Sixteen area teams have broken the huddles on fall camp, and the 2023 season looms just on the other side of the month.
With that in mind, The Chronicle’s sports crew — Josh Kirshenbaum, Dylan Wilhelm, Aaron VanTuyl, and Kody Christen — take a stab at who they think will come away with All-Area MVP honors. You can read their most anticipated games here.
Josh’s pick: Ashton Demarest (Napavine)
There was only one defender that was able to limit Ashton Demarest’s stats last season.
First name: Running. Last name: Clock.
Napavine’s star quarterback eclipsed 2,000 yards through the air and 1,000 yards on the ground as a junior, combining for 54 total touchdowns despite spending nearly every fourth quarter — and a good deal of the thirds as well — on the bench watching the backups see out blowout wins.
Of course, a good part of a quarterback’s success has to do with the weapons he has around him. As it happens, just about all of Demarest’s weapons are back this season, and with the Tigers once again massive favorites in the 2B ranks, he’s primed for a massive senior season.
Dylan’s pick: Karsen Denault (Napavine)
Josh alluded to Demarest’s weapons when he chose the quarterback as his pick, so it only makes sense that one of us picks his top receiver.
Last season, Denault tallied over 900 yards receiving and scored 14 total touchdowns as a sophomore. Heading into his junior season, 1,000 receiving yards or more is well within reach, and his 163 rushing yards last year also added a wrinkle that was near impossible for defenses to stop.
Add in the ability to make game-changing plays on special teams as well and Denault will have the opportunity to help lead the Tigers to another deep postseason run.
Aaron’s pick: Gage Brumfield (W.F. West)
Dylan and Josh have scoured the defending 2B state champs’ roster for the safe picks, so I’ll think a little bigger (classification-wise) here.
Brumfield had 1,000 receiving yards and 16 total touchdowns last year for a Bearcat team that went as far into the state playoffs as any team in program history. He’s big, athletic, and the most experienced offensive weapon on the roster. W.F. West graduated its two best offensive linemen and its star quarterback, so it makes sense for the ball to wind up in the steady hands of a speedy playmaker.
Kody’s pick: Rodrigo Rodriguez (Onalaska)
It may be a surprise pick to some, but last year Rodriguez quietly put up one of the most productive seasons in 2B football, racking up neary 1,200 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns as a sophomore, including three kick returns.
Rodrigo is a shifty, quick runner who can break free from a pile and be 30 yards downfield before you know it. If anyone is going to tell you about his running style, take it from a guy who spent four quarters trying to tackle him in a rain storm last fall.
Everyone knows the famous Onalaska game plan: #RTDB. The Ony offense is built for a back like Rodriguez, who can take a great number of carries in a row and keep on going full speed; just one slip up from the defense and boom, he's gone.
With the Loggers coming off of what some may consider a sort of rebuilding year, they'll be looking to re-establish themselves as one of the best ground games in the state. If theycan find success moving the ball, Rodriguez will be set up to have a massive year as the driver of the run-you-over offense.
