Powerful Advantage As Ninth-Graders At Evergreen, They Were The Biggest Guys Around; Now, As CV Seniors, They Are Expected To Bulldoze The Gsl

Four years ago Evergreen Junior High football players were the talk of the Valley.

Several were men-children, as big as most high school athletes, on a team that didn’t lose for three years.

“We thought we were hot,” said Greg Papich, one of the players.

Truth is, there are no guarantees that a dominant ninth grader will become a high school superstar.

“Over the years I’ve decided you can’t judge by a ninth grade team because kids change so much,” said CV assistant Barry Poffenroth. “They sometimes don’t play. You get kids who are all-world as sophomores that become average juniors and seniors and kids pass them up.”

But Poffenroth also learned from his high school coach that every four or five years you get a special group. This is one.

Twenty of the 29 players on that 1994 Evergreen football roster are still involved in sports, most of them at CV. Half of them, including nine high-profile starters, are still in football.

They say they aren’t much bigger than they were in ninth grade -“I had hair on my chest back then,” said Papich - but they have had an impact at CV for the past two seasons.

As seniors, these Bears are considered overwhelming favorites to win the Greater Spokane League championship.

“I wanted to make sure they had a picture of themselves (as sophomores) to remember in the future they had a chance to be champions,” said coach Rick Giampietri. “They have grown together, gained strength, speed and knowledge.”

Most visible players have been two linemen who together tip the scales at 650 pounds, Wil Beck and Preston Crossman.

Beck, a two-time all-leaguer and all-state as a sophomore, is up 70 pounds to 304. He said he wants to play 30 pounds lighter.

Crossman, nearly the same size he was as a ninth grader, is a massive 6-foot-7, 341-pounds, whose size is attracting major-college attention.

Other sizeable linemen on the squad are 228-pound Jason Robisch, 233-pound Brandon Bouge and 190-pounder Ben Albers.

Defensive backs Nate McFarlane and Zac Scott, tight end Marc Hinckley and Michael Easton are also from Evergreen.

McFarlane, who also carries the ball, pound for pound is CV’s hardest hitter, said his coach. Hinckley has probably grown the most, to 6-2, 190-pounds.

“Nate and Wil started as sophomores,” said Giampietri. “They showed the ability to play younger. But for the group, Bouge, Robisch and Hinckley are improved tremendously over three years.”

Easton was a reserve player at Evergreen and now at CV, a 4.0 student nicknamed “Rudy” for the Notre Dame player who beat the odds to stick with and inspire his team.

Crossman remembered the ease with which Evergreen dominated smaller foes, some who are now teammates.

“I thought they were overrated,” joked starting linebacker and North Pines graduate Courtney Brown.

But Albers said they all figured they’d be starting as sophomores.

“Speak for yourself,” said Papich, a wide-receiver and kicker. “There were a lot more bigger, faster, stronger people in front of us.”

That, said Giampietri, was to the young sophomores’ advantage. They were groomed by a senior class that finished 9-0 in league, losing to Kamiakin in the state playoffs.

“It was kind of intimidating,” remembered McFarlane, who weighed maybe 140 pounds.

Said Bouge, “We thought we had worked hard. We learned what work was.”

“Everything moved quicker,” admitted Crossman. “The hardest part was facing guys our own size for the first time.”

Accustomed to winning, last year’s modest 6-4 season and playoff loss to Kamiakin was humbling.

“It was tough for us,” said Albers. “The season wasn’t as much fun.”

Beck attributed it to their youth. Only four seniors started.

“We weren’t ready to be team leaders,” he said. “We were kind of thrown into it.”

They are approaching this season more determined. Central Valley, with players from North Pines, Greenacres and Horizon junior highs as well, returns 18 starters from last year.

Quarterback Chad Adamson has a year’s experience and “could be a sleeper,” said Giampietri, because of improved quickness and arm strength.

Runningback-linebackers Garret Graham, a speedy 6-5, 219-pounder who is also attracting major college interest, juniors Tyree Clowe and Patrick Libey, receiver-defensive back Todd Millar, linebacker Courtney Brown, defensive backs Ryan Nelson and junior Justin Folkins, 265-pound offensive lineman Chris Sullivan and defensive end Colin White are veterans all.

Senior defensive back Mike Tasca and junior line Kris White also are likely contributors this year.

There can be no excuses. CV is in the GSL spotlight.

“I kind of have the same feeling as my ninth grade year,” said Bouge. “On the field we had the attitude that no one could beat us.”

But this isn’t junior high.

“I think the kids know (that they are favored to win),” said Giampietri. “But there’s not a gimme in the whole league. It’s just a situation where they have to prove it.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PREP PROSPECTS It’s nearly time to kick off the high school football season. Wondering about the prospects of your favorite school? Preseason previews for all of the Valley’s high school football teams are inside today’s Valley Voice on pages 4 and 5.