Tahoma looks for playoff return after disappointing '07 | HS Football

They’re getting back to basics. Returning to their roots.

And if all goes as planned, the end result for the Tahoma High football team will be a fourth playoff berth in the last five years. Of course, the one missed postseason during that span was last fall, when the three-time South Puget Sound League North Division champions did plenty of rumbling, beating league rival and perennial power Kentwood in a double-overtime thriller.

But the Bears also did plenty of stumbling, as well. They fell to Kent-Meridian in a Week 6 stunner, 14-8 — the first time Tahoma had lost to the Royals since 1998. That defeat ultimately cost them a chance at the playoffs.

Add it up and it brings the Bears to this year, which they’re tabbing as a “renewal.” The moniker is written across the team’s web site and the players are taking it seriously.

“It’s kind of like getting back to the old Tahoma Bears way,” said wide receiver/defensive back Chris Marangon, a first-teamer on defense and honorable mention selection on offense a year ago. “Last year, we kind of got away from that. So we’re coming back to win fourth quarters and be a good team this year.”

That’s not to say the Bears weren’t good last year. Matter of fact, at 5-5, they pushed their streak of .500 or better seasons to nine straight.

But this is Tahoma. And the Bears anticipate being in the postseason every year, which explains why 2007 was less than satisfactory.

“We, as a team, felt like we kind of let down our Tahoma tradition of being the hardest-working team out there,” said offensive lineman Danny Bauer, a second-team all-league selection a year ago. “Letting go of things like always being on time, small things like that have always traditionally been very important to us. But we really want to work on bringing that back.”

The Bears have done plenty in the preseason to assure themselves that the tradition has returned. They plan on continuing that trend when they kick off the season on Sept. 5 at Federal Way Stadium against Thomas Jefferson.

But if Tahoma truly is going to return to its roots, rest assured it will do so behind a revamped offensive line and a smashmouth running game, trademarks of past teams.

The pieces in the backfield are in place with Kurt LaFranchi and Josiah Anderson, a tandem that few foes in the South Puget Sound League’s North Division can match.

In part-time duty last season, LaFranchi used his slashing, darting style to rush for 703 yards and five touchdowns on 131 carries. Anderson, often LaFranchi’s lead blocker, was equally effective, but in a different manner. He ran through — rather than around — opponents en route to 499 yards and six touchdowns on 107 carries.

“It’s just more fun going through people,” Anderson said with a laugh. “It’s more gratifying for me to get that hard-earned first down than the 90-yard breakaway touchdown run.”

Having a year of varsity experience will help, LaFranchi noted.

“We were young (and) had no experience anywhere in the offense last year,” said LaFranchi, a second-team all-leaguer in ‘07. “We were just learning. This year, we have everything down. We know how the varsity level feels. Last year, everything was really fast-paced. This year, everything is starting to slow down.”

But the key for Anderson and LaFranchi will come from that revamped offensive line led by Bauer, a 6-foot-1 200-pounder who vows never to be outworked.

“We’re going to be the hardest-working team out there,” Bauer said. “Working our butts off, that’s the most important thing to us right now.”

And while the Bears have plenty of pieces to be able to run the ball, don’t expect this group to keep it exclusively on the ground. Particularly with senior quarterback Heyden Johnson back in fold.

As a junior, Johnson threw for 933 yards and nine touchdowns on 155 attempts. With one of the strongest throwing arms in the entire SPSL and a trusty target in Marangon among a handful of other receivers, secondaries have plenty to be concerned with in regards to Tahoma’s offense.

But for Johnson, like the rest of the Bears, it all comes down to one thing.

“We’re looking to get back to No. 1 in the SPSL this year,” he said. “Last year was one of the toughest things we’ve gone through in quite awhile.”

And something the Bears don’t anticipate feeling again as long as they stick with the basics.

TAHOMA BEARS

AT A GLANCE

• Coach: Tony Davis, 15th year.

• Last season: 4-3 in SPSL North play, fourth in the division, 5-5 overall.

• Offense: Multiple.

• Defense: 3-3.

• Returning starters (Name, year, position, height/weight): Danny Bauer, sr., OL, 6-2/210; Heyden Johnson, sr., QB, 6-4/205; Josiah Anderson, sr., RB, 5-10/195; Kurt LaFranchi, sr., RB, 5-10/185; Konner Knudtsen, jr., OL, 6-3/215; Chris Marangon, sr., WR/DB, 5-11/170; Stone Connell, sr., DB, 6-1/190; Marc Ragan, sr., OLB, 6-1/205; Justin Hull, sr., ILB, 5-11/190; Jordan Rehwaldt, sr., ILB, 5-9/210; Tyler Phippen, jr., OLB, 6-0/180.

• Key newcomers (Name, year, position, height/weight): Mike Pirson, sr., DB, 5-10/170; Derek Weston, jr., OL/DL, 6-4/230; Mac Bowman, sr., WR/DB, 5-10/170; Cameron Balliett, sr., OLB/WR, 6-0/195; Justin Cloud, jr., RB, 5-7/155.

• Outlook: Though the Bears have to replace virtually their entire line on both sides of the ball, there’s plenty of talent remaining, and even more coming up from the junior varsity. Second-team all-league running back Kurt LaFranchi, along with Josiah Anderson should be a load in the backfield while quarterback Heyden Johnson, in his second year as the starter, should make a nice jump. Throw in do-it-all wide receiver/punt returner/defensive back Chris Marangon, and this is an offense that should put up some points. Defensively, the Bears lack size, but have plenty of speed to make up the difference. Health-pending, this is a group that should challenge for its fourth playoff berth in the last five years.

• Can’t-miss game: In previous years, this game wouldn’t have carried as much weight, but this season, rest assured, the Bears have Sept. 26 against Kent-Meridian circled on their calendar. Why? Look no further than last year, when the Royals upset the Bears, 14-8, in Week 6. Tahoma went on to win three of its final four games, but missed the postseason by a single victory. A win against resurgent K-M would’ve made the difference. It was the first time since 1998 that the Royals beat the Bears.

LAST FIVE YEARS

YEAR RECORD

2007 5-5

2006 10-1

2005 8-2

2004 8-3

2003 5-5

SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME

9-5 at Jefferson 7 p.m.**

9-12 vs. A. Riverside 7 p.m.***

9-18 at Kentwood 7 p.m.*