The 5:30 game of this years Emerald City Kickoff will feature the Coeur d'Alene Vikings from Idaho traveling west to take on the Moses Lake Chiefs. The Vikings are the defending 5A Champions and are already 1-0 on the season after a 37-24 win over the Rocky Mountain Grizzlies of Meridian, ID. It is opening night for Moses Lake as they look to improve on a 3-8 record in 2010. The two teams met last season in Coeur d'Alene with the Vikings winning 31-0. I sent emails to both head coaches and got responses, first I will preview Coeur d'Alene with head coach Shawn Amos...
WHSF: If I was a fan attending the games this weekend in Seattle, who are 3 players from the Vikings that I would want to watch for and what can you tell us about them?
SA: QB Chad Chalich – returning 5A Idaho State Player of the Year (28 / 34 357yards 3 TD’s last week), WR/DE Deon Watson – All State (6 catches 111 yards last week), LB Jake Cheesman – 140 Tackles last year (14 tackles and 1 sack last week).
WHSF: I assume you have seen video of Moses Lake, what do you know about the Chiefs?
SA: Good, athletic QB. Attacking defense. Well coached and play hard to the whistle
WHSF: If you could give me a few keys to winning the game, what would they be?
SA: Offensively, we must be able to run the ball and stay patient with the passing game against their hybrid defense. Defensively, we must stayed disciplined but attacking against their option.
WHSF: What would you say your strengths are?
SA: Team speed
WHSF: I noticed you have already played, and won a game, do you think that gives you an advantage over the Chiefs who have yet to play?
SA: Possibly, we were able to work out first game jitters and clean-up mistakes. However, Moses Lake has had longer to prepare for the game.
WHSF: 34/22 Pass/Run ratio in your first game, would you consider yourself a passing team?
SA: We would like to stay balanced
WHSF: In one sentence, how would you describe your defense?
SA: Aggressive
WHSF: What can you do to help prepare for playing in a place like Century Link Field?
SA: We aren’t able to simulate that type of atmosphere but instead look to focus on things we can control
WHSF: Travel speaking, are you guys staying the night either friday or saturday?
SA: No
WHSF: Best of luck, I am excited to see your team play.
SA: Thanks!
---
Next up I will preview the Moses Lake Chiefs with head coach Todd Griffith.
WHSF: If I were a fan heading to Century Link Field to see your team play, who are 3 players I would want to watch for and what can you tell me about them?
TG: QB Justin Simmons, WR Jordan Koon and RB Bryce Perez
WHSF: What would you consider your teams strength to be?
TG: Team Speed
WHSF: I can only assume you have seen film of Couer d'Alene, what can you tell me about the Vikings?
TG: Strong Defense with a very good QB. QB is very mobile and is best when moving out of pocket
WHSF: You lost to the Vikings last season in Couer d'Alene, is there anything you can take from that loss into this years game?
TG: We were pretty young and inexperienced. We are starting a lot of those kids who played last year.
WHSF: What would you consider your 3 keys to winning on saturday?
TG: #1 special teams- we have to be mistake free
#2 we have to be able to neutralize their blitzes with the pass
#3 we have to be able to contain the QB and keep him from making plays after he is flushed
WHSF: What is it gonna take to see Moses Lake in the Tacoma dome in December?
TG: We are going to have to get healthy first. We have 4 starters that are not going to play the early games
WHSF: I noticed you have to go to all three Tri City stadiums this season, have you ever had to do that before?
TG: Not that I can remember. They are tough places to play.
---
This is going to be a tough game for Moses Lake to win, but I fully expect them to come ready to play. Both coaches have a lot of team speed to play with so I could very easily see this game being a shootout. Both teams have big games next weekend, but I don't see either team over looking one another. At the end of the night I could see this being the best game at this years Emerald City Kickoff. I would like to thank both coaches for taking a few minutes to respond and I wish them both the best of luck on saturday and the rest of the season.
---
I will be in Kent tonight taking in the game between Auburn Riverside Ravens and the #8 ranked Kentlake Falcons. I will be tweeting updates from the game, those can be found by following @HSFootballWA.
If you are attending the game, keep and eye on Caleb Saulo and Austin Pernell. Both from Kentlake and both are names you will hear a lot tonight.
No comments:
Post a Comment