Hazen earns first state playoff berth since 1993
December 1, 2011
Highlanders beat Franklin, 36-15, before falling to Capital, 47-0
Eric Jacobs, Hazen High School senior running back, shakes off Trevon Harris, of Franklin, during the fourth quarter on a 30-yard touchdown run, his third of the game. By Greg Farrar
1993. That was the last time the Hazen High School Highlanders earned a spot in the state football playoff run.
Hazen, Liberty football players selected for all-league teams
November 11, 2011
NEW — 1:50 p.m. Nov. 11, 2011
The Seattle Times has announced members of the Hazen and Liberty High School football teams have been selected for all-league teams. Players and coaches select all-leauge teams annually.
The following Hazen players were selected all-leauge for Seamount:
DEFENSIVE INTERIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cody Moorhead, Jr.
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE: DE Cody Moorhead, Jr.
Highlanders hit win streak just in time for playoffs
November 3, 2011
Daymontray Brown, Hazen senior running back, scores from four yards out during the third quarter Oct. 28 against Renton. The Highlanders won their homecoming game, 21-7. By Rob Nichols
After winning four straight games going into the post-season, Hazen High School coach Drew Oliver knows that kind of push is exactly what his team needs right now.
“Momentum is good, especially at the right time of the year,” he said. “I feel like we still haven’t put together a perfect game, but this team is really starting to come into its own.”
Liberty’s playoff hopes fade as injuries plague team
November 3, 2011
Liberty High School coach Steve Valach certainly had higher expectations than to finish regular season play with just three wins. So did his players.
With a 33-0 loss on Oct. 28 against the Bellevue Wolverines, any hopes of a 2011 post-season faded.
“As a team, I still think we played well enough to grab that No. 3 spot for the playoffs,” Valach said. “Ability wise, we were good enough to do that. We just didn’t get it done.”
Jordan West, Liberty High School senior quarterback, leaps over a Juanita defender for a few more of his 26 yards on a third-quarter rushing play Oct. 21 against the Rebels. By Greg Farrar
After picking up a 42-7 victory against Lake Washington, the Patriots fell to Mercer Island, 32-10, on Oct. 14.
The two key losses for the Patriots were their Sept. 23 matchup against Mount Si and their Oct. 21 home game against the Interlake Saints, Valach said.
Liberty was up 13-0 at the half and gave away 16 unanswered points in an overtime loss to the Wildcats. The Patriots made two 14-point surges in the second and fourth quarters of the Interlake game, but couldn’t overcome the Saints in a narrow 33-28 loss.
“In a lot of ways, it was a very frustrating season,” Valach said. “We talk about it’s all about us, it’s all about us. And for us, it wasn’t about getting beat, it’s that we were the ones losing the game.”
The Patriots went 3-6 on the season.
Patriots overcome rocky start
October 9, 2011
Nothing can stop senior wide receiver Joshua Gordon of Liberty on this 22-yard gain, even losing a shoe to Sammamish tackler Joey Sullivan. By Greg Farrar
After a rocky 2-3 start and a tough opening schedule in the season, Liberty High School coach Steve Valach is honing in on clean, focused football to get the Patriots’ season back on course.
Hazen football coach selected as Seahawks Coach of the Week
October 9, 2011
Drew Oliver
Hazen High School football coach Drew Oliver was selected Sept 3 for the Seattle Seahawks’ High School Coach of the Week award for its week one winners after Hazen defeated Blaine, 35-32, in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
Each week during the high school football season, the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington State Football Coaches Association select two high school football coaches for the award.
Hazen hopes to pave its own road to post season
October 9, 2011
/ Double L Photography Hazen’s Eric Jacobs (7), and Cody Moorhead shake hands Sept. 3 with captains for the Blaine High School Borderites before the coin toss at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. By Lisa Lombardo
In coach Drew Oliver’s eyes, there’s only one thing standing in the way of the Hazen High School football team and post-season success.
Itself.
“We need to execute for four quarters — that has to be the biggest area of growth for us,” he said. “We need to clean up our mistakes, and we need to be able to play a full football game without shooting ourselves in the foot.”
Hazen football coach selected as Seahawks Coach of the Week
September 12, 2011
Hazen High School football coach Drew Oliver was selected Sept 3. for the Seattle Seahawks’ High School Coach of the Week award for its week 1 winners after Hazen defeated Blaine 35-32 in the Emerald City Kickoff Classic.
Senior running back Cody Taylor was also selected as the Seattle Times’ 3A Player of the Week award for the same game.
Each week during the high school football season, the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington State Football Coaches Association select two high school football coaches for the award.
John Peterson of Willapa Valley High School was also awarded week 1 honors.
Liberty falls to Issaquah, Hazen gets second win in week two action
September 9, 2011
Liberty High School has opened the season with a 0-2 start, losing to the Issaquah Eagles 23-13 in a non-league game Friday night at Issaquah in Gary Moore Stadium.
Starting wide receiver Jake Bakamus sealed the win for the Eagles with an interception from Liberty quarterback Jordan West with 5:54 left in the fourth quarter.
Liberty opened the game with a rushing touchdown from senior running back Hamilton Noel, taking a 7-0 lead on their first offensive drive with 5:11 left in the first quarter.
Hazen sets sights on clearing stubborn post-season hurdle
September 2, 2011
Senior leaders ready to mentor the team’s large underclass
Marten Hiemstra (right), Hazen High School senior center, snaps the ball to junior quarterback Tony Nipert as the offense runs a play from scrimmage during practice Aug. 17. By Scott E. Coburn
The Hazen High School Highlanders recognize they have one major hurdle to clear this year — a post-season win.
