Sparts dominate 2006 all-league teams

Published 1:00 pm Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Agosta, Culkin, Gilbreath brothers all had stellar All-Metro seasons.

The Bainbridge football team had a successful season in 2006.

They defeated North Kitsap for the third straight year and finished second in the Metro League Mountain Division before bowing out against Shorecrest in the opening round of the 3A state tournament.

For their efforts this season, 12 Spartans made the All-Metro Mountain Division team.

Alex Carter, Kiyle Playter, Zane Sackett, Cameron Johnson and James Herman were honorable mentions.

Several players also won team awards.

Kyle Scoble was named a Rising Star and the special teams MVP, while Adam Tyner was voted Most Improved player.

Colin Feldtman and Kevin Nguyen were also named Rising Stars.

Seven Spartans and head coach Andy Grimm also made this year’s Kitsap News Group All-Kitsap team, as voted on by the sportswriters from the Bainbridge Review, the North Kitsap Herald, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the Bremerton Patriot and the Port Orchard Independent.

The starters, offense:

QB – Quinton Agosta, Bainbridge – The senior rebounded from a injury plagued junior season to throw for 891 yards and 12 touchdowns versus only two interceptions. He also rushed for 343 yards and three touchdowns.

He was named to the All-Metro Mountain Division first team on offense and was voted the Most Inspirational award by the team.

RB – Isaac Solaita, Klahowya – The senior set a new school record with 1,367 yards on 190 carries for an average of 7.2 yards a carry. He also scored 14 touchdowns and had seven catches for 59 yards. At one point, Solaita had a stretch of three consecutive games with more than 200 yards before being slowed late in the season by injuries.

RB – Stephen Tucker, South Kitsap – With the Wolves’ leading rusher from a year ago watching from the sideline, Tucker showed his stuff by picking up 1,016 yards on 181 carries and scored 10 times. A tough runner between the tackles, the junior possesses deceptive speed that led to plenty of long runs.

WR – David Parker, South Kitsap – Known as “Big Guy” around the South locker room, Parker (6-1, 172) led the team in receptions (24) and yards (491) and averaged a whopping 20.5 yards a catch. With a great pair hands and ability to use his size to shield defenders, hauled in three TD passes.

WR – Joey Johnston, Olympic — Johnston always seemed to come up with the clutch catch for the Trojans, finishing the season with 12 receptions for 272 yards and two scores.

TE – Bryan Gilbreath, Bainbridge – The senior was a threat to score every time he stepped on the field, catching 22 balls for 500 yards and five touchdowns. He also returned punts and kickoffs, scoring on a 91-yard kickoff return in the season opener and had 61 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries as a linebacker, returning one for a touchdown.

He was named to the All-Metro Mountain Division first team on offense as a tight end and the first team on defense as a defensive end.

He was named the All-Metro Mountain Division Defensive Co-MVP and was nominated to play in the All-State Game on defense.

Bryan also won the team’s Defensive MVP award.

OL – Gabe Culkin, Bainbridge – The senior was the leader of a young offensive line that opened holes for the team as a whole to rush for 2417 yards. He also contributed defensively with 59 tackles, two of which were for losses and had 2.5 sacks.

He was voted All-Metro Mountain Division Lineman of the Year and named to the All-Metro Mountain Division first team as a guard and as a defensive tackle.

Culkin also won the Best Blocker award and the Gordon Prentice Memorial Award by the team.

OL – Peter Guerrero, South Kitsap – The 5-10, 210-pounder wasn’t the first or even the second choice at center for the Wolves but when he was pressed into service during the third week of the season because of injuries, he quickly became the best lineman on a team that could, at times, move the ball up and down the field. The senior made the most of his opportunity and paved the way for an offense that averaged 310 yards a game.

OL – Devin Gottschalk, North Kitsap – As the only returning lineman from last season, the senior’s leadership spoke volumes for a fledgling offensive front line. By the end of the season, North’s big guys had coordinated into a well-oiled machine that paved the way for more than 1,200 yards rushing despite an injury ridden backfield.

OL – David Reynolds, Olympic – At 6-0, 205, Reynolds wasn’t the biggest body for opposing defenses to have to get through, but he was a big part of Olympic’s offense, helping protect first-year quarterback Jeff Boice and helping the Trojans’ running back core gain more than 1,500 ground yards this season. Coach Eric Allen called Reynolds one of the top five linemen in the Olympic League this season.

OL – Jordan Wells, Klahowya – A senior, Wells anchored the Eagles’ offensive line and helped open the cutback lanes that teammate Isaac Solaita ran through to a new school rushing record. A fiery competitor, the 6-2, 235-pound Wells was also strong on the defensive side of the ball, helping plugs the holes he’s accustomed to opening.

K – Zach Sampson, North Kitsap – Though no games were decided ultimately on the strength of his foot, North’s sophomore kicker was solid. Sampson booted only two field goals on the year but was consistent on PATS, nailing 19 of 22 tries. Scored 25 points while averaging 45.6 yards per kickoff.

ST – Vic Chatman, Olympic – Chatman played a variety of positions including receiver, defensive back and kick returner. He had eight receptions for 177 yards and three scores while adding 197 return yards and another score.

Coach – Andy Grimm, Bainbridge – Grimm led Bainbridge to their best record in five years, a second place finish in the Metro League Mountain Division and the preliminary round of the state playoffs. He was also named the NFL High School Coach of the Week for the ninth week of the season.

The starters, defense

DL – Renard Williams, South Kitsap – Big, strong, fast and dominate, Williams was the best lineman in the county on either side of the ball. At 6-1, 311, the senior was often double and triple teamed on every down but still managed 65 tackles during the regular season, 43 of those solo takedowns. Will be one of the most highly recruited players in the county.

DE – Dayton Gilbreath, Bainbridge – The junior recovered nicely from a broken leg to record 41 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, 8.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and one interception. He also ran for 895 yards and 15 touchdowns and caught two touchdowns.

Dayton was named to the All-Metro Mountain Division first team as a running back and as a defensive end.

DL – Zach Feenstra, Klahowya – At just 5-11, 180-pounds, Feenstra played a lot bigger, excelling on defense with a team-high three sacks for the Eagles, often pressuring opposing quarterbacks into mistakes or early throws as a result.

DL – Will Morris, Central Kitsap – At 5-11, 237 pounds, Morris was also speedy for his size, running down opposing backs and quarterbacks. Morris racked up three sacks, 32 tackles and a forced fumble for the Cougars.

LB – Kyle Petheram, Bainbridge – All this senior knows is how to tackle, as he led the team with 111 of them, 80 of which were solo stops. He also had one sack, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

He was named to the All-Metro Mountain Division second team on defense as a inside linebacker.

Petheram also won the team’s Best Tackler award.

LB – Doug Weable, Olympic – Weable had a huge year on defense for the Trojans. The senior racked up 122 tackles and had a fumble recovery. Versatile, Weable could also drop back to cover the pass when needed.

LB – Corey Hawkins, South Kitsap – A two-way starter for the Wolves, the 5-11, 194 pound senior was third on the team in tackles during the regular season with 62 and was the one constant in an ever-changing linebacker corp.

DB – Joe Butterworth, South Kitsap – Because of injuries, didn’t begin playing full time until the third week of the season and ended the regular season with 43 tackles. At 5-11, 175 pounds, Butterworth’s ability to stay with receivers and overall play in the secondary was a nice surprise for the Wolves. Also took over the punting chores, averaging 33 yards a kick.

DB – Bubby Ditmer, North Kitsap – Ditmer led by example during his senior season, picking off five passes returning them for a total of 84 yards. Additionally, he racked up 13 tackles and forced one fumble on the year.

DB – Quinton Agosta, Bainbridge – Agosta made sure teams didn’t control the skies against the Spartans, as he had 24 tackles and six interceptions.

He was named to the All-Metro Mountain Division first team on defense as a cornerback.

DB – Alex Schiell, Klahowya – Only a junior, he will have another year to keep improving and to solidify his status as the Eagles’ top pass defender. The defensive back could play man on at the corner back spot or easily drop deep to play the safety position. That versatility was a major reason he stepped up with a team-high five picks and 50 tackles.

P – Jimmy Groat, Olympic – The senior punted 32 times for 1,361 yards, averaging 43.9 yards per kick. Eight of those landed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line and his long was 60 yards. Also handling kicking duties, Groat was also 17-of-19 on point-after attempts.

ST – Chad Fowler, South Kitsap – It would quicker to list what the 5-8, 161 pound senior didn’t do for his team this year. After leading the Wolves in rushing and scoring last year, Fowler concentrated on defense in 2006 but still accounted for 513 yards of offense and scored 12 times, including an 85-yard kickoff return and a 47-yard interception return. As versatile a player in the county.

Honorable mentions:

Nick Stone, Bainbridge – The senior was a solid contributor on both sides of the ball, rushing for 256 yards and three touchdowns while recording 39 tackles, two sacks and had one fumble recovery and a interception.

He was named to the All-Metro Mountain Division second team on defense as a outside linebacker.

Kyle Szarzynski, Bainbridge – The sophomore made a big contribution to the varsity squad as a linebacker, finishing with 91 tackles, 53 of them solo stops and two for losses. He also recovered a fumble, picked off a pass and ran for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

He was also a All-Metro Mountain Division honorable mention.

Jamiere Abney, Bremerton – Abney led the Knights with 780 yards on the ground, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

Jeff Boice, Olympic – Despite never playing quarterback before this year, Boice threw for 1,015 yards on 66-of-144 passing with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Also ran for 81 yards and two scores.

Jesse Galligan, South Kitsap – As the lone returner, Galligan was the glue that held together a young offensive line. The senior tight end ended the year with six grabs for 89 yards and two scores and played linebacker for the second half of the season.

Rashad Greene, Olympic – Was a major part of Olympic’s offense with 363 yards on 68 carries and three scores. He also managed 87 receiving yards and a score. Defensively, Greene, a junior, had 60 tackles and a team-leading seven sacks to go with two fumble recoveries.

Eric Hedin, North Kitsap – A lanky senior defensive end, Hedin led the Viking defense with 35 solo tackles and four assists, including four tackles for losses and two sacks.

Patrick Lewis, Bremerton – Lewis finished his senior year with 20 receptions for 256 yards and six touchdown catches. He was the favorite target of Knights’ quarterback Josh Horst.

Chris Miller, Klahowya – While the senior captain was the field general in a run-first offense, he still managed 213 yards and a score on 15-of-44 passing. Ran for an additional 281 yards on 70 tries for six touchdowns.

John Sanchez, Central Kitsap – The senior linebacker led the squad with 88 tackles and also had a sack and four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Derek Smith, Central Kitsap – Smith had a strong year for the Cougars, racking up 799 yards on the ground to go with eight rushing scores. He also proved a valuable passing option, catching 14 passes for 135 yards and another score. Led the team in both total yards and scoring.

Jamaal Smith, North Kitsap – Smith was the main man of a three-player backfield for the Vikings. He led North’s offense with 652 yards on 105 carries and a total of 1,002 all-purpose yards for 10 touchdowns.

Chad Tester, South Kitsap – Started the year at safety but ended up leading the team in tackles with 73 after moving to linebacker. The junior rushed for 144 yards and scored twice in a limited role on offense.

Nick Thill, Klahowya – The senior helped bring along the Eagles’ younger offensive lineman, and at 5-9, 250-pounds, Thill was not easily movable. He was another key part of Solaita’s new rushing record.