Young North Thurston team will try to stack up against tough 3A Narrows with sharp offense

The difference between North Thurston’s two running backs, Anthony Salazar and Ross Sherrer, is pretty simple.

“He’s way bigger and I’m way smaller,” Sherrer said.

As two parts of a versatile backfield, Salazar and Sherrer will split time at the position this season on a situational basis — Salazar will provide the power, Sherrer the speed.

A 5-foot-9, 155-pound junior, Sherrer is an elusive, make-you-miss type of running back.

“He’s small enough to fit anywhere, and he’s fast enough that if he sees it, he’s going for it,” Salazar said.

In contrast, Salazar, a 6-2, 200-pound senior, has more physicality. He’s also seen more playing time at the position. Sherrer, primarily a defender, has yet to take a snap at running back, while Salazar saw some time at the position last season — 2015 graduate and 3A Narrows League second-teamer Dante Thomas took the majority of the snaps.

“If there’s a guy right in front of (Salazar), he’ll just take the guy head on, knock him over and just keep running,” Sherrer said.

As will a few others on offense. The Rams, who often run the fly sweep, bring back two experienced pairs of hands in wide receivers Zach Sibley and Brandon Morgan. Tight end Darren Sroor also sprouted 3 inches to 6-5 during the past 16 months, giving veteran quarterback Jake Harn plenty of options.

“I think it’s good to mix it up,” Salazar said. “I think a team that not only has a good running game, but a good passing game, too, is hard to stop.”

The Rams are light on returning players this season, which will likely lead veterans to see significant time on both sides of the ball. The defensive crew is young, but does return all-Narrows selection Ryan Burgman at linebacker.

“This is the least experienced team I’ve probably ever put on a football field,” said coach Rocky Patchin, who is entering his 24th season at North Thurston.

Patchin said the Rams have covered more ground prior to a season opener than in past years, working on polishing special teams, substitution changes and other small details.

But inexperience could cause some trouble for the young Rams — who finished in fifth place (4-6) last season — in a reloaded 3A Narrows field.

“I think our league’s as strong as it’s ever been, it really is,” Patchin said. “I think the teams that have been down a little bit in the past are good, and the teams that are always good are still good.”

One of those teams is Capital. The Cougars finished second in the league last season to Lincoln and lost to Mountlake Terrace at districts last year, but expect to push deeper into the playoffs this season.

“We are better than a 7-3 team this year,” said Cody Jenkins, in his third year at quarterback.

The defense returns experience, and the offense — though missing graduated 2014 offensive league MVP Conner Kennedy at running back — boasts balance between the run and pass game. It also returns first-team kicker/punter — and UW commit — Van Soderberg.

“It gives us more ways to score,” Jenkins said. “Not that it’s bad to have one big bruising back, but it’s nice to have a bunch of guys that can score.”

With coach Matt Hinkle entering his 21st season, Shelton looks to break away from a 3-7 seventh-place finish last season — which included a six-game skid where it was outscored by opponents, 244-69. The Highclimbers will rely on an experienced offensive line that includes 3A Narrows second-teamer Michael Huskey.　

SENIORS LEAD WAY AT OLYMPIA

Regularly a contender in the 4A Narrows league, Olympia will try to improve on a 6-4, second-place finish in 2014 and chase down league favorite Gig Harbor with a group of experienced seniors.

“You have a firm springboard of consistency that you can jump off of,” senior lineman Brett Thompson said.

The Bears have more size on defense than in past years — coach Bill Beattie said it’s not uncommon for the program to start 190-pounders — with Thompson (235) and junior Amir Matheney (285) up front.

Olympia also returns two key players to its offense in running back Scott Gunther and wide receiver David Woodward. Both were injured last season.

Timberline (5-5 last season) and Yelm (4-6) are both looking to climb to the top of the 4A Narrows. The Blazers are young but speedy and will rely on a quick secondary, while the Tornadoes will put a lot of the offensive load on junior running back Brandon Thompson, who scored double-digit touchdowns last season.　

TUMWATER CHASING NEXT TITLE

Tumwater hasn’t won a state championship since 2010 — and is ready to change that. The Thunderbirds have played in the 2A title game two out the of the past three seasons, 2012 and 2013, and lost to Lynden both times.

Easton Trakel, one of 19 seniors, rushed for 1,201 yards on 105 carries and scored 15 touchdowns for the Thunderbirds last season, and will be a key factor in this season’s bid for a title.

In the 2A Evergreen hunt are W.F. West, Black Hills and Centralia, which all ended 2014 with five wins. The Bearcats bring back seven starters each on offense and defense, while the Tigers’ main strength is in its secondary, which returns three starters. Three returning linebackers will lead a young Black Hills defense.　

RIVER RIDGE STILL RUNNING

The Hawks, who made their first playoff appearance last season since 1998, will try to fill the hole left by running back Michael Key, who led the 2A SPSL last season with 1,444 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Gustavo Diaz or Patrick Green are contenders for that job, while River Ridge also returns veterans on the offensive line and Kobe Key at quarterback. Key had 1,516 all-purpose yards in 2014.　

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

Elma, Rochester and Tenino will all try to emerge from the middle of the pack in 2A/1A Evergreen.

Elma has experience but could struggle with depth, with the majority of starters playing on both sides of the ball. Rochester will look to improve on a 2-5 league record last season, where it averaged 17.6 points per game.

Tenino will look to quarterback Calvin Guzman — who coach Randy Swilley said is a second coach on the field — to help the Beavers improve on their 2-5 league record in 2014.

Rainier — which averaged 29 points per game in 2014 — will also try to push toward the top after finishing 5-3 for fourth place in 2B Pacific last season.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 9:28 PM with the headline "Young North Thurston team will try to stack up against tough 3A Narrows with sharp offense."