The Husky football program met its goals this season, Coach Rob Younger said last Monday.
The Huskies posted a 6-4 overall season record, went 5-1 in league and shared the Capital Conference title.
“Our big win was ending Sisters’ 29-game winning streak,” Coach Younger said.
Other big wins were 31-25 over North Marion, 34-8 over Stayton and 23-8 over Cascade.
“Our seniors provided tremendous leadership,” Coach Younger said. “We had a big squad with 52 on the varsity and junior varsity teams.”
The team was easily guided and self-policing.
“We just didn’t have any problems from our athletes,” Coach Younger said. “They were first class on and off the field.”
The Huskies rushed for 269.6 yards per game and 305.8 yards overall.
Senior fullback Andy Ellis led the Husky offensive drive, rolling up 867 yards as a fullback, but he was followed closely by fellow backs Adam Knight, 835 yards and Ricky Stock with 555 yards.
Ellis has racked up 2,230 yards over four seasons as a fullback, placing him second on the school’s all-time yardage list for that position.
Huskies were recognized by the Capital Conference coaches and led by Ellis, a three-time defensive player of the year and Josh Bondesen, offensive player of the year.
First team league picks included: Ellis, senior, running back and linebacker; Bondesen, senior, guard, defensive line; Daniel Brewer, junior, tackle; Richard Erevia, junior, outside linebacker; Matt Kragness, senior, defensive back; B.J. Emmert, senior, kicker and punter.
Second team: B.J. Emmert, senior, tight end; Matt Kragness, senior, wide receiver, kick return; Jason Rassbach, senior, defensive safety; Brian Seward, sophomore, safety.
Honorable mention: Josh Starha, junior, center; Matt Miner, junior, guard; Adam Knight, junior, running back; B.J. Emmert, senior, linebacker.
Team awards included:
Most Valuable Player: Andy Ellis; Most Inspirational: B.J. Emmert; Most Improved: Trevor Burchard and Adam Knight; Best Back: Matt Kragness; Top Defensive Player: Andy Ellis.
Game record:
Sweet Home 20-Toledo 8
Sweet Home 7-Marist 14
Sweet Home 40-Molalla 15
Sweet Home 33-Sisters 23
Sweet Home 9-Junction City 10
Sweet Home 31-North Marion 25
Sweet Home 34-Stayton 8
Sweet Home 6-Central 45
Sweet Home 23-Cascade 6
Sweet Home 14-Estacada 23
Letter winners:
Four years: Andy Ellis.
Three years: B.J. Emmert.
Two years: Daniel Brewer, Chad Emmert, Matt Miner, Matt Matuszak, Jason Rassbach, Matt Vassar, Josh Bondesen, Matt Kragness, Ricky Stock, Richard Erevia.
First year: Jamie Glinsky, manager; John Pepple, Josh Marvin, Levi McCubbins, Troy Scott, Noah Gray, Trevor Burchard, Sean Pierce, Jared Huenergardt, Tory Peterson, Brian Seward, Neil Workman, Adam Knight, Randy Wunker, Josh Starha, Mike Nagamatsu, Kyle Walker, Travis Johnson.
Junior Varsity team awards: Most Valuable Player: Levi McCubbins; Most Inspirational: Chad Emmert; Best Lineman: Kyle Walker; Most Improved: John Pepple; Defensive Player of the Year: Bobby Cartwright.
Freshman team awards: MVP: Ricky Howell and Seth Graves; Best Back: Seth Graves and Mike Severns; Best Lineman: Rob Martin; Most Improved: Jacob Stumbaugh; Most Inspirational: Seth Graves; Offensive Player of the Year: Steven Stafford and Sean Swett; Defensive Player of the Year: Rob Martin.
Rally squad awards
Senior Chanté Marvin earned her third letter as a varsity football cheerleader this year.
Earning second-year letters were seniors Keanie Ka’auwai, Lindsay Koch, Christen Larsen, Lucinda Looney and Amanda Marvin-Smith.
Earning first-year letters were juniors Nathalie Bate, Emily Kingsley, Angelique Mulvaney and Tami Wilson and senior Brandy Frick.
Earning junior varsity recognition were sophomores Aurora Bechtel, Mallory Justham, Heather Kem and Cari Kingsley and freshmen Bethany Lowen and Stephanie Kragness.
Special recognition, last week, went to Senior Britney Beard and junior Stephanie Paauwe who are on the basketball squad by helped out during some football games.