2012 Football Preview: Shelton and Mary M. Knight

Shelton: Campaign works for pair of Highclimbers

SHELTON HIGHCLIMBERS
Coach: Matt Hinkle, 19th year
2011 record: 2-8, 7th in Narrows 4A.
Offense: Coordinator (set) – Cary Nagel (multiple).
Returning starters – 8.
Top players – TE David Ajamu, 6-5, 235, Sr.; RB Ralph Kinne, 5-10, 205, Sr.; OL Jake Lindley, 6-4, 235, Sr.; WR Michael Sobotka, 5-11, 175, Jr.; QB Jared Welander, 6-4, 185, Sr.; OL Kaleb Wright, 6-4, 285, Sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) – Matt Hinkle (4-3). Top players – DL David Ajamu, 6-5, 235, Sr.; DL DeShon Bell, 5-11, 205, Sr.; DB Jake Frakes, 6-1, 175, Sr.; LB Thomas Gettle, 6-2, 200, Sr.; LB Brian Nault, 6-1, 200, So.
Outlook: Something about last year never clicked, and it wasn’t difficult for Hinkle to identify: The Highclimbers and the spread offense do not mesh. So he and Nagel, a former Shelton player, are going back to the program’s roots as a power-running team. That should mean plenty of carries for Kinne, an all-purpose yardage giant.

2012 Shelton Football Schedule
Home games in CAPS. All games at 7 p.m.
* 3A Narrows League game
Friday, Aug. 31 – TUMWATER
Friday, Sept. 7 – at North Mason
Friday, Sept. 14 – WILSON *
Friday, Sept. 21 – at Yelm
Friday, Sept. 28 – FOSS *
Friday, Oct. 5 – at Lincoln *
Friday, Oct. 12 – NORTH THURSTON *
Friday, Oct. 19 – at Mount Tahoma *
Friday, Oct. 26 – at Timberline *

MARY M. KNIGHT OWLS
Coach: John Schultz, first year
2011 record: 7-2, lost in 1B pigtail playoff game.
Offense: Coordinator (set) -- John Schultz (8-man Wing-T)
Returning starters -- 7
Top players: OL Mason Cloud, sr.; TE Nick Dierkop, sr.; OL Cody Thompson, sr.; QB Kyle Willey, sr.
Defense: Coordinator (set) -- John Schultz (multiple)
Returning starters -- 7
Top players: DE Mason Cloud, sr.; DB Nick Dierkop, sr.; DL Cody Thompson, sr.; LB Kyle Willey, sr.
Outlook: Schultz, the school's principal, takes over as head coach of the 8-man program and will instill the Wing-T offense, which he ran during his 21-year tenure at Centralia. In a school that features 89 students in grades 7-12, 17 players turned out for football. The Owls had their best record in school history in 2011 (7-2), losing to eventual state champion 1B (8-man) Neah Bay in a pigtail playoff game at Tumwater District Stadium.

2012 Mary M. Knight Football Schedule
Home games in CAPS. All games at 1 p.m. unless noted.
Saturday, Sept. 8 -- at Quilcene
Saturday, Sept. 15 -- OAKVILLE
Saturday, Sept. 22 -- LAKE QUINAULT
Friday, Sept. 28 -- at Oakville, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 6 -- at Kingsway
Thursday, Oct. 11 -- at Washington School for the Deaf, 3 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 20 -- LYLE
Friday, Oct. 26 -- vs. Wiskkah Valley (at Aberdeen), 7 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 3 -- TAHOLAH