(Royster did very well at the UW Showcase against the best seniors in the Northwest) |
A school that has been famous for it’s football since the school’s opening has been the Lakeridge Pacers out of Lake Oswego. They have spent the last decade or more trying to climb back towards the top of the ranks after falling off for a number of years.
The state’s winningest coach Tom Smythe has come back to lead the group that won often under his leadership in the 80’s and 90’s. The Cross town rival Lake Oswego Lakers have stolen the show for the last 10+ years and have been the team to beat on a state wide level. They have won 43 straight league games, and just last year won the school’s first ever state 6a title finishing the 25th ranked team in the country (14-0 overall).
The Pacers lose standout perimeter players Blake Dutton and Tommy Knecht, but return a host of talented kids and a big time transfer in Marqueese Royster (6-1 260 Jr. DL) that should help control the line of scrimmage. Royster is one of the top lineman in the state for the 2014 class, and he will need to play lights out to help give his team the advantage needed up front to beat some of the better squads in the state.
Royster doesn’t have a ton of varsity game experience, but has looked phenomenal at our elite events and done very well against top senior competition. He is just returning after competing with Team USA in Texas on the 17 and under squad. Referencing his team and trip Marqueese says, " Texas has been great, its been good getting to compete against some amazing competition and really test myself… Im excited to get back home and work out with my teammates, I think we will have a very good season".
Add in the state’s top sophomore 6a sack leader (Max Preps 5.5) in Chase Marshall (6-3 225 Jr. LB), and you have a defense that will have two of the better juniors in Oregon leading it. Marshall looked good at the UW Showcase event a week ago, and has the size to do very well at the next level with continued progression. He has played Lacrosse for the last 6 months, but has turned his attention to football and the talented group that they have returning.
The Pacers bring back four starters on the offensive line (Joey Miller 6-1 280 Sr, Tyler Moncrief 6-4 240 Sr, Randall Souers 6-0 210 Sr, Dougal Watson Sr 6-0 210) from a season ago which is important for one of the more talented young QB’s in the state in Eric Dungey (6-4 180 So. QB). Dungey is a kid we all really like and think has a ton of potential. He got some time as a freshman and has some quality intangibles needed to be successful at a young age. Another young kid that could be a big time contributor is Michael Kiever (6-0 230 So. OL/DL), one of the better sophomore lineman in the state.
Dungey will compete for the starting QB job with Mark Grothe who is one of the Three Rivers conference’s better athletes. He earned second team all league honors as a DB last season, but could play quarterback if needed. You could definitely see him playing the slot, with Madison Piel (6-3 210 Sr. Slot) , Nick Yun (5-7 165 Sr.), and J.R. McGlaughlin (6-0 165 Jr.).
Alex Alamida (6-2 210 Sr. RB/S) may be the most talented overall athlete on the team as the kid fly’s around with complete disregard for his body. You will see him getting the bulk of the carries, as he could be one of the sleepers on a state wide level in 2012.
Marshall will team with talented seniors Kyle Johnson (6-2 190 Sr. TE/LB) and Storm Olund (5-11 175 Sr. LB) to man the middle as he is extremely excited about their chances. Chase says, "We feel good and are ready to go, I think we have the people in place to have a very good season". He continued, " I think all of our lineman returning really helps, and we are working hard to achieve our goals".
The Pacers wont start out a Top 10 team, but they have the potential to be just that. Lake Oswego and Canby look to be the teams that they will have to beat in order to have a chance at a conference title. Tom Smythe is one of the most liked and respected high school football coaches in the country, and we are excited to see what this youthful group of up coming Pacers have in store.
(The 6-4 Dungey had hops for a HS Freshman, he will be a very talented Oregon Sophomore)
