It is hard to believe that the youth football season ended one week ago today. Congratulations to all of the championship teams! The winners of the NSJFL this year in each division are...

PEEWEE - Lake Stevens Vikings Purple

89er - Lake Stevens Vikings Gold

JUNIOR - Marysville Tomahawks Red

BANTAM - Lake Stevens Vikings White

SENIOR - Everett Seagulls

The season might be wrapped up for 2019 but what an athlete does in the offseason can make the difference of good and great. Dedication to the game, team and yourself is shown in hard work and training all throughout the year. I want to help any athlete that is striving to become a playmaker or improve their threat on the field. I am so proud of all of these young people and strive every day to help them achieve their dreams.

Today, I will be cheering on the Lake Stevens High School Vikings at home vs. Union at 1:00. It will be an incredible match-up and a fun game to watch. The Vikings have been touted as #kingsofthenorth and are on a self-proclaimed #revengetour. Let’s take it all the way Vikings!

Can you believe we are over halfway through the 2019 NSJFL season? I always enjoy watching local youth games and scouting for players that are ready to train to take their game up a notch for next season. This week I was not disappointed in my search for outstanding players!

Jaxon Lewis, Rec/DB

Lake Steven Seniors

Jaxson had a solid game against Monroe. Executing the plays well, he had 3 receptions for 30 yards. Two of those receptions were for touchdowns! There was also another receiver on his team by the name of Jon who had an outstanding game. Both of these up and coming receivers stood out because they both actively and aggressively went up to attack the ball. Their quarterback, Mason Turner, did an excellent job of putting the ball right in the perfect spot for them to complete the plays. On defense, Jaxon had another solid performance with 4 tackles.

Marcus Gaffney, RB/S

Marysville Tomahawks Red, Juniors

The Marysville Tomahawk Red team has been playing lights out this season. The offense has been working the field and successfully completely their goals. Marcus had an exceptional game last week with 2 touchdowns. One of the touchdowns came after a 45 year reception. Marcus also barreled down the field rushing for 80 yards resulting in another touchdown for the Tomahawks!

Each week I am impressed with all of the athlete’s progression and passion for this game. We are headed into week seven of the season this weekend and things are starting to get intense! Good luck to all of the teams that are fighting to get into the playoffs in a few weeks!

Every weekend of the football season, players of the week are selected throughout the area in youth and high school programs. Usually the skill positions such as quarterback, receiver or running back are singled out. This week I want to show some love and give credit to the guys in the trenches...the linemen. They are the heart and soul of a team. Without them, the quarterbacks couldn't pass, the running backs couldn't run, and the receivers couldn't get the ball.

Offensive Line

Dakota Harris, Cameron Vanlandingham, Richey Stahl, Carter LineRweaver, Kenny Buckmiller

Lake Stevens Junior Grey

Against Kamiak, the line helped provide 5 total TD's with 4 of them on the ground. The line enforced their will making it possible for the team to gain a total of 157 of the 263 total yards rushing. The line has been working hard all year long opening up holes for big plays. It continued last week against a very good 3-1 team to get a much-needed victory for the Vikings.

Cody Lynch QB,DE

Lake Stevens Bantam

Cody had the kind of stats you would probably see on a video game. He passed for 210 yards with 3 TD's from the air, rushed for 150 yards with 1 TD on the ground, 3 tackles, 2 tackles-for-loss and had 1 sack making it an all around great game.

It has been so exciting to watch all of the these young men so far this season and I am looking forward to spending more time out at the fields cheering them on.

Life has a way of scooting on by in a blink of an eye, especially during sports seasons! I am excited to be training football and basketball but making the time to post got by me! Do you ever have that kind of week too?

I've been getting many requests to attend football games all throughout Snohomish County. Unfortunately, no matter how much I want to, I can't attend them all. So coaches, if you have someone you would like to nominate after one of your games, please contact me with their stats and a picture would definitely be a bonus! There are so many players that are having outstanding games and I would like to consider them all before making my decision each week. Without further ado, here are the athletes of the week for week 4, September 21st!

Blake Springer, QB

Monroe Seniors

This is Blake’s second week in a row have the honors of YSP player of the week. He had an outstanding game completing 11 of 15 passing attempts for 344 yards with 0 interceptions. He had a total of 5 TD's, 4 through the air and 1 by rushing. Watch out for this kid!

Aiden Jones, QB

Arlington, Juniors

In the junior division, Aiden probably has one of the stronger arms in the league. Aiden passed for total 80 yards, 2 TD passes, 25 yards rushing with 1 TD. Aiden helped lead his team to a 19-6 victory over Stanwood.

AJ Smith, WR

Lake Stevens, Juniors

In a hard-fought game, AJ performed at his best. AJ caught a reception for a TD and also rushed for a TD. His hard work on the field caught everyone’s eye. His evident determination and desire to win helped his team pull off a victory!

I can’t wait to see the emails from coaches rolling in, showcasing your players you think to deserve the distinction of YSP player of the week! Just head on over to the contact page and send me those stats!

September is coming to a close and we are well underway in the youth football season! As I stated last week, I will be highlighting players on the YSP blog that show skill and determination to meet their highest potential. This week I spotted these four athletes that deserve high accolades! Some of these young men have been on my radar and are still proving to be leaders in their respective age groups as the season progresses.

Jayshon Limar, RB,LB

Lake Stevens Bantam

Jayshon dominated the field with 4 carries for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball, he had a 30-yard interception for a touchdown proving he is a threat both ways.

Hayden Villasenor, RB

Lake Stevens Seniors

Hayden had 9 rushes totaling 148 yards as well as 115 receiving yards, justifying his spot on this list. He had an extraordinary game scoring a total of 5 touchdowns.

Blake Springer, QB

Monroe Seniors

Blake displayed his accuracy and strong arm all over the field. He totaled over 200 passing yards, which would have been a lot more if there weren't so many dropped balls.

Jordan Welsh, LB

Stanwood Juniors

Jordan was a force to be reckoned with all over the field. He had multiple solo tackles and assisted in many more. He was always eager to be in the game and around the action contributing to the success of his team.

The third game in the 2019 North Sound Junior Football League season is in the books and I am looking forward to seeing more players compete and reach their goals on Saturday!

Each week as I travel to various youth games across the region, I am impressed with the talent I am seeing. I am going to showcase some of these athletes as the season progresses here on the YSP blog.

#3 Kade Eudy, QB

Crosby Middle School, Texas

Kade is from Lake Stevens and moved to Texas. I still work with him and his brother through film that they send me. In his first league game, Kade helped his team pull off a win vs Baytown Junior High 33-22. He went 10 for 15 for 118 passing yards, 3 TDS and rushed 5 times for 32 yards.

#21 Brayden Cleveland, RB

Lake Stevens 89ers

With the opening kickoff of the game, Brayden returned the ball back for a touchdown. He gathered 2 touchdowns with 150 yards rushing.

#35 Brayden Graves, RB, LB

Marysville Bantam

Brayden guided his team to a 62-0 win last week with two sacks, 14 tackles and a kickoff return for a touchdown.

#13 Jacoby Falor, QB

Arlington Seniors

Jacoby passed for 150 yards, 70 yards rushing with 2 TD's. One touchdown was accomplished with a pass play the other rushing.

Follow along this season by checking out the blog each week. You never know when your young athlete will be featured. You can also stay up to date by following us on Facebook or Instagram by clicking the links on the bottom of the page. I am looking forward to some more exciting youth football games this weekend!

High School football is finally here and I'm as excited as the next person. This week all of the Washington state high schools will start practice transitioning next week into two-a-day practices. So let's talk nutrition to fuel that athlete of yours! As parents, you do an excellent job of providing food for your son. Now, you're getting ready to feed a competitive athlete which is completely different. An athlete that will be practicing twice a day can burn anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 calories per day. Therefore, it is imperative that they maintain their energy needs by refueling their bodies with the proper nutrition.

Carbohydrates are the body's prime fuel source when being physically active to the degree your athletes are demanding. When digested, carbohydrates increase blood sugar level and provide energy through a chemical reaction that occurs within the muscle. For most athletes, carbohydrates should constitute 60% of their food.

Furthermore, let's not forget about protein! Protein constitutes about 20% of their body weight. It is a part of every tissue and cell in the body, including muscles, hair, internal organs, skin and nails. Protein is involved in providing hormones and enzymes. I recommend having a carbohydrate and protein with every meal. If they need to supplement their meals to get in enough calories, they can have a protein shake or drink. Whey protein is the best choice for powdered drinks. It is essential to know that protein has been identified as being equally important in the post-exercise refueling process as carbohydrates. Having a balanced protein and carbs within 45 minutes of a workout kick-starts the rebuilding of muscle protein that has been broken down through strenuous exercise. This is a critical consideration for power athletes, whose training and competition will break down muscle protein.

So moms and dads head on over to Costco and stock up good whole foods for that athlete of yours. If possible and I know I'm asking a lot but have a good healthy meal for him when he gets home from his two-a-day practices. A couple of suggestions would be breakfast sandwiches with meat, cheese, and eggs after the morning practice. These are easy to make ahead and reheat. A balanced and hearty meal could also be oven-roasted potatoes with salt and pepper and a steak or thick juicy hamburger with all the veggies they will let you pile on. Nutrition is the key to take them where they want to be and with a little help from you, they will be properly fueled and up for the challenge coming at them this season.

The NSJFL kicked off its football Jamboree last weekend at Snohomish High School. The league divides the age groups and divisions in the following way:  6/7 (PeeWee), 8/9 (89'er),  10/11 (Junior), 12 (Bantam) and 13 (Senior) As I headed out to watch the teams, my main interests and goals were to look at the Bantam and Seniors that are getting ready for a high school but I also peaked at the Juniors as well.

So what's the first thing I'm looking for as I evaluate athletes?  It all starts with athleticism, quickness, explosiveness, an endless amounts of energy and drive. As I was watching the action, there were some kids that stood out above everyone else in their division.  These are the kids that immediately caught my eye and dominated the field of play.  

JUNIORS:

1. #1 Savian Adams, Snohomish Rec/OLB

This young man caught my eye right off the bat. Savian is fast, great cut back moves, and has great pursuit.

 2. Ryder Walsh, Snohomish RB/ILB

A good downhill runner, he's not afraid of contact and he plays physical. At the linebacker position he hits hard plays with an attitude.

3. #36 Jaxxon Morris-Partee , Lake Stevens OL/DL

He's a big kid and when I say big I mean big. Very strong he constantly moves the OL and on Defense he's constantly in the backfield. One thing he needs to work on constantly moving those feet.

BANTAMS:

1. #35 Brayden Graves Marysville, RB, Rec/LB

Brayden was another player that immediately caught my attention. If I had to build a team around anyone it would be this young man. Brayden is probably one of the most complete athletes that I saw at the Jamboree. He's fast, strong, athletic,  great moves and knows how to hit. With proper training and progression, he should be ready to play at the JV level as he enters high school, at most smaller schools maybe even varsity.

2. #8 Caleb Riba, Marysville OL/DL

Caleb sparked my interest with his footwork. For a young, big kid he had nice technique constantly moving his feet and working his hands.

3. #24 Logan Huntley, Arlington RB

Logan is a big, muscular young man with a lot of athletic ability. He has good speed but not great speed yet. If he can work on his quickness and be more explosive going through the line,  there's no reason why as a freshman he can't play JV or Varsity. (depending on how big he gets).  I have a feeling when he gets in high school they may convert him to a linebacker.

4. #10 Cody Lynch, Lake Stevens, Rec

Cody has the same makeup as Brayden Graves. Cody is about 5'10  with very long wingspan and can go up and get the ball. He's pretty muscular so no one can really get physical with him and he's pretty athletic.

SENIORS:

1. #48 Jackson Beckel, Lake Stevens DE

Jackson is the another young man that stood out. I would say Jackson is 5'10 and 155lbs. He can play on both sides of the line protecting the quarterbacks back and in turn rushing the quarterback on defense.  He is very athletic, fast and not afraid to mix it up with anyone. He plays youth football for Lake Stevens but he will be attending Snohomish High School next year. The Panthers  are gaining a good player! If he was in high school right now he would start on the freshman team. During the off-season I'm going to suggest he get into the weight room.

2. #6 Haydan Villasenor, Lake Stevens RB

I saw a lot of running backs at Jamboree and this young man right here is by far the best. The speed and cut moves he uses are pretty advanced.  It's difficult for an incoming freshman to play JV for Lake Stevens but I see him making it if he gets in the weight room and stays dedicated.

 3. #2 Victor Sosa, Glacier Peak DE/Rec

Great athletic ability, he's tall, strong and very fast. He's ready right now to play as a freshman. I like everything about this kid. He's going to make a name for himself at the next level.

I'm sure there are other football players that I missed and should be in this article but alas I couldn't be at every game. The players that I've mentioned I will keep a close watch on and see how they develop during the season.

There were 3 teams I wish I had the opportunity to watch last weekend, Arlington & Monroe seniors and Arlington Juniors .  I have heard that Monroe has a good team with a pretty decent quarterback. The Arlington juniors have a pretty good left-handed quarterback by the name of Aidan Jones. . I'll make sure to watch these teams play during the season.

If you have someone you would like me to critique to see what they need to work on feel free to reach out and I'll put them on my schedule. Just remember, I can't analyze or give my opinion if he's not on the field.  If you have a player that would love to have more playing time and needs some refinement in his game, you are always welcome to contact me as well.  I am looking forward to cheering on the local youth and high school teams throughout this season. 

I will be posting on Facebook and Instagram which games I will be attending each week and share the highlights here on my blog. I would love for you to follow along with me. If you know anyone that would enjoy this article, please share it!