When Amity coach Joel Magill looked at his preseason schedule this summer, he expected the Warriors would see some stiff competition.
The first two teams on the schedule – Regis and Jefferson – were both playoff teams with Regis reaching the Class 3A state semifinals.
But that hasn’t been the case as top-ranked Amity has yet to be tested through five games this season, outscoring opponents 260-27.
The Warriors defeated Regis 44-6 and Jefferson 70-12. Amity’s other wins have come 52-0 against Vernonia, 44-9 against Sheridan and 50-0 against Valley Catholic.
Amity has punted only twice this season and its starters have rarely played in the second half.
“It’s interesting that it worked out that way,” Magill said. “We thought those would be great nonleague matchups, but it worked out that this year their numbers were down.”
The schedule figures to get more difficult. After playing Colton this week, Amity faces West Valley Conference foes Horizon Christian (Oct. 23), No. 3 Dayton (Oct. 30) and No. 6 Willamina (Nov. 6) to end the season.
“Each week we go now, it’s going to get tougher,” Magill said. “It’s probably better to go medium games to tough games late as we get ready for playoffs.”
But it begs the question: With the lopsided results in the preseason, will Amity be adequately prepared?
Magill believes so, in part because of his team’s attitude entering each game.
“We knew during warm-ups when we played Vernonia that they were down a few players and it was not going to be a good matchup,” Magill said. “Still, we have to play every team as if it’s the best team we have to play, and we have to go full speed. If we keep that attitude, it doesn’t matter who we are playing, we should be OK.
“Especially in league games, the motivation is there. They take pride in beating league opponents.”
While lacking the pressures of playing in a close game, Magill said the blowout wins have allowed his team to remain fresh and provide quality varsity experience to the younger players.
In all, 19 players have at least one rushing attempt in the Warriors’ balanced attack.
The leading rusher is Cody Porter, but he has just 49 carries for 470 yards and five touchdowns so far this season.
Last week against Valley Catholic, Amity’s three running backs in its Wing-T system each had five carries and the Warriors gained nearly 250 yards rushing.
“It’s great to have that balance,” Magill said. “I look at it as we don’t have to get banged up. I’m sure they would like to have the stats, but getting the win is much more important.
“And it’s great to get the younger guys experience. You can’t replace varsity experience.”
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For the second time this season, a team scored 90-plus points. Both games involved Class 1A teams in the wide-open Class 1A game. The latest team to score 90 was McKenzie, which recorded its first win of the season by beating a struggling and short-handed Eddyville team, 94-36.
“I’m never looking to put that many points up,” said first-year McKenzie coach Jim Keizur, who was told the 94 points was a school record. “It just turned out that way. Sometimes, routes happen. In the first half, our offense did very well and put the game out of reach. In the second half, what happens is, the other team gets desperate, and they do things that give you field position. And our defense scored a couple times.”
Keizur only suited 18 players for the game and had his second-string in for the entire second half. McKenzie quarterback Will Totten was 14-of-19 passing for 230 yards and seven touchdowns in the first half.
Keizur said there were no hard feelings after the game.
“Both the opposing AD and coach were not upset,” Keizur said. “I think they recognized that I did what I could. Our kids were real classy in terms of how they treated the other team. That goes a long way towards making the game better.”
Mohawk was the first team to score 90, beating Cove 98-32 to open the season.
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In news and notes from around the state, Lake Oswego junior Tyson Coleman – a versatile athlete and projected safety – was the first recruit in the University of Oregon’s 2011 class. Coleman is listed as a four-star prospect on most recruiting Web sites.
Another highly prized recruit will be sidelined for a few games. South Eugene’s 6-foot-6 defensive end Gabe King, a transfer from North Carolina, learned he has a torn meniscus in his left knee, according to reports in The Oregonian. He did not play last Friday and has suited up just one game so far for the Axemen. King could return as early as Oct. 30 against Sheldon.
Also on the injury front, West Albany coach Randy Nyquist said on Tuesday that all-state running back Anthony LaCoste will be a game-time decision on Friday as the Bulldogs take on Lebanon. LaCoste has missed the last two games after spraining his MCL.
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Two significant streaks came to end last Friday. North Salem ended an 18-game losing streak and a 15-game league losing streak by beating Redmond 40-35. Aloha won its first Metro League game since 2000 with a 48-14 win against Sunset.
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