R.A. Long Lumberjacks: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview

Here's an inside look at the 2A R.A. Long Lumberjacks. Links: R.A. Long team page | 2019 schedule |Roster 2018 IN REVIEW 0-9 overall, 0-6 in 2A Greater St.

Andy Buhler, SBLive Sports | Aug 19, 2019

R.A. Long Lumberjacks: 2019 Washington high school 2A football preview /

Here's an inside look at the 2A R.A. Long Lumberjacks.

Links: R.A. Long team page | 2019 schedule |Roster

2018 IN REVIEW

0-9 overall, 0-6 in 2A Greater St. Helens League (seventh place)

COACHING RESUME

Dave McDaniel, second season

0-9 record

RETURNING STARTERS

Offense - 0. Defense - 0.

TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS

RB Jacob Johnson-Valencia 5-11, 200, Sr.

QB Julian Sheldon 5-9, 150, Soph.

WR Gage Kotera 6-0 160, Jr.

WR Mitch Berquest 5-11, 170, Sr.

OL Alberto Balbuena 5-11, 220, Sr.

TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS

DB Rene Alvarez 5-8, 160, Sr.

DE Nate Castle 5-11, 170, Jr.

LB Jorge Aguilar 5-9, 150, Soph.

LB Hamson Eram 5-10, 200, Jr.

DB Illyas Mehrer 5-10, 150, Soph.

THREE TO SEE

Gage Kotera, wide receiver

Missed most of last season with a broken collarbone, but returns as the Lumberjacks’ top target.

Jacob Johnson-Valencia, running back

Fast and in the words of coach Dave McDaniels, is “built for contact.” Missed most of last season with ankle issues.

Hamson Eram, linebacker

Moved to Longview late last season and stood out on JV. This season, he’s the team’s top linebacker.

OUTLOOK

R.A. Long’s season will be defined by youth.

Second-year coach Dave McDaniel helms a team that returns no starters, and will look to its talented young corps of freshmen and sophomores to gain valuable experience, particularly a driven group of sophomores who have set the tone in the weight room.

The Lumberjacks, who went winless last season, may struggle again, but see ample opportunity for young players to step up.

2019 SCHEDULE

Sept 6: at Fort Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Kelso, 7 p.m.

Sept. 20: Hockinson, 7 p.m.

Sept. 27: Woodland, 7 p.m.

Oct. 4: at Elma, 7 p.m.

Oct. 11: at Ridgefield, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: Columbia River, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: at Washougal, 7 p.m.

Nov. 1: Mark Morris, 7 p.m.

*home games in bold

Published Aug 19, 2019

ANDY BUHLER, SBLIVE SPORTS

Andy Buhler is a Regional Editor of Texas and the national breaking news desk. He brings more than five years of experience covering high school sports across the state of Washington and beyond, where he covered the likes of Paolo Banchero and Tari Eason served on state tournament seeding committees. He works on the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. He has covered everything from the Final Four, MLS in Atlanta to local velodrome before diving into the world of preps. His bylines can be found in The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington), The Associated Press, The Columbian (Vancouver, Washington), The Oregonian and more. He holds a degree from Gonzaga and is based out of Portland, Oregon.