Prep football preview: Warriors want to make run

Aug. 10, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

WASILLA - Jim Shetter knows if his Wasilla High School football squad is going to make a run at the playoffs this year, the Warriors need to have success running the ball.

&#8220We're trying to establish the running game this year,” the Wasilla head coach said after practice on Wednesday. &#8220You look at every state championship team, and they're always really run oriented.”

And Shetter should know. He won a state title as a player at East Anchorage in 1985 and another as an assistant coach at Chugiak in 1996.

Once he and his coaching staff made the commitment to the run and to developing the wishbone offense at WHS, Shetter enlisted the help of Bruce Shearer, the man he played for on the Thunderbirds state championship squad in 1985, and coached for on the Mustangs staff in 1996.

&#8220He helped us develop a solid ball control offense,” Shetter said of the longtime Alaska coach who is now the head coach of Burlington-Edison High School in Burlington, Wash. &#8220We went back to the old school.”

Shetter said Shearer met with the Wasilla players, and worked with the team during preseason practice sessions.

&#8220Last year, we were pretty much a passing team,” Shetter said. &#8220We're really trying to produce a solid run game.”

Shetter also said he believes he has the personnel to accompany the change in philosophy. And for the Warriors this season, the amount of success could be determined by the play of its offensive line.

Although the Warriors lost seven lineman to graduation - players such as Micah Weinstein, Stephen Wehe and Cody James - Shetter is excited about the group of players he'll have up front this year.

Leading the cast is senior Zach Orr, who makes the move to left tackle after spending his first three seasons on offense at tight end.

Shetter said Orr is one of several players who have been dedicated in the weight room.

&#8220Every time I look at him, he looks bigger and bigger,” Shetter said. &#8220He's 6-foot-4, 250 (pounds) and he moves like a 200 pounder.”

Shetter believes Orr may be a natural for the position.

&#8220The way he's moving, he might be able to play the position in the future at the next level,” said Shetter, a former outside linebacker and strong safety at the college level.

Shetter said Orr is also showing tremendous leadership this season.

&#8220If everyone plays like Zach practices, we should be successful,” Shetter said.

Joining Orr on the offensive line are senior guard Quinn Dumphries, senior guard Trevon Mey, senior center Chris Firey and junior tackle Chris Lafe.

Size will be an asset for the Warriors, Shetter said.

&#8220We've got some pretty big boys,” Shetter said.

Shetter said a pair of juniors - Chris Crane and Adrese Lavern - should see time at quarterback.

Lavern, a transfer from West Anchorage High School, will make the start tonight against Eagle River in the season opener, Shetter said.

Crane is nursing a strained ankle, but will see time at halfback.

Shetter feels the Warriors have a few running backs capable of carrying the ball. Joining Crane are seniors Joey Barkley - a newcomer to the team - and Mike Chafin.

Shetter said he's also been impressed with his fullback junior Casey Katchinska and senior Bebo Russell.

At wide receiver, junior Tim Orr is expected to platoon with senior Patrick Campbell. At tight end is Shane Green, a player Shetter calls one of the better athletes on the team.

While the Warriors are bringing a new offensive game plan to the field, things should stay pretty much the same on defense.

&#8220Of course we'll try to be more of an attacking defense,” Shetter said.

Leading the defensive attack is a talented crew of linebackers - Green, Katchinska and Zach Orr.

Tim Orr, senior Derek Bosch, Campbell and Barkley are among the top defensive backs for the Warriors.

Shetter said he is excited about his defensive line - Russell, senior Travis Wilson, junior Jed Johnson and Junior Harrison Ford.

Shetter said Johnson is one of the strongest players in the Wasilla program and Wilson moves well for a big defensive tackle.

On special teams, Bosch will handle the kicking duties and Ford will punt.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.