R-C Sports Notebook: The All-Since-I've-Been-Here Football team

I've found myself in the last couple of months saying the phrase, "He's one of the best (fill in the blank) I've seen since I've been here."

That got me to thinking, I should just keep a running list of the guys I'd want to put out on the field if I had my pick of every player to have put on a Douglas uniform since I started working for The Record-Courier in 2003.

Just for the heck of it, I thought I'd put together a seperate list of the guys I absolutely would not want to see on the other side of the ball. This isn't necessarily saying that these are the best guys overall to play on the other side, it's more the guys who just gave the Tigers headaches during their high school careers.

Keep in mind, all of these picks are completely my opinion. No coaches had any input, and some omissions may simply be the result of a poor memory. But without further ado, here is the 2007 version of the All-Since-I've-Been-Here football teams:

Offense

Quarterback

First Team

Luke Rippee (2003): Aside from leading the Tigers to their first-ever Northern 4A Regional title game, to their first-ever Sierra League championship and being named the two-time regional offensive player of the year, Rippee broke school records for career passing yards (4,064), career completions (292), career touchdowns (39), passing yards in a season (1,968), completions in a season (120) and touchdown passes in a season (17). He went on to play at Nevada.

Second Team

David Laird (2006-07): Laird finished his career as Douglas' No. 3 all-time passer behind Rippee and Chris Griffith (1995-97) with 1,714 passing yards and 141 completions. Few athletes at Douglas have possessed such immensely superior physical tools, from his size and work ethic to his rocket arm and tremendous strength. He didn't finish his career as the Tigers' starter, but saw time at defensive end through the last several games of the season. How many other quarterbacks in the state have ever made that transition?

Tailback

First Team

Spike Agosta (2004): Agosta went from playing just a handful of snaps in mopup duty the year prior to carrying the 2004 offense on his shoulders with a single-season record 1,945 yards on the ground to go with 26 touchdowns. He took the opening play of the season almost 50 yards untouched for a touchdown against a tough Reed defense. He went on to play running back and kicker at Feather River College.

Second Team

Dusty Cooper (2003): Cooper ran for 1,633 yards in 12 games in an offense that saw another 1,968 yards gained through the air. He scored 25 touchdowns on the year and was the go-to guy the Tigers' most-explosive offense ever.

Honorable Mention

Reese Kizer (2005-06): Kizer finished eighth on the school's career rushing list with 1,553 yards in two seasons. He was a monster his senior year averaging 4.87 yards per carry and totalling 804 yards and seven touchdowns despite sharing the load in a rare two-back configuration for the Tiger offense. His hard-nosed running style was difficult for opposing defenses to stop.

Fullback

Brock Peterson (2005-07): He started his varsity career at Douglas playing fullback as a sophomore and ran the ball 29 times for 139 yards and four touchdowns in five games. He also caught six passes for 124 yards. He played linebacker his entire junior year, but returned to the offense his senior year, running for 1,620 yards (fourth all-time at the school) and 21 touchdowns (also fourth). He finished his career tied for sixth in yardage and tied for third in touchdowns on the school list. Peterson was also No. 2 on the team in receiving his senior with 17 catches for 240 yards.

Keenan Copp (2003-04): Copp ran for 386 yards and five touchdowns his senior year, changing the pace from the speedy Agosta. He also started at linebacker for the Tigers and earned first-team All-Region honors there.

Wide Receivers

First Team

Andy McIntosh (2003): McIntosh had an incredible senior year with 50 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, good enough to earn first-team All-Region honors. He also broke school records for career receptions (104), career receiving yards (1,816), receiving yards in a season (884), career touchdown catches (17) and touchdown catches in a season (8). He went on to play at Nevada.

D.J. Brady (2004-05): Brady continually came up with highlight-reel catches, hauling in 35 catches for 532 yards and four touchdowns in his two-year career. He also had a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown his senior season.

Second Team

Kyle Heidt (2006-07): Heidt had his share of remarkable catches. While his numbers weren't as high as the first-teamers, he did play on two primarily rushing offense. He had 15 catches for 225 yards his junior year and followed that up with 13 catches for 161 yards his senior year. The numbers might have been higher had he not torn his ACL with three games remaining in his senior season.

Zach McFadden (2007): McFadden still has another year, but showed all the signs of making a challenge for the first-team next year. He led the Tigers with 25 catches for 339 yards and four touchdowns in his first year, but also established himself as a tremendous downfield blocker. He was the team's starting kick returner in 2007, taking one back for an 88-yard touchdown against Wooster.

Tight End

First Team

Kevin Emm (2006-07): Emm (6-3, 223) had nine catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns his senior year and led the team in receiving his junior year with 15 catches for 236 yards and three touchdowns.

Second Team

Jeff Nady (2006-07): Coupled with Emm, the Tigers have never had such size at tight end. Nady (6-7, 246) played sparingly on offense his junior year, not recording any catches on the season, but broke out during his senior year with 11 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Tackles

First Team

Tyson Estes (2004): Agosta's record-breaking year was keyed in large part by Estes. Simply put, running off-tackle was Douglas' bread-and-butter. He was the Sierra League Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-Region pick.

David Silvestro (2003): Silvestro was a first-team All-Region pick during Cooper's standout season.

Second Team

Trevor McCarthy (2006-07): McCarthy helped anchor down one of the most complete lines Douglas has put together in the last decade in 2007. Behind him

Keith "Buddy" Lowe (2005-06): Lowe saw limited time his junior year, but helped lead the Tigers to 2,229 yard on the ground in 2006. He earned first-team All-Sierra League honors for his efforts.

Guards

First Team

Garrett Hostetler (2003): Hostetler was another rock in Douglas' solid line in the 11-1 season. He earned first-team All-Region honors.

Paul Mannelly (2003): Mannelly, just like Hostetler, was a first-team All-Region guy.

Second Team

Henry O'Hair (2004): O'Hair played strong-side guard next to Estes during Agosta's record-breaking year. He missed most of his senior year due to a knee injury, but was tough-as-nails throughout his career.

Kevin Rogers (2005-06): Rogers was a first-team All-Region pick and played a big part in Douglas' league title run in 2006.

Center

First Team

Mike Colyer (2006-07): Colyer was a warrior in the middle for the Tigers, played on an injured ankle for most of his senior year. Still, he was a first-team all-region pick both years and anchored down two of Douglas' most productive running offenses ever. Douglas ran for 2,465 yards as a team his senior year and 2,229 yards his junior year.

Second Team

Matt Castro (2005): Nicknamed "Beef" by his teammates, Castro played a number of positions on the line during his senior line, but pulled the unit together after a number of injuries thinned out the ranks. He coached along a number of younger players that ended up forming the core of the successful line the next year. He was a second-team all-league pick.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker

First Team

Eric Emm (2003): Emm had a stellar junior year in which he was chosen to the All-Region squad. He hurt his knee just before his senior season and missed the entire year.

Second Team

Agosta: When Emm went down, Agosta stepped in on the fly and turned into quite a solid kicker. He converted 40 extra-points on the year and was solid in his field goal attemps. He went on to start at Feather River for a season.

Punter

First Team

Nady (2006-07): Nady was simply the best punter to ever come through Douglas. A 60-yarder was an average kick during his tenure and he also had a knack of touching the ball just right in crucial situations. Twice he penned a team inside their one-yard-line from beyond 50 yards out, and each time it led to points for Douglas.

Second Team

Tim Coleman (2003-04): Coleman was another All-Region pick in both his junior and senior seasons and was listed among the best punters in the state at the time.

Return Specialist

First Team

Tyler Tinstman (2005-06): Tinstman was nothing short of electric as a return man, and no where was it more prevalent than his senior season when he returned three punts for touchdowns in a single half against South Tahoe. He finished the season with four punts returned for touchdowns. He wrapped up his two-year career with 1,049 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns as a running back.

Second Team

Cooper (2003): Cooper was equally tough as a returnman, but the majority of his senior year was defined by his work as a running back.

DEFENSE

Nose Guard

First Team

Anthony Alvitre (2006-07): Although he missed the final half of his senior year, the diminutive Alvitre (just 5-7, 17-6) finished his career with 11 sacks. He was arguably one of the strongest players, pound-for-pound, in the region.

Second Team

James Barnard (2005): Barnard was a first-team All-Region pick as a senior. He had three sacks his senior year and recorded two sacks on consecutive plays against South Tahoe has a junior.

Defensive Tackles

First Team

Nady (2006-07): Nady's true strength was on defense, where he recorded 17 career sacks, five career fumble recoveries and an interception.

Estes (2003-04): Estes was as big a force as any player during his junior and senior seasons. He was a first-team All-Region pick both seasons, but was more dominant as an offensive lineman.

Second Team

Dan Senger (2003): A first-team All-Region pick in the Tigers' 11-1 season, he scored a touchdown in the Sertoma All-Star Classic later that summer.

Sean Molina (2005-06): Molina had a breakout senior year and was named the Sierra League Defensive Player of the Year, along with earning first-team All-Northern 4A honors. He was a force inside that continually disrupted opposing offenses and he finished with six sacks, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble. His fumble return for a touchdown against McQueen was a big spark in the Tigers' coming back to send the game to overtime.

Defensive Ends

First Team

Nick Summers (2003): Summers, the region's Lineman of the Year, had 65 tackles, four fumble recoveries, 4.5 sacks and an interception for the Tigers in his senior year.

Nate Whalin (2005-06): Whalin was a tight end to start his junior year and caught two passes for 45 yards, but he came into his own as a defender his senior year, coming up with two fumble recoveries, a blocked punt and five sacks.

Second Team

Stormy Herald (2003): Heraled was another first-team All-Region pick from the vaunted 2003 defense.

Phil Mannelly (2005-06): Mannelly had six sacks and a forced fumble his senior season and turned in a solid career at fullback, recording 86 receiving yards and a touchdown and 24 yards on the ground.

Linebackers

First Team

Jake Peterson (2003): Peterson went on play at Division I-AA Penn, but was a first-team All-Region selection in 2003.

Kyle Luken (2003-04): Luken was among the best pure athletes on the Tigers' roster both years and turned in a first-team All-Region season his junior year despite a late-season leg injury. He was a first-team all-leaguer as a senior.

Brent Koontz (2004-06): Koontz was the Sierra League Co-Player of the Year and the Northern 4A Defensive Player of the year after enjoying a strong three-season career. He went on to play at Southern Oregon.

Second Team

Anthony Ripoli (2003): Ripoli was a first-team All-Region pick his senior season and was a sparkplug in the Tiger defense.

Ryan Pruitt (2004-06): Pruitt was another three-year guy on the Douglas varsity roster that was known for his hard-nosed play and ability to find the football.

Cory Hartzell (2004): Hartzell went on to play at Feather River after a strong senior year in the middle for the Tigers.

Defensive backs

First Team

Bryan Brady (2004): No one hit as hard as Brady during his tenure at safety for the Tigers.

Tommy Welton (2003): Welton had eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries during his senior year. He was named to the All-Region squad for his efforts.

Cole Hamzik (2005-06): Hamzik was strong first as a corner, then as a safety, coming up with six career interceptions. He also played quarterback sparingly, throwing for 447 yards in three starts.

Second Team

Niko Saladis (2005-06): Saladis was a big play guy, coming up with a number of game-changing interceptions in his career. He had two picks in the first quarter alone, returning one for a touchdown, in a league title game against Reno. He had another interception his junior year that sealed a season-opening win against Reed. He finished his career with seven interceptions.

Eddie Shope (2003): Shope was another first-team All-Region selection from the star-studded 2003 defense.

Sean Peralta (2006-07): Peralta had six interceptions his junior year and added five more as a senior. Although only 5-8, 152, he established himself as an excellent cover corner, particularly in the red zone.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Zack Parker, Reed (2007): Prior to this season, this position might have gone to another Reed slinger, Tony Maldonado. But Parker opened and closed Douglas season with pretty amazing performances. In the season-opener he ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns. That would have been enough, but in the first round of the playoffs he threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another.

Running Backs

Isaac Porter, Hug (2004): Porter wound up as the Northern 4A Player of the Year and played as such in a 26-14 win over Douglas when he carried the ball 25 times for 247 yards and gamebreaking touchdown runs of 37 and 59 yards.

Ryan Lammle, Reed (2004): Lammle carried the ball 18 times for 236 yards and three touchdowns in a season-opening 41-21 victory over the Tigers in '04. He went on to be named a first-team All-Region running back as Reed won the regional title.

Wide Receivers

Kyle Bridgewater, Reed (2004): Bridgewater was part of the Raiders' potent offensive attack in their regional title campaign. Against the Tigers, he caught a 38-yard pass to get Reed on the board in the first quarter and went on to have an first-team All-Region season.

Will Holbert, Carson (2006-07): Holbert missed the bulk of the 2007 while playing running back for the Senators but pulled off a series of incredible catches, including a diving one-handed grab on a 30-yard touchdown to open the scoring in a 19-12 loss to the Tigers in 2006.

Tight End

Dan Knapp, Reno (2005-06): Knapp, who went on to play for Arizona State, was imposing enough with his 6-5, 200-pound frame. An all-state pick in 2006, He literally took over the game in the second half against the Tigers in 2006, catching a five-yard touchdown pass under heavy coverage and hauling in three passes for 40 yards. The numbers weren't huge, but the plays he made against arguably Douglas' best defense ever were huge.

Tackles

Derek Kosub, Hug (2004-05): Kosub anchored the Hawks' line during Porter's breakout year and then led the Hawks to the league and regional championships the next season before Hug bowed out in the state title game. The 6-4, 300 pound tackle, who signed with Washington out of high school, was a part of 610 rushing yards in only two games against the Tigers. He was an all-state pick in 2005.

Justin Matheus, Spanish Springs (2005): Matheus was another imposing tackle who contributed to Spanish Springs' 380-yard rushing game in a 28-23 win over the Tigers in 2005.

Guards

Malakai Niko, Hug (2004-05): The 6-1, 235 Niko, along with Kosub, anchored down that Hawk line that wreaked havoc on the Tiger defense over the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

Van Love, North Valleys (2005-06): Love developed over the course of several seasons, but with talented backs behind him in 2006 he helped North Valleys grind out 151 yards on the ground against the stingy '06 Tiger defense.

Center

Eric Walther, Carson (2005): He weighed in a 6-2, 230 and was one of the few bright spots for the Senators during a tough stretch for the team. He was a first-team all-everything pick, including all-state honors from the Nevada Prep Report.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker/Punter

Matt Bobman, South Tahoe (2004): Bobman was perhaps the top kicker to come through the region since Douglas' Chris Griffith (1997) went on to start at UCLA. His contibutions were limited against Douglas, converting extra points on the Vikings' only two touchdowns, but he went on to be named the region's top kicker.

Return Specialist

Trey Edmunds, Damonte Ranch (2006-07): Edmunds blistered an 85-yard kick return for a touchdown to keep the Mustangs early on in the game this season.

DEFENSE

Defensive Tackles

Jerzy Sierwierski, Reed (2004-05): The 6-2, 290-pounder went on to play for UCLA, and was was of the most highly-recruited players to come through the Northern 4A since 2000. At one point he was ranked No. 25 nationally among defensive tackles and proved a force against the Tigers.

Steve Oscar, McQueen (2004): Oscar was named the lineman of the year for the region, but his contributions, along with Solano and LaGrone (see below) helped limit the Tigers' Agosta, who'd just broken the school's single-season rushing record the week prior, to just 69 yards.

Defensive Ends

Mitch Solano, McQueen (2004): See Steve Oscar above. Solano was a first-team all-region pick.

Matt LaGrone, McQueen (2004): LaGrone, who later signed to play basketball at the University of Nevada, was a part of the front line that limited Douglas' Agosta in the first round of the playoffs.

Linebackers

Kawika Dean, Reed (2006-07): Dean's name was a common sound during both of Douglas' games at home against the Raiders in 2007. He was all over the field and while he didn't wrack up the individual stats, he was a big force in slowing down Douglas' offense.

Josh Pritchard, McQueen (2005): Pritchard was named the region's defensive player of the year in 2005 and went on to play at Feather River. Against Douglas in the playoffs, he also ran for 202 yards and a 66-yard touchdown while catching a 12-yard touchdown pass as well.

Kevin Kahan, Reno (2006-07): The 6-1, 195-pound linebacker/defensive end clocked a 4.5-second time in the 40 heading into the year and then sent Douglas quarterback David Laird scrambling for the majority of the game, helping Reno record six sacks for a total loss of more than 40 yards.

Defensive Backs

Archie Kovich, North Valleys (2005-06): Kovich was electrifying whenever he touched the ball, but was perhaps even more effective as a defensive back. He was known as a tough hitter and had unparalleled speed. He went on to play at Southern Utah.

Josh LaGrone, McQueen (2006): LaGrone hurt the Tigers several times in several different ways in 2006 between the teams' two matchups. Aside from dominating at the free safety position, he caught five passes for 180 yards and two long touchdowns (86 and 56 yards) in the first matchup of the season. During the playoffs, he returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. He signed with Oregon State to play safety for the Beavers.

Casey Yocum, Reed (2007): The 6-2, 175-pounder had an interception against Douglas in the season opener and kept the Tiger receivers under wraps for the majority of the night. Douglas managed just 81 yards through the air, thanks in part to his efforts.

Tim Wholey, North Valleys (2004): Wholey was a first-team all-leaguer and helped the Panthers hold the Tigers to 47 yards through the air in a 35-6 loss. He also caught four passes on the offensive side of the ball.