All-Kitsap County Football Team: Defense
DL — Will Morris, Central Kitsap, senior — While Morris’ stats may not be the most impressive around, few defensive linemen put as much pressure on the quarterback as routinely as Morris did. At 6-0 and 260 pounds, Morris had deceptive speed and agility that helped him crack the opposition’s offensive line, as Morris recorded 26 tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. But again, some of Morris’ biggest attributes were those not measure in statistics, as he was one of just 11 seniors on this year’s team.
DL — Kyle McCown, North Kitsap, senior — The lanky defensive end possessed a motor that never stopped. McCown finished with nine tackles for a loss and five sacks on the season. No. 90 was one of the hardest hitters on the team.
DL — Dayton Gilbreath, Bainbridge, senior — Like his older brother Bryan, Dayton was a threat to score every time he touched the ball for the Spartans this season, contributing on defense (with 55 tackles, four sacks and four fumble recoveries), offense (rushing for 1,119 yards and 18 touchdowns and catching 12 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown) and special teams (returning two punts for scores).
DL — Rashad Greene, Olympic, senior — Greene was a weapon Olympic could not have done without this season. While his presence on the defensive side of the ball was irreplaceable, he was also a vital cog of the Trojans’ run offense. Greene picked up 479 yards on 62 carries from the backfield, scoring 11 times. Defensively, he recorded 51 tackles with 5.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and a block. His blocking also helped open lanes for super sophomore Larry Dixon. But again, it’s Greene’s example as one of the seniors that turned the team from a one-win squad two years ago to the state tourney contender this season that will be missed most.
LB — Chris Martindale, Bremerton, senior — A senior, Martindale was a prolific tackler for the Knights, recording an astounding 90 tackles with a sack, a pick and two fumble recoveries. While Martindale won’t be back to try to help the Knights continue the growing process, his example will remain as one to follow.
LB — Josh Burlingame, South Kitsap, senior — After missing nearly the entire 2006 season with a torn anterior-cruciate ligament in his right knee, the 5-foot, 9-inch, 207-pound Burlingame returned the Wolves’ “emotional leader” on defense, according to South Kitsap coach D.J. Sigurdson. Burlingame led the Wolves with 76 tackles and was known as the team’s hardest hitter.
“He has a fire burning inside of him to play football,” Sigurdson said. “He’s a throwback guy. He just wants to play.”
LB — Chris Wade, Kingston, senior — Buccaneers middle linebacker Chris Wade was the heart and soul of the Buccaneers defense. Wade was always around the ball, which was evident by the team-high 77 tackles he made in Kingston’s 8 games. He averaged 9.6 tackles a contest. After a stellar performance against Sequim in late September, Bucs coach Dan Novick had this to say about his middle linebacker.
“Chris really cut loose and was playing recklessly in a positive way. He set the tone for the defense,” he said. “He was playing the way we know he can, going full-speed ahead. For a second I thought I saw Dick Butkus out there.”
DB — Blake Johnson, Olympic, sophomore — What a year Johnson had. Another of Oly’s impact sophomores, Johnson was vital defensively for the Trojans, picking off an almost unheard of 11 passes. He also recored 62 tackles. Offensively, he was quarterback Zach Bird’s top target, catching 12 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns, adding another score on a 20-yard run. His speed and field vision also helped in to 155 return yards this season. He’ll be part of a core that will seek to keep Oly atop the Olympic League.
DB — Glen Hewey, Central Kitsap, senior — Few put as much in to the program as Hewey, and even less took CK’s season-ending loss to Bothell at state as hard. Hewey was nothing short of consistent for the Cougars this season despite being overshadowed in the secondary by Brown. But flying under the radar was just fine for Hewey, as the CK senior recorded 23 tackles and four interceptions.
DB — Greg Ottele, North Kitsap, senior — A multi-talented Mr. Everything, Ottele finished the year with four interceptions from his strong safety position. The hard-hitting senior also played well on the offensive side of the ball, finishing with 364 yards on the ground.
DB — Cody Hertenstein, Klahowya, junior — Another key two-way player, Hertenstein helped the Eagles on both sides of the ball and ultimately, back to the state prelim round. He ran for 749 yards on 140 carries while scoring eight times in addition to his defensive numbers: 62 tackles and a pick. Hertenstein was most exciting to watch on special teams, however, as he recorded three blocks on punts and kicks and came close to about a half-dozen more.
Special Teams
K — Zach Sampson, North Kitsap, junior — Sampson connected on 21 of 23 extra points for the Vikings this year. Sampson booted a 39-yard field goal breaking a school record that had stood for 20 years in the final game of the season against Port Angeles. He scored 29 points and averaged 48.7 yards on each kickoff this year.
P — Kevin McCormick, Bainbridge, sophomore — McCormick did the job for the Spartans this season with his strong leg, punting 25 times for 807 yards, averaging 32.3 yards per punt and pinning opponents deep in its territory time after time.
RET — Ryan Williams, South Kitsap, junior — The Wolves’ star return man follows his older brother, Renard, who now is at Eastern Washington, on the all-Kitsap team. Sigurdson said his initial reaction when he saw the younger Williams, who weighs 100 pounds less than his brother, was “those guys are related?” but it didn’t take long for him to get recognized. He had kickoff returns of 93, 89 and 84 yards this year — all for touchdowns.
“You can’t coach that stuff,” Sigurdson said. “He was a lighting strike every once in awhile.”
Honorable mention
DL — Zane Sackett, Bainbridge, junior.
KR — Ryan Cleaver, North Kitsap, senior — Cleaver was adept at following his blockers throughout the season. Cleaver took back two kickoffs for scores in 2007. He averaged 28.6 yards per kick return. Perhaps his most acrobatic play of the season game against Wilson High School Oct 26.
“He probably ran 300 yards to get those 90 yards he got. He was running all over the field until he found a way to score. That kid doesn’t quit,” coach Steve Frease said after a contest against Wilson. “He’s one of our best special teams players.”
DL — Alex Van Deen, Kingston, junior — The Kingston defensive lineman might have been playing for the first-year Bucs, but he brought with him a level of experience not many others had. Van Deen was one of just a handful of North Kitsap starters to make the switch to Kingston. He will continue to be a leader for the Bucs in 2008.
OL — Greg Gole, Central Kitsap, senior.
RB — Larry Dixon, Olympic, sophomore.
DB — Alex Schell, Klahowya, senior.
RB — Jamiere Abney, Bremerton, senior.
QB/LB — Chad Tester, South Kitsap, senior.
RB — Ross Cobb, Bainbridge, junior.
RB — Jamaal Smith, North Kitsap, senior — Despite only competing in five games, Smith finished 470 yards rushing on 75 carries averaging 6.3 yards every time he ran the ball. Smith definitely would have registered bigger numbers if he would have been able to play the entire season.
QB — Paul Bagala, Kingston, junior — Kingston signal caller Paul Bagala threw for 1,338 yards and ran for 373 in his first season as a starting quarterback. He completed 118 passes and for a completion percentage of 50.6 percent. Bagala tossed 11 touchdown passes and scored two rushing touchdowns as well.
DB — Brandon Joiner, Central Kitsap, senior.
LB — Garrett Brown, Olympic, junior.
LB — Justin Shaputis, Klahowya, senior.
RB/DB — Alex Griffin, Bremerton, senior.
OL/DL — Matt Foxworthy, South Kitsap, senior.
DB — Deanzalo Thomas, Olympic, junior.
DL — Matt Mehs, South Kitsap, senior.
