Craig Jacobson is doubly excited about this season even though he’s only playing one position. He’s a cool and calm Inglemoor High Viking football player, but it’s senior year — and that means going all out one last time.
“There’s definitely an intensity and energy we have at practice every day,” said Jacobson, an all-4A Kingco honorable-mention wide receiver last year. He passed on doubling at cornerback this season after receiving concussions in both football and baseball games last year; he figures he’s got less of a chance at getting injured again by playing just one position. “I like to lead by example and do what I can to make all of us on the team better.”
Inglemoor, which sported a 7-3 overall record last year and lost to undefeated Auburn in the first round of the playoffs, opened its season Friday night with a 24-17 loss to Juanita at Pop Keeney Stadium. The Viks also broke in the new scoreboard, which features a state-of-the-art LED multimedia screen.
Inglemoor head coach Frank Naish, who’s been coaching for 30-plus years, likes what he sees on the field this season.
“We’ve got five returning starters … that’s not a lot, but I’m not having a heart attack. We’ve got good depth and a nice blend of seniors and juniors,” Naish said.
“Our senior class is ‘scary’ — they know how to compete; they do it every day in class, too,” the coach continued, noting the seniors’ leadership and combined grade-point average of about 3.6.
Jacobson is one of those seniors who’s hungry for success, especially against locals Bothell and Woodinville.
“They’re the ones to beat. You’ve got to beat the big dogs if you want to go to state and win the division,” he said.
Other top seniors include quarterback Derek Wagner; running backs Marc Dickerson, Lance Larsen, Colin Hamilton and Lantz Rudolf; and linemen Travis Bogard (6-foot-5, 270 pounds), Tyler Duringer (6-foot-2, 220 pounds) and Jake Lowe (5-foot-11, 180 pounds).
Bogard and Lowe — also standout wrestlers — are great friends on and off the field and dub themselves “Shake and Bake,” which translates into shared leadership roles. Bogard is a quiet teacher of techniques while Associated Student Body President Lowe is a master of pep talks.
“It’s a brotherhood kind of thing that goes with football and wrestling,” Lowe said.
They both enjoy a lineman’s life.
“I’ve been playing since the third grade in the trenches — I’m happy in there, it’s home to me,” Bogard said.
Added Lowe: “It’s where the most action is, and you get contact on every play.”
Both players say they get a rush out of making blocks for running backs that turn into big gains or touchdowns. Bogard added there’s no better feeling than when players show their appreciation by thanking linemen for their bruising efforts.
While Lowe’s life is split between the pigskin and presidency, he feels they both work hand in hand when making important decisions. In football, it’s all about the linemen sticking together to complete their tasks.
“It’s unique with linemen,” he said. “We all rely on each other a lot.”
Those big guys will be paving the way for coach Naish’s spread offense, which at post time will feature three quarterbacks in Wagner and juniors Jerry Molina and Mitch Gonzalez. Naish said Gonzalez has the best arm, Molina is quick and Wagner is a mixture of those two styles.
“They all throw the ball well enough to start. There’s some nice competition every day, which means I don’t have to work hard — they do it every day at practice,” Naish said. “We have three quarterbacks — if Washington State can do it, we can do it.”
And when it comes to running, Naish’s “stable of backs” should be able to put some points on the scoreboard. Other backs include juniors Tanner Sellman and Steve Short.
Dickerson has the most big-play potential, Naish said.
“He’s got good speed for us. If you’re not careful, he’s got the ability to go 80 yards into the end zone.”
And light up that new Pop Keeney scoreboard with six points.
