FOOTBALL PREVIEWS ’10: Smith, McKernan hope to bring back punch to Kentridge offense
Published 11:53 pm Thursday, September 2, 2010
Defense has been the calling card of the Kentridge High football team the last two years.
A change, however, appears imminent.
That’s not because the Chargers can’t handle themselves on defense. Rather, it’s due to the expected emergence of running back Cameron McKernan and quarterback Caleb Smith, two of the most dynamic offensive players in the South Puget Sound League North Division this season. Both were part of an offense that sputtered much of last season, and finished ranked 17th in the entire SPSL.
Of course, the 6-foot-6, 236-pound rifle-armed Smith was in just his second year at the position while McKernan was banged up much of the season.
“We’re going to come with everything we’ve got,” said Smith, a junior who has all the tools to play at the college level. “You can expect some fire.”
The Chargers will be thrown right into the proverbial fire as they play host to league favorite Auburn in the season opener (Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.) at French Field. The Trojans were a unanimous selection to win the division in a preseason coaches’ poll.
“They’re going to be tough whenever we get ’em,” Kentridge coach Marty Osborn said. “We may as well get them first. Getting them in the opener is as good of time as any. If you’re going to beat them, you have to play a great game.”
Kentridge was one of the few teams in the North to hang with the Trojans last season, dropping a 28-14 decision in the fifth week. With an offense that appears plenty reloaded, a different story could be written this time.
“There’s no doubt (Auburn’s) a good team,” said Smith, who completed 34 of 86 passes for 611 yards and four touchdowns last season. “We’ve been studying their film really hard, figuring out what we can do to keep them out of the end zone. I think we have a shot.
“Nobody should overlook us.”
Of all the players on the Kentridge roster, Smith likely is the last player anyone would “overlook.” At 6-foot-6 and 236 pounds, he’s the largest quarterback who has ever played for Osborn, a former quarterback himself.
In his second season at the position, there were moments when the big guy looked like a natural, zipping in passes that seemed impossible to make. Such was the case in a midseason victory against Jefferson, when Smith completed 5 of 9 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown.
But there also were times when Smith showed his inexperience.
“I wouldn’t say I was always comfortable (in the pocket),” admitted Smith, who already has received interest from most of the colleges in the Northwest. “I feel a lot more comfortable this year.”
Osborn agrees.
“I think his maturity is going to be really improved,” the coach said. “He was a sophomore starter last year, and like all sophomore starters, he had his growing pains.”
McKernan, a senior running back with speed to burn, should add to Smith’s comfort level. The 5-foot-11, 202-pounder missed a handful of games his junior season with a knee injury and lost time to a concussion as a sophomore. He spent much of the summer at camps and combines improving his speed and college prospect status.
The results have been obvious, Osborn said.
“He’s been popping some 4.3s and 4.4s (in the 40-yard dash),” Osborn said of McKernan, who already has offers to play at Air Force, New Mexico and Eastern Washington among others. “He’s truly going in as our top tailback this year. That’s his role.”
Which is a slight change of pace for the Chargers, who’ve typically rotated a handful of tailbacks in previous years. That’s likely to change with McKernan, whom Osborn says will get between 15 and 20 carries a game. McKernan showed flashes of brilliance last season in limited time, rushing for 361 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries.
With both Smith and McKernan on the rise, the rest of the Chargers figure to follow suit.
“We’re kind of unproven,” Osborn said. “We’re going to be young and interesting.”
KENTRIDGE CHARGERS: AT A GLANCE
• Coach: Marty Osborn, 20th season, 122-69.
• Last year: 6-2 in SPSL North play, tied for second; 6-3 overall.
• Type of offense: Multiple I.
• Offensive returners: Wes Concepcion, sr., K/WR, 6-0, 163; Caleb Smith, jr., QB, 6-6, 236; Cameron McKernan, sr., RB, 5-11, 202; Chance Fuimaono, so., FB, 5-10, 203; Donovan Ward, sr., TE, 6-1, 215; Axl Snure, sr., FB, 6-0, 195; Kaid Tipton, jr., WR, 6-2, 165; Andrew Moore, sr., OL, 6-4, 276; Carl Samoa, jr., OL, 6-2, 276.
• Defensive returners: Cameron McKernan, sr., OLB, 5-11, 202; Chance Fuimaono, so., ILB, 5-10, 203; Donovan Ward, sr., DL, 6-1, 215; Axl Snure, sr., ILB, 6-0, 195; Kaid Tipton, jr., DB, 6-2, 165; Andrew Moore, sr., DL, 6-4, 276; Carl Samoa, jr., DL, 6-2, 276..
• Top newcomers: Tre Ross, sr., TE/DE, 6-1, 186; Jeff Seid, jr., FB/LB, 6-0, 185; Michael Pennington, so., OL/DL, 5-11, 221; Kevin Brown, sr., WR/DB, 6-3, 190; Alex McKenzie, jr., T/DB, 5-7, 162; Rene Malacon, sr., FB/ILB, 5-10, 195..
• Outlook: The Chargers graduated plenty of talent, particularly on the defensive side of the ball as defensive end Dylan Zylstra and linebacker Devin Topps are both now playing at Eastern Washington University. Despite the departure of a few top-tier guys, this year’s Kentridge bunch has the potential to be explosive offensively with speedster McKernan and quarterback Smith.
• Key game: On Oct. 22, Kentridge will play host to Tahoma in a Week 8 showdown that should carry plenty of playoff weight. The Bears and Chargers seem to find themselves in the annual position of either being in the playoffs or knocking on the door in the final weeks. With Kentwood on the horizon in the season finale, this is a game the Chargers will need to have in order to advance.
