King's Football

CLASS 1A
1. Connell
2. Cascade Christian
3. King's
4. Chelan
5. Montesano
6. Cashmere
7. Meridian
8. Royal
9. Nooksack Valley
10. Onalaska

Practice opened for high-school football teams across the state, and three Seattle-area teams already have their sights set the state championship.

Three teams. Three questions. One goal.

High-school football programs around the state opened the season with their first practices Wednesday, and for King's, Skyline and Liberty, the one goal for the 2010 season is to win a state championship.

Can King's of Shoreline take the next step, building on a run that took the Knights to the Class 1A quarterfinals and a wild season-ending finish against Nooksack Valley?

The final answers are still months away, but on the first day of a new season, it all seemed possible.

"We've got two weeks to look forward to the first game," King's quarterback Thomas Vincent said. "That's what it's about. Now it's go time; 12 weeks in the season. We've got to go."

The Knights ended last year's breakout campaign by losing a big lead in the quarterfinals, one step from the Tacoma Dome. They took the field Wednesday looking to take care of "unfinished business."

"I think it left a little bit of a taste in their mouths related to what victory tastes like and also what defeat tastes like," King's coach Jim Shapiro said. "Unfinished business can be defined in a wide variety of things. It's not always about winning and losing, but finishing what we've started as a team."

To reach their goal, the Knights expect a big season from senior quarterback Thomas Vincent. "With Thomas and his characteristics and his abilities, he's the natural magnet," Shapiro said.

"Finish. Finish. Finish," they shouted.

Thomas Vincent leads King's into 2010 season

There is a story King's coach Jim Shapiro likes to tell when asked about quarterback Thomas Vincent.

It happened one summer afternoon. It was 85 degrees outside and most of the Knights' players were out on the water somewhere, enjoying the weather.

However, as someone walked past the King's weight room, they heard grunting coming from inside.

It was Vincent, working out by himself.

"He works like no other kid I've seen in 17 years of being here," Shapiro said.

If the Knights are going to move beyond last year's quarterfinal appearance in the Class 1A playoffs, a lot of the leadership falls to Vincent.

Shapiro doesn't name captains during the season. Instead, the award is handed out at the end of the year to the player who best fills that role in that year. It could go to a sophomore or senior

But with the 6-foot, 197-pound quarterback on the field, Vincent's leadership ability is going to be a key piece to the Knights' success.

The senior is projected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the state this year and is getting some looks from colleges, although he said he's yet to receive any offers.

"It's cool," he said. "Some of them knock on me (because) it's a 1A school. But at the end of the day, it's whoever brings it."

3. King’s Knights

Last Season: 5-2 league, 8-4 overall

Outlook: The Knights graduated five players on each side of the football in 2009, including all-state linebacker Paul Lutgen, who had over 100 tackles every year he was on varsity. Also lost is all-purpose all-state wide receiver Nick Swanson. King’s, however, does return senior quarterback Thomas Vincent, who last season led the Cascade Conference with 2,584 yards passing and 41 touchdowns. Just as impressive as Vincent’s passing numbers were his rushing numbers. He led the league with 1,621 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Vincent, along with wide receivers Curtis Clauson and Joseph Jaeger should keep the Knights near the top of the Cascade Conference standings. Defensively, expect to see the Knights change up their defensive scheme to deal with the variety of offences in the league.

Returning Starters: Offense 6, Defense 5

Impact Players: Sr. QB Thomas Vincent 6’0” 195 lbs.; Sr. WR/DB Curtis Clauson, 6’0” 170 lbs.; Sr. WR/DB Joseph Jaeger, 5’10” 165 lbs.; Sr. OL/DT Parker Browning, 6’3” 245 lbs.; Soph. RB Ben Welch, 5’9” 160 lbs.; Sr. LB Michael McCardle, 5’11 185 lbs.

Fresh Faces: DE Roko Gucake 6’2” 230 lbs.; Soph. OL Mason Friedline 6’4” 250 lbs.; Jr. RB/LB Zachary Evans 5’11” 180 lbs.; Jr. TE/SS Christian Taylor 6’4” 190 lbs.

Schedule: Sept. 3 at Lakeside (5:30 p.m.); Sept. 10 vs. Coupeville; Sept. 17 vs. Sultan; Sept. 24 at Cedarcrest; Oct. 1 vs. South Whidbey; Oct. 8 at Lakewood; Oct. 15 vs. Granite Falls; Oct. 22 at Archbishop Murphy

Coaches Quote: “We graduated a mature group of seniors last season, who helped us rebuild our program from a losing program in their younger years to a state contender their senior year. A returning group of skilled players supported by a physical, but younger group of linemen should produce a fun and productive season.” –Jim Shapiro 14th season as King’s coach

1ST TEAM : THOMAS VINCENT-QB, RYKER YOUNG-OL, CURTIS CLAUSEN-DB, NICK SWANSON-PUNTER

HONORABLE MENTION: CURTIS CLAUSEN-WR, NICK SWANSON-WR, PAUL LUTGEN-LB, NICK SWANSON-KICKER.

SHORELINE — King’s Curtis Clauson won’t be remembered for his five catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.

It was the one play that King’s special teams coach Daunte Gouge dialed up in the overtime that vaulted King’s (8-3 overall) to a 28-27 overtime victory over Onalaska in the class 1A state football tournament.

Lined up on the outside, Clauson rushed around the line and put a huge block on Onalaksa’s point after try. Thomas Vincent then drove the Knights 25 yards for the tying score and Nick Swanson kicked the game-winning extra point.

“He came right around the corner, blocked the kick, and our bench just erupted,” King’s head coach Jim Shapiro said. “It was his first block of the season, we saw it on film and knew we could send him.”

Paul Lutgen led King’s with three solo tackles and 13 assists, Shapiro adding that “Paul was everywhere on the field.”

At Woolsey Stadium

Onalaska 0 14 0 7 6 — 27

King’s 0 6 0 15 7 — 28

Onalaska—Ritchey 11 run (Jens Lorenz kick)

King’s—Vincent 12 run (kick failed)

Onalaska—Steele 16 run (Lorenz kick)

King’s—J.J. Jaegar 65 pass from Vincent (Swanson pass from Vincent)

Onalaska—Roundtree 64 pass from Ritchey (Lorenz kick)

King’s—Clauson 6 pass from Vincent (Swanson kick)

Onalaska—Sweet 9 pass from Ritchey (kick blocked)

King’s—Vincent 2 run (Swanson kick)

Records—Onalaska 9-2 overall. King’s 8-3.