W.F. West quarterback Elijah Johnson scrambles for a first down during the second quarter of a non league football game at Bearcat Stadium in Chehalis on Friday night.
Toledo's Taylor Hicks breaks into the Concrete secondary for a long touchdown run during the fourth quarter of a State 2B Football Playoff first-round game at Sedro Woolley High School on Saturday afternoon.
Several years ago lowly sportswriter (now visuals editor) Pete Caster came up with an idea: What if we imagined a fantasy football league, but only with high school players in Lewis County?
After initially dismissing the concept as another of Pete’s harebrained ideas, putting it on the shelf with “add one rule and improve every sport” and “a towel with ‘face’ written on side and ‘butt’ on the other,” the idea caught on, and Lewis County Fantasy Football was born.
The rules are not unlike traditional fantasy football: Players’ stats are tallied up and converted into points each week, which will then be reviewed in a column (like this one) every Tuesday. Rushing and receiving yards are worth a point for every 10 yards; passing yards are a point for every 25 yards; rushing and receiving touchdowns are worth 6 points each; and passing touchdowns are worth 4 points each. In expanded leagues, a team defense can score points based on the number of points allowed, interceptions and sacks; and kickers can score with PATs and field goals.
Every season starts off with the Lewis County Fantasy Football draft kit, which runs through the top players at each position on a simple projected-stats level.
Quarterback
1. Elijah Johnson, W.F. West. Johnson’s a dual-threat guy, and while the Bearcats typically spread the ball around to their backs, the rushing yards he’ll add to his passing numbers — which should be better than last year — make him worth an early pick. Throw in the experience on the offensive line, and the Bearcats should have little trouble putting up plenty of points this year. And Johnson’s LCFF owners will benefit.
2. David Young, Adna. Young, a senior, missed a big chunk of last year with an injury. He’s been starting since his sophomore year and he’ll get plenty of chances to put his legs to work. And, with a handful of solid receivers, any time the Pirates opt to pass he’ll pick up points.
3. Wyatt Stanley, Napavine. Stanley made hay in the Tigers’ passing attack last year, though he was on the sidelines for any quarterback keeper plays (thanks a lot, wildcat specialist Brady Woodrum). This year? Not as many experienced running backs and no one else to take the snaps means Stanley should wind up with bigger numbers.
4. Joey Aliff, Centralia. Aliff ran it pretty well last year at times, and all the ball-carriers ahead of him have graduated. He’s the full-time starter and he has the coach’s confidence. In the Tigers’ offense, that could mean a lot of work for the junior.
5. Calvin Guzman, Tenino. Starting for the third year, Guzman’s got a few nice targets in Nihls Peterson at tight end and Thomas Pier out of the backfield. Plus, he can keep it and run in the Beavers’ single-option offense. Not a bad late-round pick by any means.
6. Evan Wrzesinski, Onalaska. Poor Mr. Wrzesinski missed the entirety of last year with a knee injury, but he’s definitely athletic — he’s a former state-champion sprinter — and he’s probably the Loggers’ best option running the ball.
Running Back
1. Taylor Hicks, Toledo. Easy pick. Hicks ran for 387 yards in one game last year. He runs hard and he’s going to get his yards every night out, plus he’s a year older and faster than last year.
2. Thomas Pier, Tenino. Pier started last year off with a bang, but missed a few games down the stretch with injuries. Bigger and stronger this year, and more experienced in coach Randy Swilley’s single-wing offense, he’s a lock for big numbers.
3. Kaelin Jurek, Pe Ell-Willapa Valley. Jurek, Trevor Cook and Seth Flemetis are all going to get their carries on a potent Titans offense, and any of the three could be a viable start in pretty much any game of the year. Jurek was an All-League and All-Area pick last year, and could go off for a 150-yard, three-touchdown game at the drop of a hat.
4. Braiden Elledge, Morton-White Pass. Elledge is going to get a ton of carries on a young MWP squad, and the veteran senior’s quick enough to make the most out of a little space.
5. Isaac Ingle, Adna. The junior fullback had a handful of big games toward the end of last season, and with a summer’s worth of work under his belt — and experience on the line — Ingle should be a lock to post big numbers for an up-and-coming Pirate squad.
6. Nathan Anglin, W.F. West. Bearcat running backs don’t often put up huge numbers, but coach Bob Wollan has plans to build a hard-running offense and Anglin — a first-team all-league running back — will be a big part of that.
7. Sam Fagerness, Napavine. The Tigers have a history of relying on a tough, grind-it-forward running back — and with the graduation of Jensen Lindsay, that leaves the burlier of the Fagerness twins to pick up the straight-ahead carries.
Wide Receivers
1. Mac Fagerness, Napavine. Is Fagerness even a wideout? For LCFF purposes, sure. He’ll be catching passes from Wyatt Stanley this year, and with the graduation of Cole Doughty and Brady Woodrum, he should be Napavine’s top target. Add in the backfield carries he’s sure to get, and Fagerness is a top pick.
2. Nolan Wasson, Centralia. Wasson’s a big, fast target, and when the Tigers opt to put it in the air, he’s the likely No. 1 option. Plus, he got a few pass attempts in last season on trick plays, so there’s a chance for the occasional passing touchdown to pad his stats.
3. Brody Holcomb, W.F. West. The most experienced receiver on the Bearcats’ squad, Holcomb’s got a good rapport with quarterback Elijah Johnson and — though the Bearcats might not pass as much as the last few years — he’ll be a reliable option.
4. Cedric Miles, Mossyrock. Miles is fast and one of the top offensive weapons on an up-and-coming Viking squad. Given that Mossyrock has its quarterback situation figured out this season, look for Miles to get plenty of chances to rack up receiving yards.
5. Wes Kuzminsky, Toledo. A first-time player in his senior year, Kuzminsky’s a big, fast target, and as quarterback Dalton Yoder’s improved since last year, the Indians are going to be putting it up a little more.
6. Jordan Thomas, Centralia. The 6-foot-2 sophomore will run out of the slot for Centralia, which might mean he gets the same type of carries and targets Gavin Kerner got last year — which would mean a few big plays every game.
