Eagles’ seniors set high bar for season

August 30, 2011

Ethan Kalin began his football career with perfection.

The Issaquah High School quarterback and other seniors on the 2011 team hope to conclude their final year with perfection, too.

“When we were freshmen, our freshmen team went 9-0,” Kalin said. “ It would be great if we could go out the same way.”

Kalin, 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, is one of the seniors Issaquah coach Chris Bennett is counting upon to return the Eagles to the state playoffs for a fifth straight year. The big lefthander threw for 1,261 yards and 14 touchdowns last season before injuring his elbow just before the 4A state playoffs. Kalin missed the post-season action, which saw Issaquah reach the quarterfinals where it was eliminated by rival Skyline 42-21.

“He was the No. 2 passer in the league when he got hurt,” Bennett said. “He is healthy again. Ethan has a powerful arm. He had a great spring and summer. Hopefully he will have a big season for us.”

Kalin had a spectacular effort at the Lakewood 7-on-7 Tournament earlier this month. Issaquah, with Kalin at the throttle, won the tournament.

“He threw the ball very well. He did not have a single interception,” Bennett said.

Kalin lost two of his top weapons from last season through graduation. All-purpose Taylor Wyman, who was the team’s leading rusher and scorer, and school record-setting receiver Evan Peterson both are playing in the college ranks this fall.

“You don’t replace guys like them,” Bennett said, “but we feel we have some guys who will step up and play well for us.”

Sophomore Jack Gellatly, who got some carries last season, is expected to fill Wyman’s void as the Eagles’ featured running back. Gellatly’s three older brothers all starred at Issaquah.

“He had a good pedigree,” Bennett said. “Like his older brothers, Jack is a good player.”

Gellatly showed his potential in Issaquah’s 35-14 rout of Newport last season by rushing for 114 yards and scoring three touchdowns.

Tyler Sheehan and Eric Rowe will probably share the fullback spot and Kyle Thomas will see action at running back.

Despite the loss of Peterson, the Eagles should have a strong flock of receivers. Junior Reed Peterson, Evan’s younger brother; and senior Jake Bakamus both started last season.

“Reed is very fast and has great speed like his brother. He is a game-changing receiver. He will step out of the shadow of his big brother,” Bennett said.

Junior Craig Greiwe and Ken Norton, a converted quarterback, also figure in the receiving plans along with senior tight end Eric Lemke.

Lemke, 6-4, 250, earned all-Kingco Conference 4A honors last season and has received serious attention from many Pacific-10 Conference schools as well as other Division I programs. The University of Idaho has already offered Lemke a scholarship.

“He caught a lot of passes for us last year. He runs very well for a big kid and has great hands,” Bennett said.

Kalin is enthused about the group of receivers.

“When I drop back, I have a whole bunch of receivers I can go to. It just won’t be one guy,” Kalin said.

The offensive line won’t be quite as large as some previous Issaquah lines.

“But they are quick and very athletic,” Kalin said.

Returning up front are senior guards Austin Richert (6-2, 225) and Trevor Alexander (6-1, 200). Senior Duncan Hamilton (6-3, 200), who saw action last season, will be one of the tackles. Either Shay Dingfelder (6-1, 285) or Jacob Peterson (6-1, 200), both sophomores, will be the other tackle. Junior Jake Volk (6-1, 235) is set at center.

Richert, an all-league linebacker, and Lemke, who earned second-team all-league honors at end, head the defense.

“Austin is really strong and physical. He is a tough kid at linebacker,” Bennett said.

In addition to starting at guard on offense and at linebacker on defense, Richert is also the team’s long snapper on punts and for field goals and extra points.

Alexander returns at end, Bakamus at cornerback and Rowe at one of the linebacker spots.

Dingfelder and Volk will be the tackles with Jacob Peterson, no relation to Reed, at end.

Hamilton, Richert, Rowe and Eric Rauch should give the Eagles a solid linebacking corps.

In the secondary, the Eagles have with Bakamus, Gellatly, Greiwe, Reed Peterson and Nathan Neal. Eric Chapman, Trace Eaton, Norton and Chave Peterson, no relation to Reed or Jacob, also figure in the plans. Chave will be the Eagles’ backup quarterback.

The Eagles have a strong tradition and high expectations for another successful season.

“The kids expect to be playing football in mid-November,” Bennett said. “We have another good group. We expect to be very competitive. As usual, the toughest part will be getting through out league, which is the toughest in the state.”

Bob Taylor: 392-6434, ext. 236, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.