaBau ran for 188 yards. “We threw the ball twice,” Rounds said. Coach’s comment: “The offensive line was the young spot. A lot of juniors really came through in the first game.” Outlook: “We’ve got a pretty solid core of seniors returning,” Rounds says. That will help Wallace come state playoff time. The Miners gain automatic entry into the playoffs, drawing the second-place team from District II in the first round.