Coaches Practice Catty Act But Fail Miserably As Focus On Game Increases

A long friendship has apparently melted under the intensity of the East-West All-Star Football Summer Classic.

Two retiring coaches, West coach Dick Heglar of Bellevue and East coach Jim Clements of East Valley, weren’t speaking on the eve of tonight’s game at Albi Stadium.

“I tried to offer a Popsicle as an olive branch,” Heglar said. “He wouldn’t take it. He gave it to an assistant. I guess our friendship is on the line.”

“No comment,” Clements countered. “The guy tried to spike me with a dang sugar Popsicle. He knows I’m a diabetic.”

That was as far as the two friends could get before they started laughing. They know there is no need to drum up a phony story line for the 7 p.m. game.

The game is about the players, almost 70 of the best 4A and 3A seniors in Washington.

“It’s been a great week,” Mead center Drew Lochhead said. “It’s amazing playing with guys of this caliber. There’s a lot of talent. It’s more fun to watch than anything.”

There are 10 Greater Spokane League players on the East team, including Washington Statesignee Erik Coleman of Lewis and Clark. Other Division I signees for the East include lineman Calvin Armstrong of Centralia (WSU), receivers Taylor Stubblefield of Davis (Purdue) and Justin Robbins of River Ridge (Washington), lineman Chris Barry of Franklin Pierce (Nevada) and tight end Willie Walden of Evergreen-Vancouver (Oregon).

“It makes you step up your game going against players with that kind of talent,” North Central defensive back Jeremy Kruskie said. “You’ve got to be on top of your game. I’m not doing too bad. I think the team is pretty good. The offense was a little slow but they’ve stepped it up. The defense is as strong as it gets.”

The East has been using a lot of one-back offense while the West is gambling on an all-star rarity - putting in the Wing-T.

“I’m a Wing-T coach, I fully appreciate what they’re trying to do,” Clements said. “If they get that in, we’ll have our hands full.”

“Putting in the Wing-T is hard,” Bellevue offensive lineman Dan Dicks said. “We’ve had to work pretty hard but we’ve all been pretty focused … it’s starting to come together.”

Dicks is one of five future Huskies on the West team. The others are defensive end Zach Tuiasosopo of Woodinville, linebacker Tim Galloway of Auburn, defensive back Jimmy Newell of South Kitsap and lineman Junior Coffin of Olympic.

Other Division I players are defensive back Bennett Hamilton of Gig Harbor (Reno), Kamiak quarterback Ryan Kanekeberg and tight end Pat Loney (both Oregon State), tight end Calen Powell of Lake Washington (Duke) and linebacker Mike Karney of Kentwood (Arizona State).

“I think the defense will be really tough,” Heglar said. “It’s probably the nature of the game. Anytime they wanted to load it up they shut (the offense) down. That’s why they’ve changed the rules, but what that tells the defense is to pin your ears back and go.”

Each team is allowed four offensive sets, two pass coverages and must play a five-man defensive front. There is no blitzing. Also, if a team trails by nine after scoring, it can receive the kickoff.

“Everyone talks about the skill kids, all the speed,” Clements said. “As far as the East is concerned it all falls on the offensive and defensive lines.”

Proud host

Central Valley defensive back John McFarlane was doubly nervous coming into All-Star week. McFarlane, listed at 150 pounds, is the lightest player and all the practices were at his school.

“Everybody here is pretty classy,” McFarlane said. “You don’t have to worry about anybody screwing it up for everybody else. You can tell why they were picked.”

And McFarlane has stood in against the biggest and the best.

“I’m holding my own but it’s a lot tougher than the GSL,” he said. “You don’t want to mess up in front of everybody. It’s a great experience. It makes you humble, that’s for sure.”

No pressure

When the game was last played in Spokane, Marques Tuiasosopo was the big name for the West.

“He didn’t tell me anything,” younger brother Zach said. “He just said come have fun. It’s been great. It’s been good getting to know these guys.”

It hasn’t been difficult following his brother.

“I don’t feel any pressure,” he said. “I think of it as a game. He did his thing, it’s our turn to do our thing. I expect a lot. These are the best players in the state so you’ve got to respect everyone.”

Good vacation

East tight end Mike Rose of Tumwater broke a bone in his left foot less than 30 minutes into the first practice on Sunday but he never missed a beat - off the field.

“It’s been all right,” he said. “There are two choices to be made. I’m not one to pout. They’ve all been great, helped me out. A lot have empathy for me.

“I’m glad I stayed.”

He will be introduced tonight along with Prosser lineman Jeff Graf, who hasn’t recovered from a late-season neck injury enough to play.

Well done

CV coach Rick Giampietri, the local coordinator for the game, had a lot of sleepless nights leading up to All-Star week, but everything has gone well.

“With all the community support, the coaches and players have been taken care of so well they can’t complain,” he said. “That makes my job easier.”

The major sponsors have been the Double Tree-Spokane Valley and Best Western-Pheasant Hill.

He also gave special credit to Dave Mason, who has handled the promotion and Jay Rydell, who has coordinated transportation. CV, East Valley and West Valley transportation departments have all contributed.

“This whole week it’s been eat, practice, sleep,” Shadle Park’s Matt Doyle said. “It’s been cool.”

Lochhead added, “It makes me proud to have grown up here.”

Giampietri hopes that with 10 local players the game can draw more than the 7,000 in Kennewick two years ago when he was the East coach.

Final word

The last practice Thursday afternoon was scheduled for 75 minutes. But after hearing Clements say, “three more plays,” about a half-dozen times at the end of Tuesday’s practice, the players weren’t buying it.

“One-fifteen is 1:45 in Clements’ time,” Willie Walden said.

The players got out on time. Thursday was pizza night and Clements loves pizza.

This sidebar appeared with the story:

COMING UP Prep football Today: East stars vs. West stars, 7 p.m., Albi Stadium.

Tickets: Adults $6, students $4.