News
ENLARGE
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — From the onset, the Highlanders will be battle tested in their quest for a Northern 2A playoff berth.
With any luck, after beginning their 2010 campaign on the hostile turf of the defending league champs — Battle Mountain — their route to the postseason will be mostly downhill from there.
It all starts Sept. 3 with the opener at Battle Mountain, followed by Incline's first home game Sept. 10 against Silver Stage.
Second-year head coach Mike Evans is excited to see his team in action, especially against such a quality opponent from the get-go.
“We'll be really well prepared,” Evans said of the Battle Mountain contest. “We have a lot of film on them from last year, and I will go out to Winnemucca this Friday and scout them (against Lowry), so I'll have a chance to see them live.”
Leading the way for the Highlanders will be third-year quarterback Patrick Murray, who returns for his junior season about 10 to 15 pounds heavier than a year ago, Evans said, adding that the athletic QB also gained strength in the weight room.
“He's looking really good at quarterback,” Evans said, describing Murray, also a point guard on the basketball team and pitcher on the baseball squad, as “incredibly intelligence” with great poise and natural leadership qualities.
Murray, who also plays safety on defense, will have help on both sides of the ball in the form of the Highlanders' top returners.
They include senior linebacker/guard Jimmy Markman; senior running back/strong safety Travis Causey; senior kicker/lineman Irvin Perez-Gomez, who booted a 50-yard field goal last season; junior tight end Davis Bedient; junior fullback/defensive back Ryan Calhoun; and junior Kyle Clouthier, who Evans said can play halfback, slot receiver, cornerback and free safety. Evans said the Highlanders also have a solid player in Bobby Thoms, a center and linebacker who recently transferred to Incline.
With a roster of at least 26 players and more experience across the board than last year's group, Incline figures to improve on its 2009 results, when the Highlanders finished 2-6 overall and 1-5 in league play. They'll try to make strides while competing against a larger league this year, as the Northern 2A gained West Wendover from the Southern 2A and Yerington from the Northern 3A.
As far as the front-runners, Evans expects Battle Mountain and Pershing County (also called Lovelock) to be the teams to beat, as well as the always-athletic Rite of Passage (ROP), and Yerington, which shut out Incline in a nonleague game last year to open the season.
“I think it always starts with the defending Northern 2A champs, Battle Mountain, and then Lovelock,” Evans said. “And then ROP is always there, and Yerington dropped from the 3A to the 2A, so they'll be good.”
Only time will tell where the Highlanders fit in by season's end.
With any luck, after beginning their 2010 campaign on the hostile turf of the defending league champs — Battle Mountain — their route to the postseason will be mostly downhill from there.
It all starts Sept. 3 with the opener at Battle Mountain, followed by Incline's first home game Sept. 10 against Silver Stage.
Second-year head coach Mike Evans is excited to see his team in action, especially against such a quality opponent from the get-go.
“We'll be really well prepared,” Evans said of the Battle Mountain contest. “We have a lot of film on them from last year, and I will go out to Winnemucca this Friday and scout them (against Lowry), so I'll have a chance to see them live.”
Leading the way for the Highlanders will be third-year quarterback Patrick Murray, who returns for his junior season about 10 to 15 pounds heavier than a year ago, Evans said, adding that the athletic QB also gained strength in the weight room.
“He's looking really good at quarterback,” Evans said, describing Murray, also a point guard on the basketball team and pitcher on the baseball squad, as “incredibly intelligence” with great poise and natural leadership qualities.
Murray, who also plays safety on defense, will have help on both sides of the ball in the form of the Highlanders' top returners.
They include senior linebacker/guard Jimmy Markman; senior running back/strong safety Travis Causey; senior kicker/lineman Irvin Perez-Gomez, who booted a 50-yard field goal last season; junior tight end Davis Bedient; junior fullback/defensive back Ryan Calhoun; and junior Kyle Clouthier, who Evans said can play halfback, slot receiver, cornerback and free safety. Evans said the Highlanders also have a solid player in Bobby Thoms, a center and linebacker who recently transferred to Incline.
With a roster of at least 26 players and more experience across the board than last year's group, Incline figures to improve on its 2009 results, when the Highlanders finished 2-6 overall and 1-5 in league play. They'll try to make strides while competing against a larger league this year, as the Northern 2A gained West Wendover from the Southern 2A and Yerington from the Northern 3A.
As far as the front-runners, Evans expects Battle Mountain and Pershing County (also called Lovelock) to be the teams to beat, as well as the always-athletic Rite of Passage (ROP), and Yerington, which shut out Incline in a nonleague game last year to open the season.
“I think it always starts with the defending Northern 2A champs, Battle Mountain, and then Lovelock,” Evans said. “And then ROP is always there, and Yerington dropped from the 3A to the 2A, so they'll be good.”
Only time will tell where the Highlanders fit in by season's end.
2010 Incline football schedule
Sept. 3 at Battle Mountain 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 10 vs. Silver Stage 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at Yerington 7 p.m. Sept. 24 at ROP 1 p.m. Oct. 1 vs. West Wendover 7 p.m. Oct. 8 vs. North Tahoe 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Pershing County 7 p.m. Oct. 28 vs. Whittell 7 p.m. |
