Page 5 - Copyright 2013 - Pamplin Media Group
Basic HTML Version
September 5, 2013
the times KO5
Happy Hour Everyday
3 – 6pm!
Arrive for lunch before noon on Mondays, and we will load a
QUARTER (25%)
of your tab onto a gift card to be used
next time you visit!
Not valid with any other offer or special.
Be a Monday Morning
“Quarter back”
Starts at 4pm. Kids eat FREE* (12 & under)
*One free meal with each full price adult entree
purchased, Sundays only.
$9.95
Prime Rib Sunday
503-719-5157
10935 SW 68th Parkway, Tigard 97223
(Close to where 99W meets I-5 at the former Newport Bay)
Thereʻs always something going on at
Fun Games, Bring the Whole Family!
(all ages welcome until 10pm)
428481.090513FBP
2012 RECORD:
6-5 (5th in Metro League)
KEY PLAYERS:
Junior safety/wide receiver
Bryce Barker, Senior linebacker Grant
Johnson, junior running back Chidubem
Nnoli, sophomore quarterback Sam Noyer
BEAVERTON
Beaverton fixes on top-three spot in Metro
By MATT SINGLEDECKER
The Times
It’s a realistic goal and a reachable one
too, if Beaverton can play solid football
from week-to-week and not get caught
looking ahead.
What the Beavers crave this season has
turned into a rallying cry of sorts during pre-
season practice for both coaches and play-
ers.
“I want to be in the top-three of the Metro
this year,” said head coach Bob Boyer.
“That’s what our kids are talking about, it’s
what they’re motivated for. Week-in and
week-out we have to focus on that specific
game and go get the job done.”
Beaverton opens Metro play with Jesuit
and concludes league with Southridge, so
those middle four games against Aloha, Sun-
set, and Westview are crucial to the Beavers’
postseason ambition.
“I think we have the potential to be as
good as we were last year if not a little bit
better,” said Boyer. “And, that’s what we
want. We want improvement every year and
keep moving forward. Anything can happen
out there. We just have to keep our minds
focused and keep working on us.”
DEfEnSE
Boyer said junior free safety Bryce Barker
is the Beavers’ best overall player who can
play just about any position on the field. As a
sophomore, the 6’3”, 190-pounder was third-
team all-league.
“He’s a phenomenal athlete, a big-time
playmaker,” said Boyer. “He’s rangy, the kid
can jump and he has amazing hands. He’s go-
ing to be a huge impact player for us on both
sides of the ball.”
Senior linebacker Grant Johnson is “a
Beavers see themselves in the
thick of the playoff hunt
good-sized kid who runs well and isn’t afraid
of contact or physicality” according to Boyer.
Senior linebackers Anthony Battaro and Ki-
una Talalemotu started as juniors. Battaro
injured his knee during spring practice but
Boyer said he should be ready to go when
Beaverton opens the season against Century.
Talalemotu is a 6’4” outside ‘backer who
could see time on the edge as a defensive
end. Senior cornerback Drew Kimmer, junior
cornerback Connor Brands, sophomore Eric
Hurd and Marcille will surround Barker in
the secondary. Boyer said Chidubem Nnoli is
starting to play well at cornerback. Beaver-
ton’s defensive line is young, but coming
along in the preseason. If the Beavers’ D is
going to be successful, it’ll take contributions
from everybody.
“Our defense, aside from Bryce, doesn’t
have any real established studs but they play
well together,” said Boyer. “If they gel and
learn how to trust each other I think they can
be good. Our linebackers are a group that
still needs to gel too but they’ve really made
some big strides.”
OffEnSE
Barker will play primarily wide receiver
on offense where he can utilize his 4.6 40-yard
dash and basketball athleticism to his advan-
tage. Initially, Boyer put Barker at quarter-
back so that his most gifted competitor could
have a hand in every Beaver offensive play.
However, those plans changed when sopho-
more Sam Noyer stepped up in fall camp and
proved he’s capable of distributing the pig-
skin to Beaverton’s heap of talented pass
catchers.
“We’re going to have some growing pains
with him there but having both of those guys
gives us a great opportunity,” said Boyer.
“Sam has a pretty live arm...Now we have two
really good athletes out on the offense in-
stead of one. Bryce can run and stretch the
defense and at 6’3” he’s going to cause prob-
lems for shorter corners out there. He’s a
tough, smart kid out there with a motor that
never stops.”
Nnoli (5’9”, 180 pounds) is a player Boyer
expects a lot of big things from. Junior wide
receiver Stephen Marcille is a mismatch at
slot receiver with good quicks and wheels.
“We’re trying to put as many weapons out
on the field as we can,” said Boyer. “I think we
have the ability to throw when we want to be-
cause we have some really good receivers
and a quarterback with a good arm. But we
also have Nnoli who’s one of the better sprint-
ers in the league. He has some amazing bal-
ance and if our offensive line can gel and give
him a little bit of a hole, he can cut it.”
Boyer said as many as 10 offensive linemen
could see playing time this season. Four of
the five starters are returning from last year
but the competition for the starting jobs dur-
ing daily doubles has been ferocious.
Pencil in seniors such as Zachery Sigler
and Michael Aguilar amongst others to block
for Nnoli.
“If this group makes those improvements
each week, I don’t think we’ll have to give a
huge hole to Nnoli,” said Boyer. “We just have
to give him a crack to get through. There’s
nobody that’s our standout guy but we have
10 incredibly hard-working kids that I’m ex-
cited about. They have a ways to go but I
think they’ll get there.”
TIMES FILE PHOTO
Beaverton senior linebacker Grant Johnson anchors a solid Beaver defense that likes to force turnovers.
