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September 5, 2013
the times KO11
430726.090513 FBP
By DAN BROOD
The Times
TUALATIN — As they look ahead to the
2013 season, two words seem to come to
mind to players on the Horizon Christian
High School football team.
Those words are speed and defense.
And the Hawks are hoping to turn speed and
defense into a successful season.
“We’re looking good,” Horizon Christian se-
nior receiver Parker Belan said during a pre-
season practice. “We’re focusing on defense.
Defense wins championships.”
“Oh my gosh,” Horizon Christian senior de-
fensive lineman Gabe Nielsen said. “We’re go-
ing to be young, but fast. I’mexcited to start the
season.”
“We’ll be fast,” Horizon Christian senior full-
back/linebacker Brian Satterwhite said. “We’re
going to get on the line and go.”
The Hawks are hoping that their speed, and
their defense, will more than make up for los-
ing key players, to graduation, from last year’s
squad that finished in second place in the final
West Valley League standings while going 7-3
on the season.
“We want to win the league championship,”
Belan said.
“I think we have a decent shot,” Satterwhite
added.
Horizon Christian, as it takes aim at that
lofty goal, will field a young team this season
while still having some veteran leadership.
“This year will depend on how well the se-
nior class will carry us and how fast the young-
er guys come along,” Horizon Christian coach
George Crace said.
Crace added that the team has a record 34
players turning out this season, with just six
seniors and five juniors.
“That bodes well for the future,” he said.
“Right now, we’re a young team, with some re-
ally good seniors.”
Four of Horizon’s seniors — Belan, Satter-
white, Nielsen and Isaiah Hall —are returnees
from last year’s squad. The team also has se-
niors Daniel Parsons and Mitch Sheldon out
for the team for the first time.
Meanwhile, the young Horizon players will
get to play in three or four junior varsity games
this year.
“That’s big for the program,” Crace said.
Offense
While last year’s Horizon Christian team
threw the ball a lot, this year’s squad very well
could be utilizing a power running game.
And that running game could revolve
around Satterwhite (5-foot-10, 230 pounds),
who will be moving to fullback.
“We’ve got more speed on offense,” Satter-
white said. “And we’re going to run the ball.”
“This year, we’re going to run to set up the
pass,” Crace said.
Sophomore Sandis Chhay, a defensive stand-
out last year, is in the hunt to be the Hawks’
quarterback this year.
“There’s still competition at the position,”
Crace said prior to the Hawks’ season-opener.
Who ever the quarterback is, he’ll have
some big targets to throw to in Belan and Hall,
who will play at tight end. They both were All-
West Valley League selections last year, and
they were also both on the Horizon boys bas-
ketball team that won the Class 3A state cham-
pionship earlier this year.
Sophomore Noah Lubben will also see ac-
tion at receiver.
Defense
The Hawks say they’ll be able to count on
their defense this season.
“We’ve got a lot of speed on defense,” Hall
said.
“Our defense is going to be good,” Nielsen
said.
“There’s going to be 11 hats to the ball,” Be-
lan added.
The Horizon Christian defense is spearhead-
ed by Satterwhite, who was a Class 3A all-state
selection at linebacker last year.
Nielsen will anchor the Hawks’ defensive
line. Chhay, who was the team’s fourth-leading
tackler last year as a freshman, will be at mid-
dle linebacker, or at an outside linebacker spot.
“We’re going to have to really play like a
team this year,” Crace said. “We’ll have to all
pull together.”
As for the West Valley League , Crace sees
defending league, and state champion, Dayton
as the favorite, with Amity close behind.
“They are the football powerhouses,” he
said.
But, after those two teams, Crace sees a
competitive battle for third place, and the
league’s final berth to the Class 3A playoffs.
“The rest of the group is saying ‘let’s see if
we can go to the playoffs as the No. 3 team,’” he
said. “Colton is getting better and Willamina
and Sheridan are both strong. Gervais has
struggled, but who knows this year?”
How about Horizon Christian.
“We should be excited for the season,” Crace
said. “I don’t know where we’ll end up. It all
depends on how fast we develop. I think the
school has turned the corner. We’re here.”
Horizon Christian to turn to
a power run attack on offense
Hawks set to rely on speed, defense
Times PHOTO: DAN BROOD
PRACTiCe mAKes PeRFeCT — The Horizon Christian football team gets ready for the 2013 season.
2012 ReCORD:
7-3 (2nd in WVL)
KeY PLAYeRs:
The Hawks have a strong
group of senior leaders in Parker Belan, Isaiah
Hall, Gabe Nielsen and Brian Satterwhite.
H
orizon
